Industrial Physicist – Vacuum and Laser Systems
About The Position
The Industrial Physicist – Vacuum and Laser Systems will support the design, troubleshooting, improvement, and long-term reliability of advanced vacuum-based laser manufacturing equipment. This role is highly multidisciplinary and requires expertise spanning vacuum hardware, instrumentation electronics, motion/control systems, and software used for automated test and measurement. This role requires substantial hands-on electronics instrumentation work. The ideal candidate has direct experience building, integrating, and operating complex experimental systems in a research or industrial environment — particularly systems involving vacuum chambers, lasers/optics, plasma processes, or automated instrumentation and data acquisition. Candidates with backgrounds in AMO physics, experimental optics, semiconductor process equipment, or scientific instrumentation are especially encouraged to apply. This position is ideal for someone who enjoys solving difficult cross-disciplinary problems, building things with their hands, and working directly with hardware in a production environment.
Requirements
- MSc in Physics or a closely related discipline required.
- MS with 4+ years of experience, or PhD with 2+ years of experience
- Experience in designing and assembling scientific apparatus containing ultrahigh vacuum chambers, automated data acquisition software, and test and measurement electronics.
- Experience with hand-work electronics assembly (i.e., soldering, building electronics to printed circuit schematics etc.).
- Capable of working independently as well as within a cross-functional team of both engineers and technicians.
- Detail-oriented and demonstrated background in test equipment design.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills as well as presentation skills.
- Experience with one or more programming languages for test software development.
- Must be a US Citizen.
Nice To Haves
- PhD in physics or close-related discipline
- A record of publications or documented project reports about scientific apparatus that has been assembled and used.
- Experience in plasma physics, lasers and optics, or material science.
- Experience with LabVIEW.
- Familiarity with Python and/or MATLAB.
- Familiarity with electrical or mechanical design software.
- Previous experience working in cleanrooms (ISO Class 4 through Class 7).
Responsibilities
- Troubleshoot problems with the electronics and software control systems for existing Kearfott vacuum instrumentation
- Propose and implement design changes to the above to improve product quality and manufacturability
- Read and interpret existing schematics for the electro-mechanical components in these systems
- Perform hands-on troubleshooting of these electro-mechanical components.
- Design new schematics, drawings, etc., for the next generation of Kearfott test equipment
- Create and update standard operating procedures for the day-to-day use of these systems.
- Train technicians and engineers to carry out documented operating procedures.
- Perform root cause analysis of production failures.
- Prepare and present reports on the above to management.
Benefits
- medical
- prescription
- dental
- vision
- life
- disability insurance
- 401(k) plan with company match
- tuition assistance
- paid vacation and sick days
- paid holidays
- 9/80 work week with every other Friday off
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
