Principal Thin-Film & PVD Process Engineer

PROOF.; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

PROOF. is seeking a Principal Engineer in San Jose to lead thin-film and process engineering for microbattery manufacturing. You will own sputtering/PVD development, optimize deposition parameters, and drive scale-up from R&D to production while partnering with design, materials, and equipment teams.

The role requires deep hands-on expertise in sputtering and thin-film processing, DOE, and manufacturing excellence, with strong leadership and collaboration across functions.

Qualifications

• BS or MS in a technical field with related experience.
• Hands-on experience with sputtering/PVD and thin-film processes.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and optimize manufacturing processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and optimization of sputtering/PVD processes for microbattery layers.
• Develop robust process recipes and operating windows.
• Establish process capability and statistical controls; drive DOE initiatives.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to scale processes into manufacturing.

Skills

Sputtering / PVD

Thin-film processing

DOE

Manufacturing scale-up

Process optimization

Statistical analysis

Root-cause analysis

Technical leadership

Mentoring

Laboratory equipment operation

Education

Materials Science

Chemical Engineering

Mechanical Engineering

Electrical Engineering

Physics

Manufacturing Engineering

Tools

Deposition equipment

Vacuum systems

Characterization tools

Job description

PROOF. is seeking a Principal Engineer in San Jose to lead thin-film and process engineering for microbattery manufacturing. You will own sputtering/PVD development, optimize deposition parameters, and drive scale-up from R&D to production while partnering with design, materials, and equipment teams.

The role requires deep hands-on expertise in sputtering and thin-film processing, DOE, and manufacturing excellence, with strong leadership and collaboration across functions.