DLC Process Engineer

ARMORLUBE LLC; Tucson (AZ); On-site; USD 90,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

ArmorLube LLC is seeking a DLC Process Engineer to lead optimization, scaling, and daily execution of PECVD coating lines. You will own the coating lifecycle from pretreatment to advanced plasma parameter tuning for DLC and thin-film coatings.

The role requires expertise in vacuum science, surface engineering, and plasma-assisted deposition, and you will work with production, quality, and R&D teams to reduce cycle times and improve coating adhesion and yield.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a technical field (Materials Science, Mechanical/Chemical Engineering, Physics) or related discipline.
• 3+ years in vacuum coating, PVD/PACVD, or DLC deposition systems.
• Strong foundation in vacuum tech, plasma physics, and thin-film growth.
• Experience with substrate prep, cleaning, and surface treatments.
• Experience with CAD for designing vacuum fixtures and tooling.

Responsibilities

• Optimize PECVD deposition recipes, parameters, and target properties (hardness, thickness, residual stress, friction).
• Develop and standardize pretreatment protocols to maximize adhesion.
• Design and maintain substrate holders, masking tools, and rotation fixtures.
• Investigate failures with analytical tools and implement CAPA actions.
• Collaborate with maintenance for vacuum systems, MFCs, and plasma sources.
• Write SOPs, batch records, and traveler documentation to support quality standards.
• Scale new coatings from lab/pilot to full production.

Skills

Vacuum science

Surface engineering

Plasma-assisted deposition

DOE & Six Sigma

Data-driven problem solving

Education

B.S. in Materials Science

B.S. in Mechanical/Chemical Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

AutoCAD

Job description

ARMORLUBE — JOB DESCRIPTION
DLC Process Engineer

Optimization of Pretreatment, Fixturing & Process Parameters for DLC Coatings

Position Overview

ArmorLube is seeking a dedicated and technically driven DLC Process Engineer to lead the optimization, scaling, and daily execution of our Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (PECVD) coating lines. In this role, you will take ownership of the entire coating lifecycle—from raw substrate pretreatment and custom fixture design to advanced plasma parameter tuning for diamond-like carbon (DLC) and thin-film coatings.

The ideal candidate possesses a deep understanding of vacuum science, surface engineering, and plasma-assisted deposition. You will work closely with production, quality, and R&D teams to reduce cycle times, enhance coating adhesion, eliminate defects, and scale our industrial coating capabilities for high-performance components.

Key Responsibilities

• Process Optimization:Continuously monitor, refine, and troubleshoot PECVD deposition recipes and parameter sets to achieve target hardness, thickness, residual stress, and friction coefficients for DLC coatings.
• Pretreatment Engineering:Develop, standardize, and optimize surface preparation protocols—including abrasive blasting, ultrasonic cleaning, chemical etching, and plasma cleaning—to maximize substrate adhesion.
• Fixture Design & Tooling:Design, fabricate, and maintain specialized substrate holders, masking tools, and rotation fixtures to ensure uniform coating coverage across complex geometries.
• Quality & Troubleshooting:Investigate process and coating failures, delamination, or non-conformance issues using analytical tools (e.g., scratch testing, calo-testing, and microscopy); implement robust corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
• Equipment Maintenance & Upgrades:Partner with maintenance teams to calibrate vacuum systems, mass flow controllers, power supplies, and plasma sources. Support preventative maintenance and hardware upgrades.
• Documentation & Standard Work:Author and update Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), batch records, and traveler documentation to maintain strict compliance with industrial quality standards.
• R&D and Scaling:Transition new coating recipes and custom customer applications from the laboratory and pilot scale into full production runs.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Education:Bachelor's degree in Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Physics, or a related technical discipline. (Advanced degree preferred).
• Experience:3+ years of hands-on engineering experience in a vacuum coating environment, specifically working with PVD, PACVD, or DLC deposition systems.
• Technical Expertise:Strong foundation in vacuum technology, plasma physics, and thin-film nucleation/growth mechanisms. Demonstrated experience with substrate surface preparation and cleaning science. Proficiency in CAD software (SolidWorks, AutoCAD) for designing custom tooling and vacuum fixtures.
• Analytical Skills:Familiarity with coating characterization methods such as tribological testing, microhardness testing, profilometry, and adhesion testing.
• Problem-Solving:Data-driven mindset with a proven track record of using DOE (Design of Experiments) and Six Sigma methodologies to drive yield improvements.