Failure Analysis Manager

Senior Manager, Failure Analysis Engineering

Role Overview

The Senior Manager, Failure Analysis Engineering serves as the technical authority for system-level failure analysis and product reliability across the full manufacturing lifecycle, from New Product Introduction (NPI) through High Volume Manufacturing (HVM).

This role leads the identification of complex failure mechanisms, defines structured root cause methodologies, and drives cross-functional resolution to improve product quality, manufacturing yield, and long-term reliability.

The position requires deep expertise in server hardware architectures, failure physics, and data-driven analysis, combined with the ability to influence engineering, quality, and manufacturing organizations.

Scope

End-to-End Failure Analysis Ownership

• NPI, including DVT / PVT readiness

• Production, including L6, L10, and system-level testing

• Field and customer returns, including RMA and DOA

System-Level Technical Scope

• CPU

• Memory

• Storage

• Power

• Networking

• Thermal systems

Cross-Functional Engagement

• Test Engineering

• Product Engineering

• Quality, including PQE / MQE

• Supplier Engineering

• Manufacturing

Additional Scope

• Data-driven reliability and failure trend analysis

• Influence on product design

• Test coverage improvements

• Manufacturing process improvements

Key Responsibilities

• Lead complex failure analysis (FA) and root cause analysis (RCA) to identify system-level failure mechanisms across server platforms.

• Define and standardize failure analysis methodologies, tools, processes, and best practices.

• Drive reliability strategy and influence NPI readiness, including DFR, DFT, and test coverage.

• Establish failure trend analysis across yield, escapes, and field returns to enable data-driven decision-making.

• Serve as an escalation point for critical quality issues and lead cross-functional technical problem solving.

• Drive corrective and preventive actions across design, test, and manufacturing to eliminate repeat failures.

• Improve test effectiveness, reduce NTF (No Trouble Found) loops, and strengthen feedback loops into engineering.

• Mentor engineers and elevate failure analysis capabilities across the organization.

• Identify systemic failure drivers and develop technical strategies to improve product reliability and manufacturing performance.

Required Skills

• Deep knowledge of server hardware architectures, including:

  • CPU

  • Memory

  • Storage

  • Power

  • Networking

• Strong expertise in failure analysis methodologies and root cause analysis techniques.

• Experience with system-level debugging, including:

  • Electrical issues

  • Firmware issues

  • Hardware/software integration issues

• Strong statistical analysis and data interpretation skills, including:

  • Manufacturing yield

  • Reliability

  • Failure trends

• Understanding of manufacturing test flows, including:

  • L6

  • L10

  • System-level testing

• Experience with technical and data analysis tools, including:

  • Oscilloscopes

  • Logic analyzers

  • Diagnostic tools

  • Python

  • SQL

  • Power BI or equivalent data visualization/analysis tools

Preferred Skills

• Experience with GPU systems and liquid cooling.

• Experience in hyperscale manufacturing environments.

• Automation experience.

• Six Sigma certification.

• Experience supporting hyperscale or data center server environments.

• Knowledge of reliability modeling, including:

  • Weibull analysis

  • MTBF

  • HALT

  • HASS

• Exposure to DFX methodologies, including:

  • DFR – Design for Reliability

  • DFT – Design for Test

  • DFM – Design for Manufacturing

• Experience automating failure analysis workflows and data pipelines.

• Experience working with suppliers and supporting component-level failure analysis.

Experience & Education

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in:

  • Electrical Engineering

  • Computer Engineering

  • or a related technical field

• 10+ years of experience in:

  • Failure analysis

  • Reliability engineering

  • System debugging

  • Hardware engineering

  • Related technical disciplines

• Proven experience supporting NPI through HVM transitions in complex hardware systems.

• Demonstrated track record of solving complex, cross-domain technical problems.

• Strong ability to influence engineering, quality, manufacturing, and supplier organizations.

Success Criteria – First 6 Months

• Establish a structured failure analysis framework and RCA methodology across programs.

• Identify the top systemic failure drivers and implement corrective actions.

• Improve failure containment and reduce repeat issues and NTF rates.

• Build strong cross-functional alignment across Test Engineering, Quality, Product Engineering, and Manufacturing.

• Enable data-driven visibility into failure trends and reliability risks.

• Strengthen feedback loops between failure analysis findings and product design, testing, and manufacturing processes.

Organizational Fit

Reporting Structure

• Reports to the Test Engineering Director.

Key Interfaces

• Test Engineering

• Product Engineering

• Manufacturing

• Infrastructure

Works Closely With

• Test Engineering – NPI and Production

• Product Engineering

• Quality – PQE / MQE

• **Supplier Engineering

Leadership Expectations

• Acts as a technical leader and escalation point for complex failure analysis and reliability issues.

• Provides technical direction and mentorship.

• Direct people management is not required.

Position Summary

Owns the system-level failure analysis strategy, driving root cause identification, reliability improvements, and cross-functional resolution across NPI and manufacturing.