Thin Film Engineer

Delft Circuits; Delft; On-site; EUR 56,000 - 63,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

8% holiday allowance

Pension PME

CAO Metalektro

30 vacation days

Travel reimbursement

Job summary

Delft Circuits is seeking an experienced Process Engineer - thin film to lead the scale-up of sputtering processes from development into high-throughput production. You will blend hands-on process work with data-driven strategy to ensure robustness, repeatability, and manufacturability for growing production lines.

You will collaborate with Industrialization and Production teams to deploy scale-up plans, with strong emphasis on process control, DoE and SPC methods, while traveling to suppliers

Qualifications

• Extensive hands-on experience with thin film deposition and sputtering.
• Proven ability to scale processes from development to production.
• Experience in cleanroom environments and production readiness.
• Strong analytical, data-driven approach and problem solving.

Responsibilities

• Lead development, optimization and qualification of thin film deposition processes for production use.
• Define scaling strategies in collaboration with Industrialization team.
• Optimize sputtering processes with systematic parameter tuning.
• Define and monitor KPIs for yield, uniformity and reliability.
• Mentor operators and collaborate with cross-functional teams; travel to suppliers as needed.

Skills

Sputtering experience

Process optimization

DoE / SPC / Six Sigma

Data-driven decision making

Cleanroom experience

Cross-functional collaboration

International travel

Education

HBO Masters / PhD in Materials Science / Process Engineering

Tools

Deposition equipment (sputtering)

DOE software / statistical tools

Job description

The Role

As an experienced Process Engineer - thin film, you will lead the transition of processes from development into stable, high-throughput production, with a strong focus on thin film deposition, particularly sputtering as one of our primary deposition technologies.

You will combine hands-on process work with a data-driven and strategic mindset, ensuring processes are optimized, controlled, and scalable. Your focus will be to bring new and existing deposition processes to a level of robustness, repeatability, and manufacturability that supports reliable production growth.

You will work closely with the Industrialization and Production teams to define and execute scale-up strategies, with the ultimate goal of releasing robust processes into manufacturing. This role requires strong hands-on execution, structured process development, and close collaboration with internal teams and external equipment partners.

• Delft

Thin Film Engineer

About Delft Circuits

At Delft Circuits, we develop and manufacture advanced interconnect solutions and microfabricated devices for cutting-edge applications. Our technology enables some of the most demanding innovations in fields such as quantum computing, aerospace, and high-performance electronics.

As our company and client portfolio continue to grow, we are entering an important phase of manufacturing scale-up. To support this growth, we are expanding critical thin film deposition capabilities and are looking for an experienced process engineer to help ensure fast, reliable, and high-quality production ramp-up.

To support this, we are looking for a Senior Process Engineer who will take a leading role in scaling our processes and ensuring they are ready for reliable, high-quality production.

Your key responsibilities will include:

Process Development & Scale-up

• Lead the development, optimization, and qualification of thin film deposition processes for reliable production use and scale-up
• Define and execute process scaling strategies in collaboration with the Industrialization team
• Optimize sputtering and related deposition processes through systematic parameter tuning
• Define, monitor, and improve process KPIs including yield, uniformity, film quality, and overall process robustness
• Establish robust process windows with a strong focus on repeatability, stability, and manufacturability
• Define and improve thin film quality metrics (e.g. uniformity, stress, adhesion, superconducting/metal properties)
• Develop process control approaches and acceptance criteria to support successful manufacturing release

Ownership & Collaboration

• Mentor and support operators and junior team members during scale-up and ramp-up
• Managing projects by working closely with cross-functional teams to ensure effective transfer of qualified processes into manufacturing
• Travel to equipment suppliers (primarily US-based) to perform on-site recipe optimization and initial process testing
• Drive continuous improvement using data-driven analysis and feedback loops

What you bring

• HBO Masters /PhD or equivalent Background in Materials Science, Process Engineering, Micro/Nanotechnology, or a related field
• 5+ years of experience in thin film deposition and/or micro- and nanofabrication processes
• Strong hands-on experience with process optimization, preferably in sputtering or similar deposition techniques
• Proven experience in scaling processes toward production while maintaining quality and control
• Experience with structured process development and control methods such as DoE, SPC, and root-cause analysis; Six Sigma is a strong plus
• Experience working in a cleanroom environment
• Excellent communication skills in English
• Willingness to travel internationally (including the US) for supplier interaction and process development

Bonus points for

• Familiarity with metals and/or superconducting materials.
• Experience with flexible substrates or flex PCB fabrication.

Personal Attributes

We are looking for someone who:

• Takes ownership and drives process improvements.
• Works in a structured, analytical and data-driven way.
• Enjoys collaborating across multidisciplinary teams.
• Communicates confidently with colleagues, suppliers and stakeholders.
• Combines hands-on engineering with strategic thinking.

Why join Delft Circuits?

This is a unique opportunity to take ownership of how cutting-edge processes are scaled from concept to production. You will have a direct impact on product quality, manufacturing capability, and the company’s ability to grow.

Working at the intersection of R&D and production, you will shape how our technologies move from promising prototypes to reliable, high-performance products used by leading clients worldwide.

As part of our multidisciplinary and innovative environment, you will also find:

• A 1-year contract with intention to extend
• Fulltime position (36 hours per week)
• A competitive salary based on experience € 56.376 - € 63.439 per year, including 8% annual holiday allowance in May
• CAO Metalektro
• Pension scheme (PME)
• Travel reimbursement (choose between €0.23/km or public transport subscription)
• 30 vacation days per year