Physical Vapor Deposition Researcher — Associate Engineer II
Core
Execute and refine physical vapor deposition processes (thermal evaporation, co-evaporation, sputtering) to produce high-quality thin films for advanced photovoltaic devices.
Role type
Associate Engineer II, hands-on IC process engineer
Builds
High-quality thin films for advanced photovoltaic devices
Domain
Aerospace / Photovoltaics / Materials Science
Deliverable
production ML models | product features | dashboards & analysis | research | client delivery | infrastructure | physical/clinical work
Required skills
Vacuum thin-film deposition operation, Thin-film growth physics, Film characterization techniques, Vacuum system maintenance, Experimental data analysis, Laboratory safety protocols
Preferred skills
Multi-source co-evaporation, Reactive sputtering, Perovskite/CIGS/CdTe/organic semiconductor materials, QCM-based deposition rate monitoring, DOE methodology, Cleanroom environment experience
Technologies
Thermal evaporators, Sputter coaters, Profilometry, XRD, SEM, Optical spectroscopy, JMP, Minitab, Python, R
Responsibilities
Operate thermal evaporation, co-evaporation, and sputtering systems to deposit thin-film layers, Perform routine film characterization (thickness measurement, profilometry, 4-point probe, optical transmission, XRD sample prep), Maintain vacuum deposition equipment including source changes, chamber cleaning, pump maintenance, and substrate fixture preparation, Record detailed experimental data and maintain lab notebooks to research-grade documentation standards, Analyze process data and present results to the team, identifying trends and proposing recipe modifications, Support DOE campaigns by preparing substrates, executing run matrices, and compiling results, Troubleshoot equipment issues (leak detection, pressure anomalies, source failures)
Seniority
Associate Engineer II, hands-on IC