Fabrication Engineer

Metric Geo; Michigan; On-site; USD 85,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

Metric Geo in the United States is seeking a hands-on fabrication engineer to own and improve processes behind photonic devices. You will collaborate across university and partner cleanrooms, and connect fabrication results directly to measured optical performance.

You will work closely with photonic engineers, perform lithography, thin-film deposition, etching, and metrology to drive device yield and repeatable results, while maintaining thorough process documentation and tape-out readiness.

Qualifications

• Experience owning fabrication process development or troubleshooting.
• Hands-on mindset with experience building/testing devices.
• Experience with SiN, silicon, LiNbO3, AlN or superconducting thin films.
• Familiarity with foundry tape-outs and PIC fabrication is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute reproducible fabrication processes for photonic devices and interfaces.
• Perform lithography, thin-film deposition, etching and metallization.
• Use microscopy and dimensional metrology to diagnose defects.
• Run structured experiments to improve process yield.
• Work with photonic designers on device builds and tape-outs.
• Maintain process documentation.
• Link fabrication outcomes to measured optical performance.

Skills

Fabrication process

Hands-on testing

Photonic devices

Metrology

Optical measurement

Tools

Cleanroom equipment

Foundry tape-outs

Job description

A deep-tech company building photonic hardware is hiring a hands‑on fabrication engineer to own and improve the processes behind its photonic devices. You will join an experimental effort in working across university and partner cleanrooms and connecting fabrication results directly to measured optical performance.

The team you’ll work with:

You will work closely with Photonics Engineers on the same experimental effort. They work on photonic integrated circuits (PICs), quantum optics and nano‑photonics, and they are experimentalists rather than pure designers. They test and characterise photonic devices and set­ups, build their own experimental set­ups, and run foundry tape‑outs. Your fabrication work will feed directly into their devices and measurements.

What you’ll do:

• Develop and execute reproducible fabrication processes for photonic devices, test structures and optical interfaces across university and partner cleanrooms
• Perform lithography, thin‑film deposition, etching and metallization
• Use microscopy and dimensional metrology to diagnose defects
• Run structured experiments to improve process consistency and device yield
• Work closely with photonic designers and experimental engineers on device builds and tape‑outs
• Maintain process documentation
• Link fabrication outcomes to measured optical performance

What we’re looking for:

• Demonstrated ownership of process development or troubleshooting
• A hands‑on, experimental mindset, with experience building and testing your own devices rather than working on paper
• Experience with SiN, silicon, lithium niobate, AlN or superconducting thin films is particularly relevant
• Familiarity with foundry tape‑outs and PIC fabrication is a plus