Senior CFD Engineer - Plasma Specialist

PhysicsX; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity options

Pension plan

Free lunches

Parental leave

Nursery scheme

Annual leave 25 days

Private medical insurance

Wellbeing membership

Eye tests

Personal development

EAP

Bike2Work

Season ticket loan

EV salary sacrifice

Job summary

PhysicsX is seeking a Senior CFD Engineer – Plasma Specialist to advance high-fidelity simulations for semiconductor manufacturing. You will develop computational plasma models, work closely with customers on-site, and ensure results drive real process decisions.

The role requires 3–5 years post-PhD experience, strong Python skills, and collaboration with ML teams. You will travel internationally to work side-by-side with customers, and join a hybrid team based in Shoreditch.

Qualifications

• Deep expertise in plasma physics applied to semiconductor manufacturing.
• Experience with plasma etching, deposition, and surface processing.
• Strong computational plasma modeling: plasma chemistry, sheath dynamics, ion energy distribution, plasma-surface interactions.
• Proficiency in Python for workflow automation.
• 3–5 years of industry experience post-PhD, ideally in semiconductor manufacturing.
• Excellent client communication and ability to present results clearly.

Responsibilities

• Building and owning computational plasma models for semiconductor manufacturing processes (etching, deposition, surface interactions).
• Work directly with semiconductor customers on-site to scope challenges and present results for process decisions.
• Select and apply appropriate simulation tools and fidelity levels; validate outputs against data.
• Collaborate with Data Scientists and ML Engineers to integrate simulations into AI workflows.
• Operate independently on open-ended, highly specialized problems with minimal oversight.
• Travel globally (NA, Europe, Asia, Oceania) ~3–4 weeks per quarter to work with customers on-site.

Skills

Plasma physics

CFD modeling

Python

On-site work

Semiconductor manufacturing

Education

Post-PhD experience

Tools

COMSOL

HPEM

VizGlow

CFD-ACE+

Job description

About Us

PhysicsX is a deep-tech company with roots in numerical physics and Formula One, dedicated to accelerating hardware innovation at the speed of software. We are building an AI-driven simulation software stack for engineering and manufacturing across advanced industries. By enabling high-fidelity, multi-physics simulation through AI inference across the entire engineering lifecycle, PhysicsX unlocks new levels of optimization and automation in design, manufacturing, and operations — empowering engineers to push the boundaries of possibility. Our customers include leading innovators in Aerospace & Defense, Materials, Energy, Semiconductors, and Automotive.

Who We’re Looking For

As a Senior CFD Engineer – Plasma Specialist, you are a problem solver passionate about creating practical solutions that help customers make better engineering decisions. You bring deep expertise in plasma physics and excel at working directly with customers, often on-site to build high-fidelity computational models integrated into AI tools that are both useful and used.

We are seeking a skilled Senior CFD Engineer with expertise in plasma physics applied to semiconductor manufacturing, including plasma etching, deposition, and surface processing. We are particularly interested in candidates with a strong background in computational plasma modeling, covering areas such as plasma chemistry, sheath dynamics, ion energy distribution, and plasma-surface interactions. Awareness of machine learning in physics-based simulation workflows is a plus.

You are independent, adaptable, and experienced, able to engage rapidly with semiconductor customer teams and tackle highly niche engineering challenges without needing to learn the industry from scratch. Strong communication skills are critical, as you'll work closely with clients to define challenges, present results clearly, and co-develop solutions.

If you have Plasma experience in other industries, we'd still love to hear from you!

This Role

In this role, you will work closely with our Data Scientists, Machine Learning Engineers, and customers to understand and define the plasma-related engineering challenges we are solving.

You will play a crucial role in delivering high-fidelity simulations by:

• Building and owning computational plasma models for semiconductor manufacturing processes, including plasma etching, CVD/ALD deposition, and ion-driven surface interactions.
• Working directly with semiconductor customers – often on-site – to scope engineering challenges, design modeling strategies, and present results in a way that drives real process decisions.
• Selecting and applying the right simulation tools and fidelity level for each problem (e.g., COMSOL, HPEM, VizGlow, CFD-ACE+), and validating outputs against experimental or industrial process data.
• Collaborating closely with PhysicsX Data Scientists and ML Engineers to integrate your simulation work into AI‑powered workflows.
• Operating independently on open‑ended, highly specialised problems – scoping, executing, and delivering with minimal oversight.
• Having 3–5 years of industry experience (post‑PhD), ideally within or directly supporting the semiconductor manufacturing industry.
• Proficiency in Python (or similar) for workflow automation, data handling, and integration with simulation tools.
• Combining project leadership with a strong commitment to mentoring junior colleagues, contributing to a culture of collaboration, growth, and shared success.
• Traveling globally (North America, Europe, Asia, Oceania) for an average of 3-4 weeks per quarter to work side‑by‑side with customers in building solutions on‑site.

As the role evolves, there are opportunities for growth as an individual contributor or technical lead, especially if you want to own increasingly complex semiconductor plasma projects and help guide the direction of future solutions. We operate on a hybrid model, with around three days per week based in our Shoreditch office.

Our Delivery Teams Drive Innovation

Turn AI models into practical solutions – read our blog to learn more about how you'll contribute to this exciting journey!

What We Offer

• Equity options – share meaningfully in the company you’re helping to build.
• 10% employer pension contribution – because investing in future matters.
• Free office lunches – to keep you energized and focused.
• Enhanced parental leave – 3 months full pay paternity and 6 months full pay maternity leave, to provide extra flexibility during the moments that matter most.
• YellowNest nursery scheme – to help working parents manage childcare costs.
• 25 days of Annual Leave (+ Public Holidays) – because taking time to rest matters.
• Private medical insurance – 100% employee cover, giving you complete peace of mind.
• Wellhub Subscription – gain access to thousands of gyms, classes and wellness apps, supporting both physical and mental wellbeing.
• Eye tests – because good work depends on good health.
• Personal development – dedicated support for learning, development, and leveling up over time.
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) – confidential wellbeing support, available whenever you need it.
• Bike2Work scheme and Season ticket loan – to make getting to work easier and greener.
• Octopus EV salary sacrifice – for a simpler, more sustainable way to drive electric.

Our Values

We value diversity and are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of sex, race, religion, ethnicity, nationality, disability, age, sexual orientation or gender identity.

We strongly encourage individuals from groups traditionally underrepresented in tech to apply. To help make a change, we sponsor bright women from disadvantaged backgrounds through their university degrees in science and mathematics.

We collect diversity and inclusion data solely for the purpose of monitoring the effectiveness of our equal opportunities policies and ensuring compliance with UK employment and equality legislation. This information is confidential, used only in aggregate form, and will not influence the outcome of your application.