About this job
Senior Detector Scientist, Reliability
Redlen’s Product Performance Department is dedicated to ensuring our detector modules meet the highest standards of the performance, reliability and application suitability. The Reliability Team focuses on characterizing and reporting on failure modes, failure rates and lifetimes of the PCCT detectors across the entire product lifecycle – from semiconductor material development to device integration. Acting as a cross-functional bridge within the organization, the team conducts Sensor-, Mini Module-, Detector Module- oriented HALT, ALT and other characterization and reliability-specific testing, along with in-gantry data analysis, driving initiatives that align with Redlen’s reliability advancement objectives. Their work spans emerging technologies, including semiconductor material growth, device fabrication, device physics, detector module engineering, advanced photon-counting ASICs, and attachment/interconnect technologies.
Key Responsibilities:
Detector Performance
Explore, determine, define, and establish key attributes of x-ray detector performance focusing on high-flux operations relevant to photon-counting computed tomography (PCCT).
Develop and maintain sensor-, minimodule-, and detector-level experimental methodologies. Develop and refine analytical methods, models, and interpretation frameworks. Write-up and communicate results, including to internal and external customers.
Device Reliability
Own execution and continuous improvement of advanced experimental and analytical aspects of device reliability, including component-level investigations and development of a consistent framework for reliability-specific analysis and reporting, lifetime modeling, finding the material and process factors influencing failure mechanisms and failure rates.
Develop novel testing and aging protocols for PCCT detectors, including test vehicles for next generation products. Define technical requirements and provide technical leadership throughout the design, development and implementation of reliability test vehicles in close collaboration with Test SW and HW engineers.
Own the reliability requirements, scientific validity, and fitness for purpose of reliability test systems and infrastructure. Partner with Test Software and Hardware Engineering on their design, implementation, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement.
Support Test function in troubleshooting complex existent test box, test tank, test software, environmental chamber, and other issues.
Cross-functional work
Support New Process Introduction and Technology Transfer teams by identifying detector performance and reliability risks associated with new or modified processes, defining and executing validation plans, and providing data-driven recommendations on process equivalency, technical risks, and readiness for implementation.
Own defined performance and reliability verification methodologies in support of internal development programs and external customer requirements. Develop verification strategies, acceptance criteria, and test methodologies. Interpret results and provide technical recommendations supported by experimental evidence and statistical analysis.
Support Manufacturing, Product Engineering team to monitor and analyze key product performance metrics that influence yields at sensor and module level. Develop methodologies to isolate and characterize the root cause(s) of process variations by analysis of passive data from manufacturing and by designed experiments. Provide subject matter expertise and technical guidance based on established methodologies and experimental evidence.
Provide technical support to external customers, including interpreting and communicating experimental results, assessing potential impacts on detector- and system-level performance. Collaborating with customer technical teams to investigate issues and develop potential solutions.
Other
Perform additional tasks and duties as applicable to the role as assigned
Qualifications:
Experience
A minimum of five years’ technical experience in a related role
Deep applied knowledge of semiconductor devices, materials and device physics, including characterization, experimental methods, failure analysis, and reliability assessment.
Hands-on in-depth experience in experimental design, setup design, setup build, and troubleshooting
Experience in design and characterization of ionizing radiation detectors, pixelated imagers, sensor arrays, and experience working with instrumentation electronics, interfacing test equipment, detector read out ASIC and/or electronics are all assets
Demonstrated ability to provide effective technical support to external customers on complex technical topics, including technical discussions, interpretation of experimental results and their implications, collaborative investigation issues and potential solutions.
Demonstrated competence in statistical analysis and Design of Experiments (DOE) methodologies to assess variability, statistical significance, and experimental results.
A track record of excellence in applied research
Preferred Experience
Scientific programming in Matlab
JMP, Minitab or equivalent statistical tools is an asset
GIT, best practices for SW development are an asset
Agile workflow
Experience in a manufacturing environment
Skills
Proven scientific programming skills in Python and ability to learn and adapt new SW tools quickly
Analytical mind and problem-solving aptitude
Demonstrated positive attitude and self-motivation
Ability to work in a dynamic environment as a member of a cross-functional team
Ability to work with limited supervision and manage responsibilities to all project stakeholders in a proactive way
Comfortable with challenging development projects with competing priorities and emerging/ambiguous requirements
Excellent oral and written communication skills in English
Outstanding interpersonal skills
Education
Master’s degree or higher in engineering physics, high energy physics, applied physics, physics, electrical engineering, biomedical engineering, materials science, or equivalent
Salary Range: $120,000 - $140,000 CAD