How to hire a failure analysis technician

How to hire a failure analysis technician, step by step

Here's a step-by-step failure analysis technician hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a failure analysis technician job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new failure analysis technician
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

Post a failure analysis technician job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your failure analysis technician job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a failure analysis technician for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a failure analysis technician to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a failure analysis technician that fits the bill.

   This list shows salaries for various types of failure analysis technicians.

   Type of Failure Analysis Technician	Description	Hourly rate
   Failure Analysis Technician	Industrial engineering technicians help industrial engineers implement designs to use personnel, materials, and machines effectively in factories, stores, healthcare organizations, repair shops, and offices. They prepare machinery and equipment layouts, plan workflows, conduct statistical production studies, and analyze production costs.	$17-34
   Validation Technologist	A validation technologist works with a process chief and applies validation methods to complete tasks and carry out installations. They perform operational protocol duties and do reviews daily... Show more	$18-31
   Process Control Technician	Process control technicians require strong skills in PLC, process control systems, troubleshooting, calibration, and a desire for continuous improvement in addition to other skills. Those who choose this career path will be called to work with automated process control systems and assist in designing, creating, testing, and implementing process control panels.	$19-32

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Troubleshoot
   • Test Equipment
   • Failure Analysis
   • Sample Preparation
   • Assembly Line
   • Sectioning
   • Etching
   • Corrective Action
   • Laser
   • Electron Microscope
   • R
   • Scanning Electron Microscopy
   • Test Data
   • Lab Equipment

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Achieve multiple certifications per FDA and NRC guidelines for various internal processes critical to quality and safety.
   • Conduct testing of COA to the inks by the use of GC/MS, IC, HPLC, ICP/MS and UV spectroscopy.
   • Perform hands-on electronic circuit assembly, fabrication, wiring, prototyping, testing, debugging and repair down to component level.
   • Perform system diagnostic testing, PCB debugging down to failure component or marginal components up to ASIC/IC level, SI analysis.
   • Support customers internal and external to troubleshoot product failures for continuous yield improvement activities.
   • Execute 'root cause' analysis of microelectronics, optical laser system & micro-mechanical devices.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your failure analysis technician job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A failure analysis technician salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, failure analysis technicians' average salary in arkansas is 37% less than in maryland.
   • Seniority. Entry-level failure analysis technicians earn 50% less than senior-level failure analysis technicians.
   • Certifications. A failure analysis technician with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a failure analysis technician's salary.

   Average failure analysis technician salary

   $51,189yearly

   $24.61 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level failure analysis technician salary

   $36,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 22, 2025

4. Writing a failure analysis technician job description

   A good failure analysis technician job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a failure analysis technician job description:

   Failure analysis technician job description example

   Foxconn Industrial Internet (Fii) provides innovative design and advanced manufacturing capabilities through Artificial Intelligence-driven solutions. We are dedicated to the expansion of AI-driven platforms, Fii centers around Cloud Based Computing, Big Data, High-Speed Networks, Automation, and Industry 4.0 methodology. Join an expansive network of professionals who embody an entrepreneurial spirit that works together within a company culture of shared mission.

   The Debug Technician will perform failure analysis and troubleshooting on test issues.

   Responsibilities Include:

   · Troubleshoot and fix sustaining production test issues that are escalated from Repair Technicians and report to Test Engineers.

   · Troubleshoot and repair failures; diagnose the root cause and recommend corrective action.

   · Monitor and maintain testing station performance: Responsible for the procurement, maintenance, troubleshooting, and improvement of test equipment.

   · Monitor ORT (on-going reliability tests) /RDT (reliability demonstration tests) and report issues to Test Engineers.

   · Create standard operating procedures for operators and testers for manufacturing test. Analyze test correlation of RMA (return merchandise authorization) fallout and work with vendors to follow up with FA (failure analysis) results.

   · Document procedure, update SOPs.

   · Help create and maintain records for issues and failures faced as part of test.

   · Assist Test Engineers with test station setup and other processes including modeling, pre-pilot, and pilot runs.

   · Perform other duties as assigned.

   Education Requirements, Ideal Experience:

   · Ability to read test logs.

   · Basic understanding of Linux/UNIX

   · Ability to work with switches, network equipment etc.

   · Some past experience with computer hardware like CPUs, NIC, Memory etc.

   Physical Requirements & Mental Demands Include:

   • Must me able to work extended hours and weekends on occasion.
   • Must be able to adapt to stressful situations and complete projects under tight deadlines.
   • Requires handling of average-weight objects up to 40 pounds.
   • Requires walking, standing, repetitive bending and some climbing.
   • Work environment involves some exposure to hazards or physical risks, which require following basic safety precautions.

   Foxconn provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Foxconn complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, and transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find failure analysis technicians for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your failure analysis technician job on Zippia to find and recruit failure analysis technician candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with failure analysis technician candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new failure analysis technician

   Once you have selected a candidate for the failure analysis technician position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a failure analysis technician?