Epitaxy Engineer

Relha LLC; Abingdon, Northern (VA, KY); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid parental leave

Comprehensive medical coverage

Emotional and mental health support

Long-term incentive program

Job summary

Snap Inc. seeks an Epi Engineer to join the Spectacles team in advancing III–V epitaxy technologies and device quality. You will drive MOCVD processes, perform materials growth, and collaborate with process, equipment, and test teams to achieve milestones.

Qualifications include a B.S. in a technical field with hands-on epitaxy experience; PhD is a plus. The role emphasizes IP development, safety, and adherence to cleanroom protocols, in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Hands-on epitaxy R&D and manufacturing experience with III–V materials.
• Bachelor’s or higher in a relevant field; PhD preferred for advanced roles.
• Experience designing DOEs and conducting structured MOCVD experiments.

Responsibilities

• Drive development of III–V epitaxy technologies for next‑gen devices.
• Plan processes, optimize recipes, grow materials, and characterize quality.
• Perform experiments, data analysis, and QA to improve yield and uniformity.
• Collaborate with Process, Equipment, and Test teams to meet milestones.
• Contribute to IP development and patent efforts; ensure cleanroom compliance.

Skills

Epitaxy R&D

MOCVD systems

Materials characterization

DOE design experiments

Data analysis

Troubleshooting

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's in Materials Science or related

PhD in Materials Science/Physics/Engineering (preferred)

Tools

XRD

PL

CL

EL

SEM

AFM

Job description

Snap Inc is a technology company. We believe the camera presents the greatest opportunity to improve the way people live and communicate. Snap contributes to human progress by empowering people to express themselves, live in the moment, learn about the world, and have fun together.

The Company operates Snapchat, a visual messaging app that enhances your relationships with friends, family, and the world, and Specs Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary dedicated to making computing more human, in addition to Bitmoji, Saturn, and other digital services.

Specs Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Snap Inc. dedicated to making computing more human. The company develops Specs, advanced eyewear that seamlessly integrates digital experiences into the physical world.

Specs feature see-through lenses that place digital objects directly into three-dimensional space, powered by Snap OS, a proprietary, context-aware operating system designed for natural interaction with your hands and voice.

Specs Inc. also provides Lens Studio, a full suite of advanced developer tools that powers immersive augmented reality experiences across Specs, Snapchat, and other services.

We’re looking for an Epi Engineer to join the Spectacles team at Snap Inc!

What You’ll Do

Drive the development of III–V epitaxy technologies to enable new innovations and next-generation devices

Contribute to day-to-day epitaxy operations, including process planning, recipe optimization, material growth execution, and materials characterization using tools such as XRD, PL, CL, EL, SEM, AFM, and surface defectivity assessments

Conduct process testing, data analysis, and quality assurance, ensuring continuous improvement in epitaxial performance, uniformity, and yield

Collaborate cross-functionally with teams including Process Engineering, Equipment Engineering, Characterisation & Test, Facilities, and Shift Engineers to achieve project milestones

Contribute to strategic IP development and patents

Ensure compliance with cleanroom protocols and safety regulations

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Proven hands-on experience with MOCVD systems, epitaxial growth processes, and materials characterization

Good understanding of equipment design, preventive maintenance, and scrubber systems, as well as analytical tools such as XRD, PL, CL, EL, SEM, and AFM

Strong technical foundation in R&D process development and/or high-technology manufacturing environments (e.g. III–V semiconductors, optoelectronics, or display technologies)

Ability to interpret complex experimental data, troubleshoot process issues, and drive systematic improvements

Excellent teamwork, documentation, and communication skills

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Materials Science, Physics, Electrical Engineering, Chemistry, or a related field

Experience with hands-on epitaxy R&D and/or manufacturing environments involving III–V materials

Proven track record of designing DOEs and executing structured experiments in MOCVD systems

Experience in failure analysis, defect classification, and quality management techniques

Experience in photonics applications

Preferred Qualifications

Ph.D. degree in Materials Science, Physics, Electrical Engineering, Chemistry, or related discipline

Proven track record in mass production process development, yield improvement, and throughput optimization

Awareness of the competitive and technology landscape within the III–V landscape

If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please don’t be shy and provide us some information.

"Default Together" Policy at Snap: At Snap Inc. we believe that being together in person helps us build our culture faster, reinforce our values, and serve our community, customers and partners better through dynamic collaboration. To reflect this, we practice a “default together” approach and expect our team members to work in an office 4+ days per week.

At Snap, we believe that having a team of diverse backgrounds and voices working together will enable us to create innovative products that improve the way people live and communicate. Snap is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and committed to providing employment opportunities regardless of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding, age, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other protected classification, in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. EOE, including disability/vets.

Our Benefits: Snap Inc. is its own community, so we’ve got your back! We do our best to make sure you and your loved ones have everything you need to be happy and healthy, on your own terms. Our benefits are built around your needs and include paid parental leave, comprehensive medical coverage, emotional and mental health support programs, and compensation packages that let you share in Snap’s long-term success!