Senior Staff Computational Materials Engineer - MLIPs

Lam Research•Fremont, CA

1d•$166,000 - $350,000•Hybrid

About The Position

In the Semiverse Solutions Team, we are dedicated to excellence in the virtual experimentation of Lam’s etch and deposition processes. We drive innovation to ensure our cutting-edge solutions are helping to solve the biggest challenges in the semiconductor industry. As a Senior Staff Computational Materials - MLIPs Engineer at Lam, you will operate on cutting-edge technology, harnessing atomic precision, materials science, and surface engineering to push technical boundaries. Your role involves identifying new and advanced processes and chemical formulations. Your expertise and knowledge will play a crucial role in our customers’ success, making an impact on next generation semiconductor technologies.

Requirements

Ph.D. in Computational Chemistry, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering or Materials Science (or equivalent)
8+ years of industry experience, post Ph.D.
Experience using DFT software (e.g. Gaussian, Quantum Espresso)
Experience with frontier molecular orbital analysis and full reaction pathway studies
Experience applying quantum chemistry fundamentals to solve challenges related to semiconductor processes and materials applications
Experience developing, training, validating, and deploying MLIP architectures (e.g. MACE, SevenNet)
Experience with reactive molecular dynamics (e.g. ReaxFF)
Proficiency in scientific programming using Python, or related languages
Experience utilizing high performance computing (HPC) environments for large-scale simulations and data analysis
Demonstrated ability to independently solve complex technical problems and communicate results to multidisciplinary teams
Strong organizational skills and demonstrated ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously
Ability to react to shifting priorities to meet business needs and deadlines

Nice To Haves

Experience defining technical strategy for atomistic simulations, machine learning, or scientific computing capabilities
Experience translating advanced simulation and AI technologies into engineering solutions that impact product development
Experience leading collaborations with universities, national laboratories, or external technology partners

Responsibilities

Perform first-principles calculations and atomistic modeling to investigate reaction mechanisms, surface chemistry, plasma-surface interactions, and materials behavior
Generate high fidelity training datasets from quantum chemistry and density functional theory (DFT) calculations to support development of next-generation simulation capabilities
Utilize computational chemistry learning to support process engineering research & development, and process/chamber/feature simulations
Compile and evaluate modeling data to provide guidance on chemistries and materials, as well as appropriate limits and variables for process specifications
Communicate chemistry and process insights clearly through presentations and technical discussions with stakeholders
Evaluate machine learning interatomic potential (MLIP) architectures (e.g. MACE, SevenNet)
Design, train, validate and deploy MLIP architectures using DFT reference data to establish predictive molecular dynamics simulations for various semiconductor device materials and process chemistry applications
Build scalable workflows for data generation, active learning, model training, uncertainty quantification, and validation of ML-based force fields
Collaborate with software engineers and domain scientists to integrate MLIP capabilities into simulation platforms and digital twin solutions
Provide technical leadership in computational materials science, computational chemistry, and machine learning methodologies; mentor engineers and influence cross-functional technology roadmaps
Drive identification, evaluation, and adoption of emerging simulation and AI technologies that create strategic advantage in semiconductor process development