Coating Scientist

Rigaku•Auburn Hills, MI

5d•Onsite

About The Position

Rigaku Innovative Technologies is seeking a Thin Film Scientist to contribute in the arena of multilayer thin films for hard and soft x-ray optical thin film coatings, produced with physical vapor deposition, primarily sputtering. The role involves Product Design, Research and Development, including improving existing optical thin film coating designs and inventing new designs to produce targeted performance tailored to the end-use application. It also includes Deposition Technology Design, Research and Development, focusing on analysis, improvement, and development of new methods and/or equipment modifications to support advanced optical designs and performance enhancements. Manufacturing activities involve using vacuum thin film deposition technology to produce ultrathin, ultraprecise multilayer thin films on precision optics, often involving new and advanced coatings. Specific activities include determining optimal deposition system parameters, troubleshooting deposition systems and equipment, providing design input for mechanical fixtures, and analyzing optical designs to optimize coating solutions. Conducting and analyzing measurements of thin film and optical surface analysis is also a key part of the role.

Requirements

PhD in relevant field (e.g. engineering, physics, material science)
Strong skills in data analysis required (for example, Excel, Matlab, Python).
Ability to work with an extended range of personnel, including technicians, scientists, customers, and managers.
Strong communications ability required for technical presentations to engineers, scientists & managers; internal and external reports; documentation; support for sales & marketing.
Applicants must be able to prove they can legally work in the US.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience with thin films, vacuum deposition and optical analysis is preferred but not required
Programming and/or CAD ability not required but is desirable.
Experience with vacuum systems and associated electromechanical systems is desirable.

Responsibilities

Improving existing optical thin film coating designs and inventing new designs, to produce targeted performance tailored to the end-use application.
Analysis, improvement and development of new methods and/or equipment modifications to support advanced optical designs and performance enhancements.
Analysis and implementation of new technologies to improve capabilities.
Manufacturing activities, using vacuum thin film deposition technology to produce ultrathin, ultraprecise multilayer thin films on precision optics, often involving new and advanced coatings.
Determining optimal deposition system parameters to produce complex programmed thin film gradients.
Troubleshooting deposition systems and equipment.
Providing design input for mechanical fixtures.
Analysis of optical designs to optimize coating solutions.
Conducting and analyzing measurements of thin film and optical surface analysis including x-ray reflectivity, EUV reflectivity, atomic force microscopy (AFM), white light interferometry, residual gas analysis (RGA), microscopes and other relevant techniques.
Evaluating deposition equipment condition, leading/assisting maintenance & troubleshooting as well as upgrades.