Senior Computational Scientist / Software Engineer - Feature Scale Process Simulation

Lam Research•Waltham, MA

21h•Hybrid

About The Position

We are seeking an experienced Computational Software Engineer to help develop the next generation of physics-based semiconductor process simulation technologies. This position is based in Lam Research's Greater Boston area engineering office, where you will work alongside software developers, computational scientists, and semiconductor process experts developing advanced modeling solutions for next-generation semiconductor manufacturing. This role focuses on the development of advanced feature-scale simulation software that predicts the evolution of nanoscale semiconductor structures during plasma etch, deposition, and other manufacturing processes. You will work at the intersection of software engineering, computational physics, and semiconductor process technology. The successful candidate will contribute both to the scientific modeling of plasma-surface interactions and to the design and implementation of high-performance simulation software used by researchers, process engineers, and product development teams. This position requires a unique combination of strong software development skills and a deep understanding of the physical processes that drive feature evolution during semiconductor manufacturing.

Requirements

Ph.D. or M.S. in Physics, Computational Science, Applied Mathematics, Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Computer Science, or related technical discipline.
Familiarity developing feature-scale, topography, or process simulation tools for plasma etch and deposition
Strong software development experience in C++ and Python
Experience developing numerical simulation or scientific computing software.
Understanding of computational methods such as: Monte Carlo techniques, Numerical optimization, Finite difference or finite element methods, Particle transport simulations, Geometry evolution algorithms, Multiphysics modeling
Ability to work effectively across both physics and software domains.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of plasma physics and plasma-surface interactions.
Experience with reaction kinetics, surface chemistry, or gas-phase chemistry modeling.
Experience with high-performance computing, parallel algorithms, GPU programming, or distributed computing.
Familiarity with computational geometry, level-set methods, ray tracing, ballistic transport models, or kinetic Monte Carlo methods.
Experience working with experimental data for model calibration and validation.
Record of technical publications, patents, or open-source contributions.

Responsibilities

Design, implement, and maintain computational software for feature-scale semiconductor process simulation.
Develop and enhance physics-based models describing plasma-surface interactions, surface chemistry, material transport, and profile evolution.
Translate physical theories, experimental observations, and mathematical models into robust, production-quality software.
Collaborate with plasma physicists, process engineers, computational scientists, and product teams to improve model fidelity and predictive capability.
Develop numerical algorithms for geometry evolution, particle transport, surface reaction kinetics, and related multiphysics phenomena.
Optimize simulation performance for modern computing architectures, including multicore CPUs and GPU-based systems.
Validate model predictions against experimental and metrology data.
Contribute to software architecture, testing frameworks, code reviews, and engineering best practices.
Investigate emerging approaches including machine learning, surrogate modeling, and digital twin technologies to accelerate simulation workflows.
Publish technical results and contribute to patents, conference presentations, and scientific publications when appropriate.