R&D Process Engineer - Metrology

Anite; Santa Rosa (CA); On-site; USD 139,000 - 232,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental and vision

Health Savings Account

401(k) Plan

Flexible Time Off

Job summary

Keysight Technologies Inc. is seeking an ambitious R&D Metrology Process Engineer in Santa Rosa, California, to advance measurement capabilities for 200 mm interposers and advanced packaging.

You will work across optical film modeling, CD-SEM, XRF, profilometry, and virtual metrology, shaping the metrology roadmap with hands-on experimentation. The role emphasizes developing methods, evaluating new approaches, and collaborating with design and equipment teams to scale measurements from

Qualifications

• B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. in Physics, Materials Science, Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, or related discipline.
• 2+ years hands-on experience developing or sustaining semiconductor processes or metrology in a fab/cleanroom.
• Understand physical principles of at least one measurement technique and its accuracy.
• Experience in modifying measurement methods, models or recipes and designing experiments.
• Willingness to learn unfamiliar metrology techniques and build ownership across platforms.
• Clear communication of technical conclusions and limitations across teams.

Responsibilities

• Own measurement recipe and method development across metrology platforms.
• Develop models for film properties, interfaces, and critical dimensions.
• Create virtual metrology models from process and equipment data.
• Evaluate new measurement approaches and lead equipment selection and qualification.
• Collaborate with design engineers to embed metrology in designs.
• Define sampling strategies balancing data quality and throughput.
• Document recipes and qualification criteria for reliable reuse.
• Improve unreliable recipes and support critical lots as needed.

Skills

Hands-on metrology experience

Experiment design

Cross-disciplinary communication

Ability to learn new techniques

Education

Bachelor's/Master's/PhD in Physics or related field

Tools

CD-SEM

Ellipsometry/Reflectometry

X-ray fluorescence

Profilometry

Four-point probing

Job description

Overview

R&D Metrology Process Engineer - Semiconductor and Advanced Packaging

Overview

The High Frequency Technology Center (HFTC) is seeking an R&D Metrology Process Engineer to develop measurement capabilities for 200 mm silicon interposer and advanced heterogeneous integration technologies. Our films and structures must perform at the leading edge of high-frequency electronics, making materials and dimensional metrology central to how the technology is developed. This is a hands‑on fab role at Keysight Headquarters in Santa Rosa, CA.

Rather than specializing in a single tool set, you will build expertise across the full metrology stack: optical film modeling, CD-SEM, overlay, X-ray fluorescence, profilometry, electrical measurement, and virtual metrology, while helping select the fab's next generation of measurement capability. We welcome candidates with depth in one technique who want to extend that expertise across many. Strong measurement fundamentals are essential; prior expertise across every tool is not expected. As the fab's dedicated metrology engineer, you will shape the metrology roadmap as the technology advances.

Responsibilities

• Own measurement recipe and method development across the fab's metrology platforms, including ellipsometry, reflectometry, CD-SEM, overlay, profilometry, X-ray fluorescence, and four-point probing.
• Develop and validate measurement methods and models for film properties, interfaces, critical dimensions, surface roughness, and topography that govern high-frequency electrical performance. Applications include multilayer optical modeling and CD-SEM measurements that require approaches beyond standard recipes.
• Develop virtual metrology models that use tool, process, and upstream measurement data to predict wafer results, reduce physical sampling, and extend coverage where direct measurement is impractical.
• Evaluate new measurement approaches and lead equipment selection, acquisition, and qualification with equipment teams and suppliers, including applications that existing capabilities cannot adequately address.
• Partner with design engineers to define and incorporate metrology structures into designs to enable reliable measurements.
• Establish measurement capability using reference standards, complementary techniques, GR&R, SPC, and DOE, and distinguish actual process variation from measurement artifacts, model limitations, calibration issues, and equipment behavior.
• Define sampling strategies that balance engineering information, measurement capability, throughput, and capacity.
• Document recipes, qualification criteria, and procedures so developed methods can be used reliably by others.
• Improve recipes that are not performing reliably, and provide occasional support when a critical lot cannot be measured correctly.

Qualifications

• B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. in Physics, Materials Science, Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, or a related discipline. Relevant experience and demonstrated technical depth will be considered alongside education.
• 2+ years of hands‑on experience developing or sustaining semiconductor processes or metrology in a cleanroom or fab. Recent graduates with extensive cleanroom and experimental backgrounds will also be considered, and experienced candidates will be considered for more senior levels.
• Strong understanding of the physical principles underlying at least one measurement technique, including how the measured signal relates to the reported result and what determines its accuracy, precision, sensitivity, and limitations.
• Demonstrated ability to develop or substantially modify measurement methods, models, or recipes, and to design experiments and investigate unexpected results.
• Ability to learn unfamiliar measurement techniques and build technical ownership across multiple platforms.
• Ability to communicate technical conclusions and limitations clearly and collaborate across engineering disciplines.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree with substantial experimental work in measurement science, optics, thin films, or materials characterization.
• Experience with ellipsometry/reflectometry modeling, CD-SEM recipe development and signal interpretation, or characterization of surface roughness and buried interfaces.
• Experience developing virtual metrology, automated process control, or machine-learning models from process and equipment data.
• Experience with thin-film materials characterization relevant to RF or high-frequency electrical performance.
• Experience establishing reference standards, tool qualifications, or long-term stability monitoring, and transferring methods from development into production.
• Experience with JMP or equivalent; programming or scripting for data analysis and automation is a plus.

Candidates must be local or willing to relocate to Santa Rosa, CA

This position requires access to certain goods, software, technology, or technical data subject to U.S. export control laws and regulations. Under these laws and regulations, U.S. persons (which includes U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents, refugees, and asylees) working for Keysight can access export-controlled items without authorization from the U.S. government. For any individual who is not a U.S. person, Keysight may need authorization from the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Commerce, or other appropriate federal agency before the individual can access export-controlled items. Candidates must be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident of the U.S., or protected individual, having authorization from the U.S. government for export-controlled items under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).

Careers Privacy Statement

***Keysight is an Equal Opportunity Employer.***

Keysight Technologies Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other protected categories under all applicable laws.

The level of role and salary will be based on applicable experience, education and skills;Most offers will be between the minimum and the midpoint of the Salary Range listed below.

California Pay Range: MIN $138,960 - MIDPT $185,280 - MAX $231,600

Note: For other locations, pay ranges will vary by region.

This role is eligible for Keysight Results Bonus Program

US Employees may be eligible for the following benefits:

• - Medical, dental and vision
• - Health Savings Account
• - Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
• - Life, Accident, Disability insurance
• - Business Travel Accident and Business Travel Health
• - 401(k) Plan
• - Flexible Time Off, Paid Holidays
• - Paid Family Leave
• - Discounts, Perks
• - Tuition Reimbursement
• - Adoption Assistance
• - ESPP (Employee Stock Purchase Plan)

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