JOB OVERVIEW The leak tester in semiconductor packages are workers of companies who may be assigned in a quality assurance team. Basically, a leak tester working on semiconductor packages is tasked to conduct testing on those equipment in semiconductor packages. Primarily, the test is done so as to determine leakage in semiconductor packages and be able to segregate the ones that pass the quality from the ones that are to be rejected.
EDUCATION, TRAININGS AND CERTIFICATION REQUIRED
In order to apply and eventually land into a job as a leak tester in semiconductor packages, there are several educational requirements to be fulfilled. An applicant must at least have a high school diploma or in short be a high school graduate. In addition to that, he should have also gained a considerably progressive and continuous experience from the similar or related industry. Most of the time, the training for specific work skills development is included within the employment training package before the actual start of the work proper.
ABILITIES AND SKILLS
A leak tester's job is not a simple manual labor. He is expected to identify bewteen rejects and acceptable or par excellent standard items before their release to the market. Therefore a tester on semiconductor packages must have the following skills and abilities: analytical skills, critical thinking skills, organization skills, techinical skills needed in operating gadgets in leak testing. Analytical skills is shown when he sees to it that before any leak testing procedure, the equipment is properly calibrated, and the process of testing will be done without extrinsic factors that may affect the results. The skills in operating the tester with proficiency is necessary to avoid damages to the package and to the tester as well. Integrity in reporting the results as well as efficiency in delivering to the expectations of the job in terms of time and production should always be present.
DUTIES
Leak testers in semiconductor packages work on a full time basis usually. The tests begins by preparing the testing equipment and the subjects to be tested. Testing starts off by placing the subject in the canister. This loaded canister then replaces the air inside the canister with a chemical called a liquid freon or flushes canister with radioactive isotopes. Then a push button and switches are pressed to activate equipment. Afterwards, the loaded canister is taken out and placed either the canister or tube of semiconductor packages in leak testing equipment.
The bubble pot or Geiger counter tank, is used for detection of both gross and fine leaks. Then inspection of tube of packages in bubble pot or tank will be done with the aid of the magnifying glass. Bubbles are indications of gross leakage. The control panel of Geiger counter tank may tell whther there are fine leaks through inspection. Using tweezers, the tubes will then we removed and segregated as either with leak or without leak and afterwards be reported accordingly.
EARNINGS AND JOB OUTLOOK
The salary or total earnings of a leak tester in the semiconductor industry is just average as compared to that of the other professions. In the U.S., specifically in California, the average salary points to around $44,000. However, the average leak tester in semiconductor package compensation rate can vary depending on the state or location, years of tenure as well as the offsetting benefits being given by the company, such as the employees' monthly allowances.
Paula Hiz is a researcher and a human resource specialist who helps newly graduates, job applicants and post graduate professionals be aware of the opportunities and trainings for skills and practice upgrading.