Electrical Design Automation Intern - AI & EDA Automation

About the role

Forming Our Future together

FormFactor, Inc. (NASDAQ: FORM), is a leading provider of essential test and measurement technologies along the full semiconductor product life cycle - from characterization, modeling, reliability, and design de-bug, to qualification and production test. Semiconductor companies rely upon FormFactor's products and services to accelerate profitability by optimizing device performance and advancing yield knowledge. The company serves customers through its network of facilities in Asia, Europe, and North America.

Rooted in our core values - Focus on the Customer, Ownership & Accountability, Respectfully & Effectively Communicate, and Motivate & Develop People - we foster an environment where diverse perspectives are not only welcomed but celebrated. Everyone can make an impact here. Whether it's improving products, supporting customers, or positively influencing peers and the community, the contributions of our people matter.

Shift: The regular hours for this position are day shift.

About the role

We are seeking a highly motivated Electrical Design Automation - AI & EDA Automation Intern to help develop next-generation AI-assisted design automation workflows for Signal Integrity (SI) and Power Integrity (PI) engineering.

This internship will focus on applying Large Language Models (LLMs) and Python software development to automate industry-leading Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools, including Ansys HFSS and Keysight ADS. The goal is to create intelligent workflows that transform engineering design specifications and requirements into structured, reusable Python libraries that can automatically generate simulation setups, execute analyses, and produce engineering results.

This project sits at the intersection of electrical engineering, artificial intelligence, software development, and design automation and offers an opportunity to influence the future of engineering productivity and simulation workflows.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop Python frameworks for automating SI/PI simulation workflows.
• Create structured data models that capture electrical design requirements, constraints, and specifications.
• Investigate and implement LLM-based approaches for translating natural language engineering requirements into machine-readable design objects.
• Interface Python automation with industry-standard EDA tools including:
• Ansys HFSS
• Keysight ADS
• Data analysis and post-processing tools
• Build reusable libraries to support:
• Simulation setup generation
• Parameterized model creation
• Design rule validation
• Results extraction and reporting
• Develop proof-of-concept workflows demonstrating end-to-end automation from specification through simulation execution.
• Collaborate with Signal Integrity and Power Integrity engineers to understand engineering workflows and identify automation opportunities.
• Document software architecture, APIs, and engineering use cases.

Desired Project Outcomes

By the end of the internship, the student will deliver

• A prototype framework that converts engineering specifications into structured Python objects.
• Demonstration of LLM-assisted specification parsing.
• Automated generation of HFSS and/or ADS simulation projects.
• Workflow examples for SI and PI analysis.
• Documentation and recommendations for future AI-enabled engineering workflows.

Required Qualifications

• Currently pursuing a Bachelor's, Master's, or Ph.D. degree in:
• Electrical Engineering
• Computer Engineering
• Computer Science
• Applied Physics
• Related technical field
• Strong programming experience in Python.
• Basic understanding of software engineering practices.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating with multidisciplinary engineering teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Coursework or experience in:
• Signal Integrity
• Power Integrity
• Electromagnetics
• High-speed digital design
• RF engineering
• Experience with one or more EDA tools:
• Ansys HFSS
• Keysight ADS
• Cadence or Synopsys design tools
• Data science and machine learning frameworks
• Familiarity and interest with:
• Object-oriented programming
• Git version control
• Large Language Models (LLMs)
• Prompt engineering
• Agentic AI workflows
• Experience building engineering automation tools is a plus.

What the Intern Will Learn

• Practical application of AI and LLMs in engineering workflows.
• Automation of commercial EDA tools through Python APIs.
• SI/PI simulation methodologies used in advanced semiconductor test and measurement applications.
• Practical implementation of AI-assisted engineering workflows.
• Design and development of scalable engineering automation systems.

Example Technologies

• Python
• Ansys HFSS API
• Keysight ADS Python Interface
• Git
• Azure OpenAI
• Large Language Models (LLMs)
• Pandas
• NumPy
• Jupyter
• Vector Databases / RAG
• Engineering Data Management Systems

Skills

ANSYS HFSS, Azure OpenAI Service, Database Management Systems (DBMS), Git, Jupyter Notebook, Large Language Models (LLMs), Microsoft Copilot, Pandas Python Library, PathWave Advanced Design System (ADS), Python (Programming Language), Python Numpy, RAG Pipeline

Education & Experience

Minimum of 4 - 6 years of related experience | Required

Pay Range

$30.95 - $40.64

Pay Range Explained

This role in Livermore, California pays between $30.95 and $40.64 per hour, depending on your experience, skills, and background. Pay may vary in other locations. We offer a full benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability coverage, a 401(k) with company match, employee stock purchase plan (ESPP), and paid time off. You'll also be eligible for quarterly profit-sharing bonuses and flexible spending or savings accounts.