ALD lab technician

Amphiform; Berkeley (CA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Amphiform is building next-gen energy materials and opening a Berkeley lab to deploy ALD/MLD deposition, characterisation, and data-driven workflows. You will run deposition tools, prep substrates, and support chemists to keep research moving day to day.

You’ll document processes, handle materials safely, and contribute to data analysis while reporting to the Head of Lab Operations. On-site in Berkeley with US work authorisation required.

Qualifications

• Hands-on time in a chemistry, materials or semiconductor lab (glovebox, vacuum tools or cleanroom).
• A degree in chemistry, materials science, chemical engineering, physics or similar. Undergraduate through postdoc welcome.
• Meticulous, methodical, and cares about the quality of their work.
• Comfortable with vacuum systems, gas handling and standard lab safety practices.
• Clear written communication.
• Able to work on-site in Berkeley with existing US work authorisation.

Responsibilities

• Operate ALD/MLD reactors for routine deposition runs; execute recipes and keep run logs.
• Prepare substrates, precursors and samples; handle pyrophoric precursors and ozone after training.
• Run standard characterisation: ellipsometry, XRD, SEM/EDS, BET, electrochemical testing.
• Support synthesis work for researchers: simple organic and inorganic prep, solution handling, glovebox work.
• Reduce and plot data using Python or Excel; maintain accurate sample tracking.
• Maintain calibration, consumables and lab inventory; refine SOPs and safety protocols.
• Flag anomalies early.

Skills

Lab operations

Glovebox handling

Vacuum systems

Data analysis

Written communication

On-site Berkeley work

Education

Degree in chemistry, materials science, chemical engineering or physics

Tools

ALD/MLD equipment

Ellipsometry

XRD

SEM/EDS

BET

Python

Job description

Amphiform (amphiform.com) is building next-gen energy materials for AI data centres, defence and space: light, abundant and powerful. We achieve that by creating a new type of matter: hybrid materials, built atomic layer by atomic layer, where every atom has a pre-programmed purpose.We just closed a $5.5+1m pre-seed led by General Catalyst and Main Object, with Thomas Wolf (Hugging Face), Charlie Songhurst, and others.

About the role

About Amphiform:

Amphiform (amphiform.com) is building next-gen energy materials for AI data centres, defence and space: light, abundant and powerful. We achieve that by creating a new type of matter: hybrid materials, built atomic layer by atomic layer, where every atom has a pre-programmed purpose.We just closed a $5.5+1m pre-seed led by General Catalyst and Main Object, with Thomas Wolf (Hugging Face), Charlie Songhurst, and others.

About the role

You’ll run the deposition tools and keep the science moving day to day: ALD/MLD runs, sample prep, standard characterisation, and clean, well-recorded data. You’ll work alongside our research chemists and report to the Head of Lab Operations. Out Berkeley lab is opening now and we’ll have the first reactors installed in ~a month.

What you’ll do

• Operate ALD/MLD reactors for routine deposition runs: execute recipes, run witness wafers, keep the run log
• Prepare substrates, precursors and samples; handle pyrophoric precursors (TMA, DEZ) and ozone to SOP once trained
• Run standard characterisation: ellipsometry, XRD, SEM/EDS, BET, electrochemical testing
• Support synthesis work for the research chemists: simple organic and inorganic prep, solution handling, glovebox work
• Reduce and plot data (Python or Excel); keep sample tracking and records accurate
• Maintain calibration, consumables and lab inventory; follow and help refine SOPs and safety protocols
• Flag anomalies early

What we’re looking for

• Hands-on time in a chemistry, materials or semiconductor lab: glovebox, vacuum tools or cleanroom
• A degree in chemistry, materials science, chemical engineering, physics or similar. Undergraduate through postdoc all welcome
• Meticulous, methodical, and genuinely cares about the quality of their work
• Comfortable with vacuum systems, gas handling and standard lab safety practices
• Clear written communication
• Able to work on-site in Berkeley with existing US work authorisation

Nice to have

• Direct experience with ALD, CVD, sputtering or other vapour-phase deposition
• Electrochemical testing or fuel cell / electrolyser MEA fabrication
• Python for data handling and plotting
• Experience commissioning new equipment from scratch

Not required

• A PhD
• Prior ALD experience
• Fuel cell or catalysis background