Sr. TPV Process Development Engineer

Antora Energy•Sunnyvale, CA

1d•$129,000 - $210,000•Onsite

About The Position

Antora Energy is seeking a Process Development Engineer to help drive continued improvements in thermophotovoltaic (TPV) performance. This engineer will own key optical thin-film processes and play a central role in the optical and device modeling that guides Antora's broader efficiency roadmap. The role combines hands-on cleanroom process development with optical design, device modeling, metrology, data analysis, and experimental design. You will use these tools to identify and prioritize the highest-impact opportunities for improving TPV performance, develop and validate solutions in the fab, and translate them into measurable gains in device performance.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree with 5+ years of experience, Master’s degree with 3+ years of experience, or PhD in physics, optics, electrical engineering, materials science, chemical engineering, or a related technical field.
Hands-on experience with physical vapor deposition (PVD) techniques such as electron-beam evaporation, thermal evaporation, or sputtering.
Demonstrated success developing and qualifying optical thin-film deposition processes.
Optical and device-modeling expertise, including designing and optimizing multilayer thin-film stacks and validating model predictions against measured film or device data.
Practical knowledge of thin-film characterization and metrology techniques such as reflectometry, FTIR, spectrophotometry, ellipsometry, or related methods.
Strong knowledge of semiconductor device physics, particularly photovoltaics, III-V semiconductors, or other optoelectronic devices.
Proficiency in Python or similar computational tools for data processing, visualization, modeling, and automation.
Effective use of AI-assisted tools for coding, modeling, analysis, and documentation, supported by sound technical judgment and critical validation of generated outputs.
Rigorous technical documentation and knowledge transfer, including clear SOPs, experiment records, and process specifications.
Clear technical communication and effective cross-functional collaboration, combined with intellectual honesty and a continuous-improvement mindset.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with photomask and device-layout tools such as KLayout or L-Edit and with photolithography processes.
Experimental and analytical skills, including design of experiments, statistical process analysis, structured root-cause investigation, and process optimization.
Knowledge of statistical process control, process scaling, and other methods used to transition R&D processes toward production.

Responsibilities

Develop and own optical thin-film deposition processes and equipment. This includes coating design, process development, qualification, troubleshooting, process control, and user training.
Own the process-side roadmap for improving TPV efficiency. This includes building and using optical and device-level models in Python, with AI-assisted coding and analysis used extensively to accelerate development.
Characterize thin films and establish reliable metrology and process controls for properties such as thickness, refractive index, uniformity, stress, and adhesion.
Compare model predictions with measured device performance, then use the results to improve the models and guide further process development.
Plan and run structured process experiments, using tools such as Python, JMP, and AI to analyze results and accelerate process development.