MOSIS 2.0 Scientist

University of Southern California•Marina del Rey, CA

12d•$165,000 - $200,000•Onsite

About The Position

MOSIS 2.0 revives and modernizes the original multi-project wafer (MPW) service, founded at the USC Information Sciences Institute in 1981. It serves as the semiconductor fabrication gateway within the DoD Microelectronics Commons, operating as part of the California Defense Ready Electronics and Microdevices Superhub (CA DREAMS). MOSIS 2.0 supports approximately 200 customer engagements and ~50 tapeouts per year, with access to advanced CMOS (Intel 18A, TSMC, GlobalFoundries) and compound semiconductor platforms (GaAs/GaN through WIN Semiconductors). Beyond fabrication access, MOSIS 2.0 conducts sponsored research in device technology, design enablement, and lab-to-fab transition for defense-relevant microelectronics. This position will lead the research team responsible for executing these growing research projects.

Requirements

PhD in Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, Applied Physics, or a closely related field.
3+ years of post-PhD experience (industry, national lab, or academic research) in semiconductor device technology.
Demonstrated track record executing sponsored research programs.
Hands-on expertise in semiconductor fabrication and process integration (cleanroom experience required).
Strong background in semiconductor device physics, design, and characterization.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including technical writing for sponsor reports and program reviews.
Proven technical proficiency, exceptional creativity, successful collaboration with others, and independent thought.
Strong managerial skills.
Demonstrated reputation as an emerging leader in field with sustained performance and accomplishment.
Demonstrated ability to conceptualize research directions, exert technical leadership, communicate technical ideas, coordinate individual contributions to a research program, and present research plans and results in a manner that will elicit favorable funding actions.

Nice To Haves

Working knowledge of PDK components and EDA flows (e.g., Cadence/Synopsys/KLayout environments; DRC/LVS; compact models such as BSIM or ASM-HEMT).
Experience with DoD-sponsored research programs (e.g., DARPA, ONR, Microelectronics Commons) and their reporting/security requirements.
Familiarity with compound semiconductor technologies (GaN, GaAs, InP), photonics, and/or RF/mm-wave applications.
Experience contributing to or leading research proposals.
Nationally recognized reputation for excellence in area of expertise.

Responsibilities

Serve as technical lead, PI, or co-PI on awarded programs; own execution plans, milestones, deliverables, sponsor reporting, and program reviews.
Translate statements of work into detailed technical plans, schedules, and resource allocations across the team.
Track progress against milestones, identify and retire technical and schedule risks early, and keep sponsors informed through regular reporting and reviews.
Direct experimental work across device design, mask layout, tapeouts, fabrication runs, and electrical characterization.
Lead semiconductor process development and integration in cleanroom and foundry environments, including translating research processes into manufacturable flows.
Deliver PDK and design-enablement work products: device compact modeling, DRC/LVS deck development, parameterized cells, and EDA flow validation in collaboration with foundries and design customers.
Guide device design and modeling across CMOS and compound semiconductor (GaN/GaAs) technologies, spanning RF, mixed-signal, and emerging device applications.
Build, manage, and mentor a team of research scientists and engineers; allocate staff across concurrent programs and coordinate with USC faculty, students, and MOSIS operations staff.
Interface with foundry partners, government sponsors, defense industrial base customers, and CA DREAMS hub partners; represent MOSIS 2.0 at program reviews, working groups, and conferences.
Contribute technical content to new proposals and program plans as needed.