Research Engineer, Semiconductor

About the Role

As a Research Engineer, Semiconductor, you’ll own device-level validation of our materials work, taking novel thin-film stacks from deposition through patterned test vehicles to measure electrical performance. You’ll design and run short-loop experiments that demonstrate how materials and interfaces translate into device behavior, leveraging both internal and external lab resources. You’ll also contribute technical expertise to customer-facing engagements, and this role blends deep hands-on capability with the flexibility to work across teams and partners to solve hard materials problems.

What You’ll Do

• Design, fabricate, and characterize short-loop device test vehicles that demonstrate material and device performance against clear electrical targets.
• Build patterned devices end-to-end using photolithography, direct-write laser lithography, or e-beam lithography, integrated with deposition, etch, and metrology.
• Deposit thin-film stacks with engineered, complex interfaces using PVD, PLD, MBE, and ALD/CVD techniques.
• Perform electrical characterization on probe stations, and design and build custom measurement test benches where commercial tools fall short.
• Connect materials and interface properties to device outcomes, feeding insights back into film-stack and process development.
• Contribute technical expertise to customer-facing engagements, translating customer needs into experimental plans and results.
• Document experimental methodology, results, and learnings to feed both internal knowledge and AI training infrastructure.

You Will Thrive in This Role If You Have

• MS or PhD in Materials Science, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related field, plus relevant industry experience.
• Semiconductor industry experience in device development or process integration, background at an IDM, foundry, or memory manufacturer strongly preferred.
• Strong command of device physics and integration flows, with a track record of demonstrating device performance in short-loop test vehicles.
• Hands-on fabrication experience spanning lithography (photo, laser direct-write, or e-beam), thin-film deposition, etch, and metrology.
• A deep understanding of how materials selection and interface quality drive device performance.
• Proficiency in probe-station device measurement, plus the ability to architect and assemble custom electrical test setups.
• A strong condensed matter physics foundation, spintronics, magnetic materials, or quantum phenomena, is a plus.
• Working knowledge of emerging memory and logic device architectures is a plus.
• Startup-ready mindset: able to operate effectively in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment while implementing industry-standard best practices.

Mechanics

• Minimum education: Master’s degree with relevant experience
• Location: Menlo Park, CA
• Compensation: $220k - $300k + equity
• Visa sponsorship: Yes, we sponsor visas and will do everything we can to assist in this process with our legal support.