Focal Plane Engineer

HRL Laboratories; Camarillo (CA); On-site; USD 141,000 - 182,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401K match

Paid time off

Job summary

HRL Laboratories in California invites a Focal Plane Engineer to lead process development for infrared sensor arrays, collaborating with internal foundry and external partners across the full manufacturing lifecycle.

The role emphasizes designing, evaluating, and improving fabrication routes, performing RCCA, and ensuring documentation, with strong data analytics, KPI tracking, and customer-facing technical leadership.

Qualifications

• Hands‑on experience with cleanroom fabrication and semiconductor process development.
• Strong understanding of semiconductor device physics and translating performance into process requirements.
• Experience analyzing manufacturing data, including SPC and DOE, with JMP or similar tools.
• Effective communication to technical teams, stakeholders, and external partners.
• Ability to collaborate across boundaries and drive scalable improvements.

Responsibilities

• Develop semiconductor processes and integration schemes for infrared device architectures and FPAs.
• Manage FPA manufacturing plans; baselining plans and securing stakeholder approval.
• Evaluate and optimize process routes; drive cost, schedule, yield improvements.
• Document processes, review metrology data, perform failure analysis and RCCA.
• Lead RCCA activities; troubleshoot issues and develop recovery plans.
• Support mask design and tape-out; ensure compliance with manufacturing requirements.
• Coordinate with subcontractors and vendors on process transfer and issue resolution.
• Monitor build progress, WIP, and configurations; identify manufacturing improvements.
• Apply cost, schedule, and risk management to development and manufacturing activities.
• Collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams on scalable process solutions.
• Use data-driven analysis to identify improvements and resolve manufacturing challenges.
• Serve as technical interface to customers and program stakeholders.

Skills

Semiconductor fabrication

Data analysis

DOE / DOE analysis

SPC

Cross-functional collaboration

Technical leadership

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Materials Science, Electrical Engineering, or related technical field

Tools

JMP

Job description

HRL Laboratories pioneers the next frontiers of physical and information science. Deliveringtransformative technologies in automotive, aerospace and defense, HRL advances the critical missions of its customers to help them remove limitations and create competitive advantage. HRL then transitions the work back to customers - ready for real-world application. For more than 70 years, HRL’s rich portfolio of scientific discoveries and engineering innovations continues to build on each other - often in unexpected, profound and far-reaching ways. As a private company owned jointly by Boeing and GM, HRL prioritizes purpose over profit, significantly advancing the state of the art.

HRL Laboratories pioneers world-class infrared sensor systems for aerospace and defense, enhancing national capabilities through innovative solutions. We collaborate closely with our customers to transform emerging needs into high-performance outcomes. Our business model leverages our focus on advanced research and product delivery, ensuring customer satisfaction and mission success.

Position Summary

As a Focal Plane Engineer, you will act as a primary technical interface for process and product development, supporting our internal foundry and driving excellence throughout the full manufacturing lifecycle.

Essential Duties

• Develop semiconductor processes and integration schemes to support infrared device architectures and focal plane array (FPA) manufacturing.
• Execute and manage FPA manufacturing plans, ensuring all required engineering activities are completed and adequately documented prior to build initiation, and that manufacturing plans are baselined and approved by functional stakeholders.
• Evaluate and optimize process routes, establish best practices, and drive continuous improvements in product cost, schedule, yield, and manufacturability.
• Document processes, prepare technical reports, review inline metrology and electrical data, and perform failure analysis and root cause analysis.
• Provide technical leadership for root cause and corrective action (RCCA) activities, including troubleshooting complex issues, participating in tiger teams, and developing effective recovery plans.
• Support mask design and tape-out activities by defining and reviewing process design rules and participating in final mask data reviews to ensure compliance with manufacturing requirements.
• Support technical activities at subcontractors and external vendors, including process transfer, troubleshooting, and resolution of manufacturing issues.
• Monitor and report build progress, work-in-process (WIP), and process configurations, identifying opportunities to improve manufacturing efficiency and execution.
• Apply an understanding of cost, schedule, and risk management to development and manufacturing activities, ensuring alignment with program and organizational objectives.
• Collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams to develop scalable, manufacturable, and portable process solutions.
• Leverage data-driven analysis and logical reasoning to identify process improvements, assess risks, and support timely resolution of technical and manufacturing challenges.
• Serve as a technical interface to customers and program stakeholders, representing program needs and translating customer requirements into actionable engineering priorities.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Materials Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field with 5+ years of fabrication process experience.
• Demonstrated ability to interface effectively with customers and program stakeholders, translate customer needs into technical requirements, and advocate for program priorities.
• Hands‑on experience with cleanroom fabrication and semiconductor process development.
• Strong understanding of semiconductor device physics and the ability to translate device performance requirements into relevant process requirements, critical process steps, key performance indicators (KPIs), and tolerances.
• Experience analyzing manufacturing and process data, including statistical process control (SPC), design of experiments (DOE), and statistical analysis using JMP or similar tools.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly and effectively to a range of audiences, including technical teams, program stakeholders, and external partners.
• Proven ability to collaborate across functional and organizational boundaries, identify gaps in interfaces and handoffs, and drive both short‑term resolution and sustainable, scalable improvements.
• Demonstrated ability to foster a results‑oriented and can‑do culture.
• Track record of successfully delivering products or components in one or more of the following areas: semiconductor processing, microelectronics, or related advanced manufacturing environments.
• Familiarity with programming environments and databases, with the ability to analyze and synthesize large datasets and translate findings into actionable recommendations.
• Understanding of manufacturing and industrial engineering principles, including effective engagement with functions such as inventory control, supply chain, purchasing, quality assurance, and process engineering.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Infrared/ Focal Plane Array fabrication.
• Experience with front end wafer processing.
• Familiarity with agile development principles, iterative design, small‑batch processing, configuration control, and product lifecycle management.

Special Requirements

US citizenship with the ability to obtain and maintain a US Government security clearance

Compensation and Benefits

• Pay Range: $140,700 - $175,950
• Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location (California). The range displayed on each job posting reflects the target range for new hire salaries for the position. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range during the hiring process.
• Benefits: HRL offers a generous and very competitive total compensation and benefits package. Our Regular/Full Time benefits include medical, dental, vision, life insurance, 401K match, gym facilities, PTO, Sick time, upward mobility, and an exciting and challenging work environment.
• For more information about our company benefit offerings please visit: https://www.hrl.com/careers/benefits

Non-Discrimination and Equal Employment Opportunities (U.S.)

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that some people are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single desired qualification. At HRL, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, you may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

We are proud to be an EEO/AA employer M/F/D/V. We maintain a drug‑free workplace and perform pre‑employment substance abuse testing.

If you would like more information about Equal Employment Opportunity as an applicant under the law, please go to Employees & Job Applicants | U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

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