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Hire DFT Engineers in India

DFT engineers make chips testable so defects are caught before they reach customers. Nirji Semicon helps design teams hire DFT engineers in India experienced in scan insertion, ATPG, MBIST and boundary scan.

What a DFT Engineer does on the line

Design for test sits between design and manufacturing. The DFT engineer adds the structures that let every manufactured chip be tested quickly and thoroughly, and generates the patterns used on the tester.

The work covers defining a DFT architecture, inserting scan chains and compression, generating ATPG patterns to meet coverage targets, adding memory built-in self-test and boundary scan, and validating it all in simulation. DFT engineers work with RTL, physical design and product test teams, and often support silicon debug and pattern bring-up on the tester.

DFT choices made at design stage directly shape test cost and yield on the factory floor, which is why engineers who understand both design and test are especially valuable.

Key competencies, mapped to Workforce Architecture levels

Levels follow the Nirji Workforce Architecture: L1 supervised, L2 independent, L3 advanced and troubleshooting, L4 expert and coaching.

L1
  • Test fundamentals

    Understands fault models, scan concepts and the purpose of ATPG, MBIST and boundary scan.

L2
  • Scan and compression

    Inserts scan chains and compression and resolves DFT design-rule violations.

  • ATPG

    Generates and simulates patterns and works to agreed coverage targets.

L3
  • MBIST and boundary scan

    Implements memory BIST and IEEE 1149.1-style boundary scan and validates them.

  • Silicon and tester support

    Supports pattern bring-up and debug with product test teams.

L4
  • DFT architecture

    Defines chip-level DFT strategy, balancing coverage, test time, area and yield learning.

Equipment and tools

  • Industry DFT insertion tools
  • ATPG and fault simulation tools
  • Memory BIST tools
  • Boundary scan (IEEE 1149.1) and IJTAG
  • Gate-level simulation
  • Scripting (Tcl, Python, Perl)

How Nirji builds this workforce

  1. 01

    Workforce architecture

  2. 02

    Client-defined programme

  3. 03

    Nirji Ready assessment

  4. 04

    Deployment, 30/90-day check

We start by defining the DFT Engineer role the way your team actually works: the tools and flows you use, the node you design at, your domain and the level of tape-out experience you need. That specification drives every search.

Candidates are assessed by practitioners on real scan, ATPG and memory test problems, not keyword matches. Tool fluency, node exposure and tape-out history are confirmed in interview rather than assumed from a CV.

For senior needs, we mobilise experienced engineers, including those returning to or relocating to India from global semiconductor hubs. For longer-term growth, we build a pipeline with academic and EDA ecosystem partners that takes capable graduates to productive contributors, assessed against the role before they join. All hiring runs under confidentiality agreements and your IP security requirements.

Mobilise · Manufacture · Deploy

Engagement options

Most design teams begin with a short consultation to define roles by tools, process node, domain and tape-out experience. From there, choose direct hire, contract-to-hire, a dedicated design team built around your roadmap, or senior talent mobility to anchor a new team in India.

Frequently asked questions

What does a DFT engineer do?

A DFT engineer adds scan, compression, MBIST and boundary scan structures to a chip and generates the test patterns used in manufacturing.

Why does DFT experience matter for yield?

DFT decisions determine test coverage and test time, which shape yield and cost once the chip is in production.

Can you hire DFT engineers with silicon bring-up experience?

Yes. We screen specifically for tester and silicon debug experience when your role needs it.

Insights on this role

Build your DFT Engineer team in India.