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Dft Engineer Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

Viavi Solutions

NPI Manufacturing Engineer

Germantown, MD · On-site

$73K - $95K/yr

Collaborate closely with R&D and Design Engineering teams to review new product designs for manufacturability, assembly, and testability (DFM/DFA/DFT). * Develop, implement, and optimize ...

Next Step Systems

FPGA Engineer

Linthicum, MD · On-site

$128K - $164K/yr

... DFT issues for ASICs. - Bring-up and validate ASICs and FPGAs in the lab, utilize various lab equipment. - Collaborate with software engineers in developing production software for your designs.

Next Step Systems

Senior FPGA Engineer

Linthicum, MD · On-site

$128K - $164K/yr

... DFT issues for ASICs. - Bring-up and validate ASICs and FPGAs in the lab, utilize various lab equipment. - Collaborate with software engineers in developing production software for your designs.

System One

PCB Design Engineer

Germantown, MD · On-site

PCB Design Engineer Location: Germantown, MD onsite Responsibilities * Develop PCB layouts from ... Support DFM/DFT reviews and incorporate feedback efficiently. * Meet established design milestones ...

System One

PCB Design Engineer

Germantown, MD · On-site

PCB Design Engineer Location: Germantown, MD onsite Responsibilities * Develop PCB layouts from ... Support DFM/DFT reviews and incorporate feedback efficiently. * Meet established design milestones ...

Liquid Robotics

Senior Liaison Engineer

Jessup, MD

$127K - $174K/yr

Senior Liaison Engineer Liquid Robotics is seeking a Senior Liaison Engineer to join our Jessup, MD ... Maintain and improve design for manufacturability (DFM) and design for testability (DFT) practices ...

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All JobsDft Engineer JobsDft Engineer Jobs in Washington

Dft Engineer information

See Washington salary details

$82.7K

$146.7K

$282K

How much do dft engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 25, 2026, the average yearly pay for dft engineer in Washington is $146,684.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $116,700.00 and $152,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a DFT Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a DFT (Design for Test) Engineer, you need a solid background in electrical engineering, digital design, and ASIC/FPGA development, often supported by a relevant degree. Familiarity with test methodologies, scan insertion tools (such as Synopsys DFT Compiler or Mentor Tessent), and scripting languages like Perl or Python is typically required. Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and effective communication help DFT Engineers collaborate with design and verification teams to resolve complex testability challenges. These competencies are essential to ensure high-quality, testable silicon designs that minimize defects and streamline manufacturing processes.

What is the difference between Dft Engineer vs Test Engineer?

AspectDft EngineerTest Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Electronics, Electrical, or related fields; certifications in DFT techniquesBachelor's in Electronics, Electrical, Computer Science; certifications in testing methodologies
Work EnvironmentDesign and implementation of DFT strategies during IC developmentTesting, validation, and debugging of electronic products and systems
Employer & Industry UsageSemiconductor companies, IC design firmsConsumer electronics, automotive, telecommunications industries

While both Dft Engineers and Test Engineers work in electronics and semiconductor industries, Dft Engineers focus on designing testability features during chip development, whereas Test Engineers execute testing and validation of finished products. Their roles complement each other, but their daily tasks and expertise areas differ significantly.

Is DFT engineering a good career?

DFT (Design for Test) engineering is a specialized field within semiconductor and integrated circuit design, focusing on ensuring manufacturability and testability of chips. It offers steady demand due to the ongoing need for quality and reliability in electronics, and requires skills in digital design, verification, and tools like EDA software. Career growth depends on industry trends and technical expertise, often involving certifications and continuous learning.

What engineers make $500,000?

Senior engineers in specialized fields such as petroleum, aerospace, or software engineering with extensive experience and advanced skills can earn $500,000 or more annually. High compensation often involves leadership roles, bonuses, stock options, or working in high-demand industries with complex projects.

How much do DFT engineers make?

Design for Test (DFT) engineers typically earn between $80,000 and $130,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and industry. Senior DFT engineers with specialized skills in automation and verification can earn higher salaries, often exceeding $150,000. Compensation may also include bonuses and benefits related to their expertise in integrated circuit testing and design validation.

What does a DFT engineer do?

A DFT (Design for Test) engineer designs and implements test strategies and methodologies to ensure integrated circuits and electronic devices are functional and defect-free. They develop test plans, create test patterns, and work with CAD tools to improve test coverage and manufacturability, often collaborating with design and manufacturing teams. Proficiency in scripting, testing tools, and industry standards is essential for this role.

What are some common challenges faced by DFT Engineers during the silicon validation phase, and how can these be addressed?

DFT Engineers often encounter challenges during the silicon validation phase, such as discrepancies between simulation results and actual silicon behavior, limited access to internal nodes, and diagnosing scan chain failures. These issues can be addressed by thorough pre-silicon verification, incorporating robust test points, and leveraging advanced diagnostic tools and methodologies. Effective collaboration with design and validation teams is also crucial to quickly resolve issues and implement necessary design changes, ensuring high test coverage and product reliability.

What are DFT Engineers?

DFT Engineers, or Design for Test Engineers, are professionals who specialize in designing and implementing test structures and methodologies within integrated circuits (ICs) to ensure their testability and reliability during manufacturing. Their work enables efficient detection and diagnosis of faults in chips, helping to improve yield and reduce production costs. DFT Engineers collaborate closely with design, verification, and manufacturing teams to integrate features such as scan chains, built-in self-test (BIST), and boundary scan into chip designs. Their expertise is crucial for modern semiconductor development, especially as chips become increasingly complex.
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Dft Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Dft Engineer job openings in Washington as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 6% As Needed, 84% Full Time, 7% Part Time, 2% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 91% Physical, 7% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $146,684 per year, or $70.5 per hour.

Hardware Engineer - Munition System

Supplied Talent

Washington, DC

$139K - $184K/yr

Other

Posted 25 days ago

Job description

Experience Level: MidSenior
Experience Required: 5 Years
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Job Function: Engineering
Industry: Defense & Space

Recruiter Note

Candidate must be comfortable completing an initial 1month onsite training period in Kearneysville, WV, after which they will relocate back to work from San Francisco, Los Angeles, or Washington, DC.

About the Project

Our client is developing a small, safetycritical kinetic munition deployed via an FPVclass airframe. At the core of the system is an ElectroMechanical Safe and Arm Device (EMSAD) responsible for compute, safety, and arming logic.
This role owns the entire electronics stack - from schematic architecture through PCB layout, bringup, validation, and qualification.

What You'll Do
  • EMSAD Architecture - Architect and design the main EMSAD board and all auxiliary boards.
  • Schematic & PCB Design - Lead schematic capture and multilayer PCB layout for mixedsignal, lowpower, and RFadjacent systems.
  • Safety Architecture - Define hardware safety architecture with redundant interlocks and failsafe defaults.
  • BringUp & Validation - Build bringup benches, execute firstarticle validation, and document results.
  • Firmware Collaboration - Work closely with firmware engineers on drivers, timing, and hardwaresoftware integration.
  • Environmental Qualification - Drive thermal, vibration, EMC, ESD, and droptest qualification.
  • Manufacturing Readiness - Own BOM management, DFM/DFT, and factory tester development.
  • Lab Debugging - Perform handson debugging using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, DMMs, and soldering tools.
Required Qualifications
  • 5+ years of professional electronics design experience
  • Strong knowledge of lowpower MCUs, mixedsignal systems, power supplies, sensors, and RFadjacent layout
  • Expertise with PCB layout tools such as Altium, KiCad, or Cadence
  • Handson lab debugging experience with oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, DMMs, and soldering tools
  • Experience debugging complex hardware issues including EMC, brownout, and edgecase failures
  • Strong written and verbal English communication
Nice to Have
  • Safetycritical hardware or failsafe design experience
  • Experience with S&A or fuzing electronics
  • Familiarity with MILSTD810 / MILSTD461 testing
  • FPV or smallUAV electronics experience
  • DFT experience for highmix, lowvolume manufacturing
How We Work

A small, fastmoving engineering team with weekly hardware iterations and constant prototyping. Engineers are expected to:

  • Drive electrical decisions
  • Document design choices clearly
  • Stand behind their work during qualification and field validation

If you want, I can also generate a screening rubric, technical interview scorecard, or a candidate submittal summarytailored to this role.
Choose one: screening rubric, interview scorecard, or candidate summary template.

Apply