Senior Product & Yield Device Engineer

Coherent Corp.•Sherman, TX

2d•$107,415 - $134,295

About The Position

The Senior Product & Yield Device Engineer owns yield, variability, and device performance for assigned products across all manufacturing stages. The role leads complex, physics-based investigations spanning epitaxy, wafer processing, device architecture, inspection, and test, and drives yield recovery from problem identification through verified improvement. It serves as a central technical authority on product behavior for internal teams and external customers. The engineer applies compound semiconductor epitaxy and reactor knowledge to understand growth variables and correlate epitaxial variation with downstream optical and electrical performance. Working with Epitaxy Engineering, the role helps reduce wafer-to-wafer and run-to-run variation and translates device failures into actionable process and reactor feedback. The position uses manufacturing data and statistical methods to identify root causes, build predictive models, and automate analysis workflows. It also assesses interactions among epitaxy, lithography, etch, deposition, metallization, inspection, and electrical and optical testing; contributes Design-for-Manufacturability input; and owns yield performance during new-product ramp into high-volume manufacturing. As a customer-facing technical resource, the engineer presents findings, leads technical discussions during audits and yield reviews, and supports joint investigations and corrective actions. The role is expected to improve product yield and variability, resolve excursions, enable successful product ramps, and build customer trust through rigorous, clear technical explanations. Employees must follow site EHS procedures and Coherent Corp. Corporate EHS standards. Depending on location, the position may also be responsible for executing and maintaining applicable quality and environmental management standards, including ISO 9000, 9001, and 14001. The role is expected to adhere to the company’s ICARE values: Integrity, Collaboration, Accountability, Respect, and Enthusiasm.

Requirements

PhD in Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, Materials Science, or a related discipline with a strong emphasis on semiconductor device physics, or relevant experience with a Master’s degree or B-Eng.
At least 5 years of experience in semiconductor device, product, or yield engineering in high-volume manufacturing.
Demonstrated ability to independently lead complex technical investigations and deliver measurable yield improvement.
Strong foundation in solid-state physics and semiconductor device operation.
Working knowledge of compound semiconductor epitaxy and epi reactor operation.
Understanding of epitaxial variables including temperature control, V/III ratio, precursor flow stability, pressure control, strain, and dopant incorporation.
Experience correlating material-level variation to device electrical and optical performance.
Advanced proficiency in statistical analysis and DOE methodology.
Proficiency in JMP, Python, R, or equivalent data analysis tools.
Strong SQL skills for querying large manufacturing databases.
Experience with SPC, multivariate modeling, regression analysis, and variance decomposition.
Ability to automate data extraction and analysis workflows.
Experience presenting technical material to external customers or executive leadership.
Ability to defend technical conclusions under scrutiny.
Intellectual curiosity and comfort operating in ambiguous technical environments.
High ownership mindset and accountability for outcomes.
Ability to challenge assumptions with data and physics-based reasoning.
Strong cross-functional influence skills.
Clear and confident communication in technical and customer-facing settings.
Follow applicable site EHS procedures and corporate EHS standards.

Nice To Haves

Experience in compound semiconductor or optoelectronic device manufacturing is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Own yield, variability, and device performance across all manufacturing stages for assigned products.
Lead technical investigations into yield limiters involving epitaxy, wafer processing, device architecture, inspection, and test systems.
Develop and validate physics-based hypotheses using structured DOE, statistical modeling, and experiments.
Drive yield recovery plans from problem identification through verified improvement.
Serve as the central technical authority for product behavior across internal teams and external customers.
Apply knowledge of compound semiconductor epitaxy and reactor fundamentals to understand and improve growth processes.
Correlate epitaxial variation with downstream optical and electrical device performance.
Partner with Epitaxy Engineering to reduce wafer-to-wafer and run-to-run variability.
Translate device-level failures into feedback for reactor and process optimization.
Analyze manufacturing datasets and develop statistical models to isolate yield-loss causes.
Build predictive models for early detection of yield excursions and automate data analysis workflows.
Analyze interactions among epitaxy, lithography, etch, deposition, metallization, inspection, and electrical and optical test steps.
Identify how upstream variability propagates into final device performance and provide Design-for-Manufacturability input during new product development.
Own yield performance during new product ramp from development into high-volume manufacturing.
Conduct technical risk assessments and mitigate yield sensitivities during early production.
Serve as a primary technical interface for key customers on yield, device performance, and reliability topics.
Present technical findings to customer engineering and quality teams; lead discussions during customer audits and yield reviews.
Support joint root-cause investigations and corrective action plans.
Translate manufacturing data into customer-relevant performance metrics.
Follow site EHS procedures and Coherent Corp. Corporate EHS standards.
Depending on location, execute and maintain applicable quality and environmental management standards.
Adhere to Coherent Corp.’s ICARE values.