Nanophotonics Fabrication Engineer

Sygaldry Technologies; Ann Arbor (MI); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Visa sponsorship

Equity participation

Health coverage

Job summary

Sygaldry Technologies is seeking a Nanophotonics Fabrication Engineer to develop and execute fabrication processes for photonic devices. You will own process development, cleanroom fabrication, characterization, and yield improvement, working with design and experimental teams.

Hands-on nanofabrication experience and meticulous documentation are highly valued. The role involves coordinating with cleanroom staff and partners, performing high-resolution lithography and etching, and aligning

Qualifications

• B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, Applied Physics, or related field; hands-on fabrication experience preferred.
• Experience with high-resolution lithography and pattern transfer; understand variation effects on geometry/performance.
• Experience with microscopy and metrology for process characterization and control.
• Ability to design experiments and analyze data to diagnose process issues.

Responsibilities

• Owns process development, cleanroom fabrication, characterization, and yield improvement for nanophotonic devices.
• Performs multistep fabrication flows from substrate prep to final inspection; conducts lithography, deposition, etching, cleaning.
• Maintains process travelers, recipes, and fabrication records with clear documentation of changes.
• Collaborates with photonic designers and test engineers to relate fabrication to optical performance and drive improvements.
• Coordinates fabrication activities with shared cleanroom staff and external partners; maintains safety and sample tracking.

Skills

Python

Data analysis

Experiment design

Independent work

Education

Advanced degree in EE/Physics

Tools

Electron-beam lithography

Dry-etch process development

Cleanroom equipment

Job description

About Sygaldry

Sygaldry Technologies is building quantum-accelerated AI servers to exponentially speed up training and inference for AI. By integrating quantum and AI, we're accelerating the path to superintelligence, and addressing the problem of rising compute costs and energy bottlenecks. Sygaldry AI servers combine multiple qubit types within a single, fault-tolerant architecture to deliver the combination of cost, scale, and speed necessary for advanced AI applications. We pioneer new domains in physics, engineering, and AI, tackling the hardest challenges with a grounded, optimistic, and rigorous culture. We're looking for individuals ready to define the intersection of quantum and AI and drive its profound global impact.

About the Role

We are seeking a Nanophotonics Fabrication Engineer to develop and execute fabrication processes for photonic devices and test structures. You will own process development, cleanroom fabrication, characterization, and yield improvement, working closely with design and experimental teams. The ideal candidate has substantial hands-on nanofabrication experience, enjoys troubleshooting complex process flows, and takes pride in careful documentation and reproducible results.

What You'll Work On

• Develop, execute, and refine multistep fabrication flows for nanophotonic devices, from substrate preparation through final inspection.

• Perform high-resolution lithography, thin-film deposition, wet and dry etching, and associated cleaning and surface preparation steps.

• Use microscopy and thin-film and surface metrology to assess pattern fidelity, film quality, etch profiles, and fabrication defects.

• Design structured experiments to identify process limits, diagnose failure modes, and improve uniformity, repeatability, and yield.

• Maintain process travelers, recipes, fabrication records, and clear documentation of process changes and results.

• Collaborate with photonic designers and test engineers to relate fabrication outcomes to measured optical performance and inform design and process improvements.

• Coordinate fabrication activities with shared cleanroom staff and external partners, while maintaining safe working practices and careful sample tracking.

You May Be a Good Fit If You Have

• A B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, Applied Physics, or a related field. Significant hands-on fabrication experience is especially valued.

• Substantial cleanroom experience and demonstrated ownership of process development or troubleshooting for a multistep microfabrication or nanofabrication flow.

• Practical experience with high-resolution lithography and pattern transfer, including an understanding of how process variation affects device geometry and performance.

• Experience with microscopy and metrology for process characterization, defect analysis, and process control.

• Strong experimental design and data analysis skills, with experience using Python or similar tools.

• The ability to work independently, communicate results clearly, and collaborate across technical disciplines.

• Fabrication of integrated photonic or other nanoscale optical devices.

• Electron-beam lithography, dry-etch process development, or thin-film process optimization.

• Connecting fabrication measurements with optical characterization results.

• Working autonomously in shared university or partner cleanrooms.

• Developing repeatable processes from early research workflows and transferring them between tools or facilities.

How We’re Different

At Sygaldry, curiosity and intellectual courage drive our work. We approach ambitious challenges with a grounded, optimistic, and rigorous culture and know that kind people build the strongest teams. We prioritize mission over ego and collaborate openly with a strong sense of shared purpose. We dream big, yet we execute with a love of detail. We’re looking for scientists, engineers, and operators to forge new paths with us at the intersection of quantum and AI.

Culture & Benefits

• Visa Sponsorship - We know what it takes to make top talent thrive here. We’re open to supporting visas whenever possible.

• Compensation - We value your contribution and invest in your future with a competitive salary and meaningful equity.

• Benefits - Your well-being matters. We provide company-sponsored health coverage to give you and your family peace of mind.

• Connection - Whether it’s company offsite or casual crew socials, we make time to connect, recharge, and have fun together.

• Time Off - We trust you to take the time you need. Unlimited PTO so you can rest, recharge, and come back ready to make an impact.

We encourage applications from candidates with diverse backgrounds. We are an equal opportunity employer, and we do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

Location: This position is full-time on-site in our Ann Arbor, MI office