Junior Coatings Scientist PECVD / DLC

Armorlube • Tucson, AZ

11d • Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking a motivated, detail-oriented Junior Coatings Scientist to join our advanced materials development team. In this role, you will work directly alongside a Senior Scientist to develop, optimize, and scale cutting-edge Plasma-Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (PECVD) processes, with a primary focus on Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) coatings. This is an exceptional opportunity for a recent graduate or early-career professional to gain hands-on, expert mentorship in thin-film deposition, advanced plasma physics, and industrial surface engineering. You will play a vital role in taking new deposition systems from initial power-on through comprehensive process validation, directly contributing to the growth of our production capabilities.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Physics, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related STEM discipline.
• Strong foundational understanding of materials characterization, surface science, and thin-film concepts.
• Comfort working around mechanical hardware, vacuum systems, gas delivery lines, or high-power electronics.
• High attention to detail required for following strict equipment startup sequences, validation checklists, and safety protocols.
• Excellent data collection and documentation habits; proficiency with technical writing and data analysis.

Nice To Haves

• Direct undergraduate or internship experience with vacuum technology, plasma processing, or physical/chemical vapor deposition (PVD/CVD).
• Familiarity with equipment validation procedures, sensor calibration, or mass flow controller (MFC) verification.
• Basic understanding of plasma diagnostics, power matching, or hollow cathode technology.

Responsibilities

• Assist senior engineering staff in the physical installation, initial powering, and sub-system testing of new PECVD and vacuum deposition hardware.
• Participate in structured equipment validation protocols, including vacuum leak testing, gas flow calibration, power supply tuning, and plasma stability testing.
• Assist the Senior Scientist in designing, running, and optimizing PECVD coating recipes and surface preparation to achieve targeted mechanical, tribological, and structural properties.
• Perform routine thin-film characterization to evaluate coating quality, including thickness, hardness, adhesion (scratch testing), friction coefficients, and microstructure.
• Meticulously log validation metrics, process parameters, and analytical test results to build a robust baseline for new machinery.
• Assist in diagnosing hardware anomalies during the commissioning phase, monitoring plasma stability, and establishing baseline preventive maintenance routines.

Benefits

• Direct mentorship from industry-leading experts in DLC and advanced plasma technology.
• A fast-paced, collaborative R&D environment using state-of-the-art industrial coating systems.
• High-impact experience involved in the ground-up deployment and qualification of new industrial technology.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level