Photonics Fabrication Process Engineer- SNSPD Nanofabrication - Santa Clara, CA

Xanadu•,

2h•$130,000 - $180,000•Onsite

About The Position

Xanadu is hiring two Photonics Fabrication Process Engineers for its Hardware Team in Santa Clara, California. The role supports efforts to improve photon number resolving (PNR) cryogenic detectors and involves fabricating and delivering state-of-the-art Superconducting Nanowire Single Photon Detectors (SNSPDs). The successful candidates will contribute deep technical expertise in photonics fabrication process development and process integration to the team developing and optimizing processes for Xanadu’s photonic quantum computing hardware. Responsibilities differ between the two openings: one will focus primarily on hands-on cleanroom work and process development, while the other will divide time between working with external foundry partners and hands-on cleanroom work. Xanadu is primarily seeking Photonics Fabrication Process Engineers but may consider candidates for a Senior role if their experience and technical leadership significantly exceed the core requirements. The position is based in Santa Clara, CA, and requires travel as needed.

Requirements

Ph.D. in Physics, Engineering, Experimental Sciences, or a related relevant discipline.
At least 5 years of cleanroom process development experience focused on device fabrication.
Experience operating cleanroom tools, including photolithography, electron beam lithography, PVD and CVD deposition, wet and plasma etching (ICP RIE), and CMP.
Experience with standard semiconductor and photonics metrology and failure analysis techniques, including some subset of SEM, TEM, AFM, defect inspection, ellipsometry, XRR/XRD, SIMS, and Raman spectroscopy.
Knowledge of optical thin film stack metrology, characterization, and optimization.
Experience developing cleanroom recipes and maintaining detailed process documentation.
Experience with statistical process control (SPC).
Excellent communication skills.
Experience working in a collaborative, team-based development environment.
Ability to work autonomously in a fast-paced environment and manage multiple competing priorities.
Ability to travel as needed.

Nice To Haves

At least 2 years of postdoctoral or industry experience in Physics, Engineering, Experimental Sciences, or a related relevant discipline.
Hands-on CMP experience planarizing thin films and multilayer device stacks.
Experience in a semiconductor and/or integrated photonics foundry environment, including owning lots and working with an MES.
Experience with the full product development cycle, from R&D through volume ramping.
Understanding of the physics of optical detector technologies, including superconducting devices.
Experience fabricating or working with cryogenic detectors or their applications, such as TES, MKID, or SNSPDs.
Experience coordinating with and managing external partners, including major semiconductor and photonics foundries.
Experience coordinating with external photomask suppliers and producing photomasks from GDS.
Experience in photonic quantum computing hardware development.
Experience analyzing large data sets and producing statistical reports.

Responsibilities

Establish SNSPD process development efforts at Bay Area facilities to expand Xanadu’s cleanroom capabilities.
Work with foundry partners to continuously improve integration schemes and balance competing fabrication requirements.
Define and execute metrology and failure analysis plans to identify and mitigate failure modes and assess process integration experiment results.
Work with internal and external stakeholders to ensure delivered chips meet critical detector performance metrics.
Stay current with developments in photonics fabrication process development and integration.
Fabricate and deliver state-of-the-art SNSPD chips.