R&D Scientist - MOCVD

Semtech • Alhambra, CA

12d • $170,000 - $240,000 • Onsite

About The Position

Position Summary: The Research and Development Scientist 6 position serves as a distinguished technical authority and strategic innovation leader for our global semiconductor enterprise, providing visionary scientific leadership across advanced wafer fabrication research, breakthrough process technology development, and transformational innovation programs. This position establishes enterprise-wide research vision for next-generation wafer processing technologies, drives fundamental scientific discoveries in semiconductor materials and devices, and creates revolutionary fabrication platforms that enable unprecedented competitive advantage in our worldwide operations. The role requires world-class scientific expertise in semiconductor physics and wafer processing, distinguished technical leadership, and strategic vision to advance fundamental knowledge, pioneer disruptive wafer fabrication technologies, and shape industry direction while delivering exceptional innovation impact.

Requirements

• PhD in Physics, Materials Science, Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or related scientific field
• 15+ years of experience in semiconductor wafer fabrication research with distinguished technical contributions and industry recognition
• Recognized international authority in wafer process technology with significant publications (50+ papers), patents (20+ issued), and industry impact
• Extensive experience leading breakthrough research programs in advanced wafer fabrication and emerging device technologies
• Track record of scientific discoveries that have influenced global semiconductor industry direction and created substantial business value
• World-class expertise in semiconductor physics, advanced materials integration, transistor device physics, or wafer process technologies
• Distinguished capability in scientific research methodologies, nanoscale characterization, and advanced analytical techniques
• Recognized thought leader with significant contributions to peer-reviewed literature and foundational intellectual property
• Exceptional strategic vision and ability to identify transformational wafer technology research opportunities
• Superior technical communication skills with ability to influence C-suite executives, board members, and external scientific community
• Proven ability to lead and inspire global scientific teams and foster culture of breakthrough innovation
• Deep understanding of semiconductor wafer technology trends, fab economics, and competitive global landscape
• Strong collaboration skills with ability to build productive partnerships with academic institutions and industry leaders
• Experience transitioning research concepts from fundamental discovery to pilot wafer fab demonstrations to high-volume manufacturing
• Strategic business acumen with understanding of wafer technology commercialization, IP monetization, and shareholder value creation

Responsibilities

• Enterprise Research Vision and Wafer Technology Leadership (30%): Define enterprise-wide wafer fabrication research vision, advanced process technology strategy, and innovation roadmaps aligned with long-term business objectives Establish comprehensive research governance frameworks for next-generation wafer processing, novel materials integration, and device architecture innovation Drive fundamental scientific discoveries in smiconductor physics, thin film materials, and nanoscale fabrication that create new technology paradigms Lead transformational research programs addressing critical wafer fab challenges including advanced lithography, atomic layer processing, and sub-3nm scaling Shape global semiconductor industry direction through pioneering wafer technology research, peer-reviewed publications, and fab technology leadership
• Breakthrough Wafer Process Technology Development (25%): Pioneer revolutionary device concepts, novel material systems (2D materials, III-V integration, etc.), and advanced wafer process technologies Lead development of disruptive innovations in transistor architectures (gate-all-around, nanosheet, CFET), high-k dielectrics, and ultra-low resistance metallization Establish new wafer fabrication paradigms through fundamental research in atomic-scale processing and proof-of-concept demonstrations Create substantial intellectual property portfolios through invention disclosures, patent filings, and wafer technology licensing opportunities Drive technology transitions from research lab concepts to pilot line demonstrations and high-volume wafer fabrication implementation
• Scientific Excellence and Global Innovation Culture (20%): Establish world-class wafer fabrication research capabilities, advanced characterization facilities, and experimental methodologies across global R&D sites Lead development of cutting-edge analytical techniques (TEM, APT, SIMS, etc.), in-situ monitoring, and wafer-level metrology innovations Create innovation culture fostering scientific excellence, breakthrough thinking, and transformational discovery across 1,900-person organization Develop strategic research partnerships with leading universities (MIT, Stanford, etc.), national laboratories (IMEC, LETI, etc.), and semiconductor consortia Mentor and develop next-generation scientific leaders and wafer technology experts across global research teams
• Strategic Technology Planning and Fab Roadmapping (15%): Develop long-range wafer technology roadmaps addressing future semiconductor scaling requirements, More-than-Moore opportunities, and heterogeneous integration Analyze global semiconductor technology trends, competitive fab capabilities, and emerging scientific breakthroughs Provide strategic guidance to executive leadership on wafer fab technology investments, research priorities, and M&A opportunities Lead evaluation of external wafer technologies, foundry partnerships, and collaborative research programs Influence corporate strategy through scientific insights on transistor scaling limits, new materials adoption, and fab technology economics
• External Engagement and Semiconductor Thought Leadership (10%): Represent scientific excellence in premier semiconductor conferences (IEDM, VLSI, ISSCC), industry consortia (SEMATECH, SEMI), and government programs Establish wafer technology research collaborations with top-tier universities and national research centers Contribute to semiconductor scientific community through high-impact publications in Nature, Science, APL, and IEEE journals Shape industry wafer technology standards, ITRS/IRDS roadmaps, and collaborative research directions Build organizational reputation as global center of wafer fabrication scientific excellence and process innovation leadership

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees