Thin Films Engineer

About the role 

We are hiring a Thin Films Engineer to develop, sustain and improve deposition processes. You will own one or more PVD and/or CVD processes. 
You will work daily with equipment engineering to improve process recipes, tool performance and yield and help drive continuous improvements across the company.   You will be involved in new product development and help ensure new processes are qualified from development into high-volume manufacturing. The role reports to the Thin Films Engineering Manager and sits on site in the fab. 

Location: Albuquerque, NM (on-site) 
Level: 5+ years of experience 
Job type: Full-time, exempt, MUST BE A US CITIZEN 

What you'll do 

• Own deposition processes for dielectric, metal and barrier/liner films (e.g., SiN, Ti, TaN, TiW, Cu seed) on PVD or PECVD platforms. 

• Develop and optimize recipes for thickness, uniformity, stress, refractive index, step coverage, resistivity, composition and defectivity. 

• Run designed experiments (DOE) and use statistical methods to characterize process windows and set robust specs. 

• Sustain high-volume production: monitor SPC charts, respond to out-of-control events, disposition material and drive corrective actions. 

• Lead root-cause investigations into yield, reliability and defect excursions using 8D, FMEA and fishbone methods. 

• Qualify new tools, chambers, chemistries, targets and precursors, including chamber matching and fleet transfers. 

• Partner with equipment engineering on preventive maintenance, chamber seasoning and uptime improvement. 

• Support technology transfer of new nodes and device structures from R&D into manufacturing. 

• Drive cost reduction through consumable life extension, throughput gains and precursor or gas usage optimization. 

• Write and maintain process specs, control plans, OCAPs and change-control documentation. 

• Work with suppliers on hardware, materials and process issues; present results to cross-functional teams and management. 

• Own yield for assigned products or technologies, tracking line, die and final test yield against targets. 

• Run split lots and DOEs to verify fixes and quantify yield gain. 
  
  

Required Qualifications 

• Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics or Chemistry  

• Hands-on process experience with PVD and/or PECVD in a wafer fab or advanced R&D cleanroom 

• Working knowledge of vacuum systems, plasma physics, gas-phase and surface chemistry, and film growth mechanisms. 

• Strong statistical analysis skills, including SPC, DOE, hypothesis testing and regression. 

• Proven structured problem solving, such as 8D or 5 why’s 

• Clear communication of technical findings to engineers and management. 

• Must be a US citizen 
  
  

Preferred qualifications 

• Background in new product introduction (NPI) or technology ramp to high volume. 

• Machine learning or advanced analytics applied to manufacturing data. 

• Hands-on experience analyzing large manufacturing datasets with JMP, SQL, Python or similar tools.  

• Background in metallization and interconnect (barrier/seed, Cu, Co, Ru) or back-end-of-line processes and integration. 
  
  

What we offer 

• Compensation: Based on experience, paid relocation and equity. 

• Benefits: Medical, dental and vision coverage, IRA, paid time off and holidays, tuition assistance and relocation support. 

• Impact: Direct visibility into how your work moves fab output and product margins. 

• Relocation: support available for qualified candidates. 
  
  

Work environment and physical requirements 

This role splits time between the cleanroom and the office. In the cleanroom you will wear full gowning (bunny suit, gloves, hood, safety glasses) for extended periods. 

• Stand and walk for several hours at a time and lift up to 25 lb (11 kg). 

• Follow strict safety and chemical handling procedures, including work near hazardous gases, chemicals and high-voltage equipment. 
  
  

Reasonable accommodations are available for qualified individuals with disabilities.