Sr. Materials Engineer, Functional Thin Films, Terafab

About the role

Sr. Materials Engineer, Functional Thin Films, Terafab | Tesla (Terafab)

Location: AUSTIN, Texas | Req ID: 274113 | Job Type: Full-time

What to Expect

Tesla, SpaceX, and xAI are partnering to launch the most epic chip-building effort ever – combining logic, memory, and advanced packaging under one roof. Terafab will close the gap between today's chip production and the future's demand – a future among the stars.

The team is seeking a Thin Film Functional Materials Engineer to develop and optimize advanced ceramic and functional thin-film materials for semiconductor and energy applications. You will work at the intersection of ceramics science, thin-film processing, and device integration, developing materials with tailored electrical, thermal, optical, or mechanical properties. This role requires a strong foundation in ceramic materials science and hands-on experience with thin-film synthesis and characterization. This position requires up to 20% domestic travel.

What You'll Do

• Develop and characterize novel functional thin films (e.g., ferroelectrics, piezoelectrics, dielectrics, others) for semiconductor and device applications
• Optimize thin-film synthesis routes including sol-gel, chemical solution deposition, PVD, and ALD for compositions
• Investigate structure-property relationships in polycrystalline and epitaxial thin films through systematic characterization
• Collaborate with process engineers to integrate functional ceramic layers into multilayer device stacks
• Perform electrical, optical, and mechanical characterization of thin films (impedance spectroscopy, nanoindentation, piezoresponse force microscopy)
• Evaluate phase stability, crystallization kinetics, and texture evolution in films as a function of processing conditions
• Contribute to materials selection and qualification for new product development programs
• Document experimental results and present findings to cross-functional technical teams

What You'll Bring

• Degree in Materials Science, Physics, Chemistry, or a related field with emphasis on functional ceramics or thin-film materials, or equivalent experience
• 5+ years of experience in thin-film development, processing, or characterization
• Strong knowledge of crystal chemistry, phase equilibria, and crystallization behavior in thin-film geometries
• Hands-on experience with at least two thin-film deposition techniques (PVD, CVD, etc.)
• Proficiency in XRD, SEM, and electrical characterization of films
• Understanding of device integration requirements and compatibility constraints for layers
• Experience with lead-free piezoelectrics, high-k dielectrics, or solid-state ionics is preferred
• Familiarity with computational thermodynamics (CALPHAD) or combinatorial thin-film synthesis methods is a plus
• Ability to travel up to 20%

Benefits

Along with competitive pay, as a full-time Tesla employee, you are eligible for the following benefits at day 1 of hire:

• Medical plans > plan options with $0 payroll deduction
• Family-building, fertility, adoption and surrogacy benefits
• Dental (including orthodontic coverage) and vision plans, both have options with a $0 paycheck contribution
• Company Paid (Health Savings Accounts) HSA Contribution when enrolled in the High-Deductible medical plan with HSA
• Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• 401(k) with employer match, Employee Stock Purchase Plans, and other financial benefits
• Company paid Basic Life, AD&D
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance (90 day waiting period)
• Employee Assistance Program
• Sick and Vacation time (Flex time for salary positions, Accrued hours for Hourly positions), and Paid Holidays
• Back-up childcare and parenting support resources
• Voluntary benefits to include: critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident insurance, theft & legal services, and pet insurance
• Weight Loss and Tobacco Cessation Programs
• Tesla Babies program
• Commuter benefits
• Employee discounts and perks program
• Earned Wage Access: Real-time pay access paid daily, subject to eligibility and schedule (applicable for below Sr. Managers levels)