Senior Process Engineer - Deposition

Atomica • Goleta, CA

9h

About The Position

Atomica is seeking a driven Process Engineer to join our Surface Engineering team, with a primary focus on deposition. We are looking for someone who can support existing production processes and develop processes for new programs (20+) focusing on product quality and manufacturability. Collaboration is a must as you work closely with the integration, manufacturing engineering, maintenance, and production teams on the development of new processes, selection of new equipment/technology, standardization, and problem resolution. This role is designed for a technical leader who thrives at the intersection of advanced materials and complex vacuum hardware.

Requirements

• B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. in Materials Science, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or other engineering discipline.
• 5+ years of experience in a semiconductor microfabrication manufacturing environment.
• Deep understanding of material properties and the specific process knobs required to obtain them.
• Expert-level proficiency in JMP for data analysis, statistical modeling, and DOE.
• Proven track record of "hands-on" hardware troubleshooting. Ability to diagnose mechanical, electrical, and vacuum-related failures.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with RF, DC, and Pulsed DC Magnetron Sputtering, Ion Beam Deposition (IBD) and E-beam evaporation.
• Deep knowledge of PECVD, HDPCVD, ALD, and LPCVD.
• Proficiency in oxidation furnaces, annealing, and RTP/RTA.
• Hands-on experience with Bosch process (DRIE), dielectric etching, plasma ashing, and Ion Beam Etching (IBE).

Responsibilities

• Design and execute recipes for new thin-film applications, ensuring strict adherence to required material properties (mechanical, optical and electrical characteristics).
• Partner with the integration team to ensure surface engineering solutions meet functional requirements for complex devices.
• Lead the technical evaluation, installation, and testing of new capital equipment to meet production-ready standards.
• Design and execute Design of Experiments (DOE) to determine process windows and optimize results.
• Identify and resolve fundamental process instabilities during early-stage R&D while maintaining the discipline to lead "Task Force" efforts for chronic production excursions.
• Act as the primary technical expert for resolving complex process-hardware interactions.
• Help perform diagnostics on vacuum systems, RF power delivery, and gas flow controllers.
• Implement and monitor SPC charts in JMP to identify trends, prevent excursions, and ensure long-term process stability.
• Author and maintain high-quality Standard Operating Procedures and technical documentation to ensure cross-shift consistency.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree