Senior Thin Film Deposition Engineer

Your Mission Own and optimize PVD/PECVD processes. Develop and modify deposition processes to improve film performance, repeatability, yield, and throughput Monitor process performance and troubleshoot deposition issues, excursions, and variability Maintain deposition equipment from a process and engineering perspective, including hands-on troubleshooting and preventative maintenance Diagnose equipment-related issues involving vacuum systems, gas delivery, power supplies, targets, chambers, and other deposition system components Partner with engineering and manufacturing teams to keep deposition tools running reliably and minimize downtime Develop process recipes, operating parameters, and process controls Plan and execute experiments and DOEs to understand process windows and optimize performance Support modifications and upgrades to existing deposition equipment as manufacturing needs evolve Analyze process and equipment data to identify trends, root causes, and opportunities for improvement Develop and maintain process documentation, specifications, work instructions, and equipment maintenance procedures Support the transition of new or modified deposition processes from development into production What You Bring Bachelor's degree in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or a related technical field; advanced degree a plus Significant hands-on experience with physical vapor deposition (PVD) and plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) processes and equipment Deep technical knowledge of thin film deposition, including process parameters, plasma behavior, vacuum systems, target/material interactions, and thin film properties Experience developing, optimizing, and troubleshooting thin film deposition processes in a manufacturing or production environment Hands-on experience maintaining, troubleshooting, and modifying PVD/sputtering equipment Strong understanding of vacuum equipment and components, including pumps, valves, pressure measurement, gas delivery, and related systems Experience using structured problem-solving, DOE, and data analysis to improve process performance Ability to independently troubleshoot complex issues that cross the boundary between process and equipment Comfortable working directly with production equipment in a fast-paced manufacturing environment What Gives You an Edge Experience with thin film deposition for semiconductor, photovoltaic, aerospace, or other high-reliability applications Experience scaling deposition processes from R&D or development into manufacturing Experience with equipment upgrades, retrofits, or custom modifications Familiarity with SPC and manufacturing process controls Experience with additional vacuum deposition or thin film characterization techniques Our Benefits Competitive salary Generous, high-quality medical, dental, and vision coverage on day one of employment 15 vacation days, 5 sick days, and 10 paid holidays annually - with an extended holiday break at year’s end 401K with employer match up to 4% of salary Employer-paid short-term and long-term disability and employer-sponsored life insurance Your work will literally go to space!