MEMS Process Integration Scientist

Dodmg; Malibu (CA); On-site; USD 140,700 - 175,950; Full time

Job summary

HRL Laboratories seeks a senior MEMS scientist/engineer to lead fabrication and characterization of MEMS devices for aerospace and automotive applications. You will drive process development, design of experiments, and cross‑functional collaboration to deliver scalable MEMS solutions.

The role requires strong communication, hands‑on MEMS expertise, and the ability to mentor junior staff while guiding funded programs and new initiatives.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or Master’s in physical science or engineering with 5+ years R&D fabrication experience
• Strong skills in DOE, data analysis, and innovative problem-solving for advanced MEMS
• Excellent verbal and written communication for cross-lab collaboration
• Ability to integrate diverse process recipes into scalable fabrication workflows
• Hands-on experience with listed MEMS techniques and tools

Responsibilities

• Collaborate to develop MEMS sensors and actuators for aerospace, automotive, and industrial applications
• Integrate processes into scalable workflows from research to production
• Lead design, fabrication, and testing of MEMS devices and subsystems
• Design experiments to validate MEMS technologies
• Perform wafer inspections and metrology for quality and precision
• Manage project timelines, deliverables, and resources
• Conceive and secure new MEMS research initiatives
• Provide technical leadership and mentor junior staff

Skills

Process development

Design of experiments

Statistical data analysis

Technical communication

Project leadership

Education

Ph.D. or Master’s in physical science/engineering

Tools

L‑Edit or Cadence CAD

SEM with elemental analysis

Optical/infrared microscopy

Interferometry

Wafer bonding

Job description

HRL Laboratories pioneers the next frontiers of physical and information science. Delivering transformative 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's compact, high-performance MEMS IMUs are revolutionizing navigation systems by delivering reliable guidance in GPS-degraded environments. Engineered with navigation-grade precision, these IMUs provide a cost-effective and scalable solution for automotive, aerospace, and other demanding applications where traditional GPS reliance falls short.

These innovations aim to deliver a first-of-its-kind navigation-grade component that combines reliability, precision, and affordability. By offering a viable alternative to traditional IMUs, HRL's MEMS technology is advancing the capabilities of autonomous systems and enabling precise navigation in challenging environments.

Essential Duties

• Collaborate with a team of scientists and engineers to develop advanced MEMS-enabled sensors and actuators for aerospace, automotive, and industrial applications, driving innovation to redefine industry standards.
• Integrate new processes into scalable workflows, ensuring seamless transitions from research to production while applying creativity and systems-level thinking.
• Lead the design, fabrication, and testing of MEMS devices and subsystems, ensuring they meet project requirements and are scalable for production.
• Design and execute experiments to validate innovative MEMS technologies, employing creative approaches to solve complex challenges and explore new possibilities.
• Perform wafer inspections and metrology to ensure quality and precision, driving iterative improvements for both research-specific and scalable processes.
• Manage critical project elements, including timelines, deliverables, and resources, ensuring successful execution and impactful outcomes that bridge research innovations with real-world applications.
• Conceive, propose, and secure new research initiatives focused on MEMS, NEMS, and other relevant technologies.
• This role emphasizes technical leadership, scientific originality, and program ownership to shape a portfolio of high-impact efforts that advance next-generation navigation systems.
• Responsible for guiding funded programs, influencing technical strategy, and mentoring junior staff.

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. or Master’s Degree in a physical science or engineering field with 5+ years of fabrication process experience in an R&D environment
• Demonstrate strong skills in process development, optimization, design of experiments (DOE), statistical data analysis, and innovative problem-solving to drive cutting‑edge advancements
• Strong verbal and written communication skills to thrive in a dynamic, multi-disciplinary team and enable effective cross-laboratory collaboration
• Ability to integrate diverse process recipes into seamless fabrication workflows while addressing process interdependencies to achieve high‑performance results
• Hands‑On Experience with Advanced Techniques: Proficiency in the following state-of-the-art technologies:
  • Contact/stepper photolithography
  • Wet and plasma dry etching
  • High aspect-ratio deep reactive ion etching (DRIE) for silicon, glass, and other MEMS materials
  • Chemical vapor deposition (CVD)
  • Dielectric and metal depositions
  • Wafer bonding and vacuum encapsulation of microscale structures
  • Sacrificial and structural layer creation and wet/dry release processes
• Expertise in using advanced tools such as optical/infrared microscopy, interferometric measurements, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with elemental analysis to ensure quality and precision.
• Experience in designing and characterizing process control monitors (PCM) for in-process verification, along with proficiency in creating and modifying mask layouts using industry-standard CAD software like L‑Edit or Cadence
• Experience in writing technical proposals to present innovative research and development concepts

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with both surface and bulk micro‑machining
• Strong ability to document fabrication experiments accurately and thoroughly
• Experience in wafer grinding, CMP, die singulation, and assembly processes into packages
• Familiarity with data analysis software such as JMP, MATLAB, or Python
• Experience in automating fabrication data collection and analysis
• Knowledge of mechanical, thermal, or electrical Finite Element Analysis (FEA) modeling using tools like COMSOL or SolidWorks
• Experience in designing and conducting wafer or die-level electrical or optical process control monitor (PCM) testing

Physical Requirements

Must be able to perform safely in a MEMS microfabrication cleanroom and follow standard operating practices

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.

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, we encourage you to apply anyway. 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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Keywords/ Phrases: Dry Etch, Wafer level bonding, idea generation, proposal writing, principal investigator