Research Physicist/Materials Engineer/Electrical Engineer

Core4ce Careers; Upper Valley Trailer Court (OH); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) with company match

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Tuition assistance

Paid parental leave

Professional development and training

Job summary

Core4ce seeks a research-grade postdoctoral candidate to design, fabricate and characterize metasurfaces at Wright-Patterson AFB, focusing on multilayer metasurfaces and novel fabrication. You will work with an interdisciplinary team in a cleanroom, performing measurements and simulations to push performance boundaries.

The role requires US citizenship, eligibility for a Secret clearance, and a PhD in a related field. Some travel and potential remote work are possible as the project evolves.

Qualifications

• Must be a US citizen.
• Ability to obtain a Secret clearance.
• PhD in Physics, Optics, Materials Science & Engineering or closely related field.
• Eligible for access to a classified environment.
• Lab work capability and potential for remote work.
• Ability to travel CONUS ~10% for conferences and reviews.

Responsibilities

• Design, fabricate and characterize optical frequency metasurfaces and metamaterials.
• Develop true multilayer metasurfaces and advanced fabrication techniques in cleanroom.
• Characterize performance and tailor fabrication approaches for novel materials.
• Engage in design and simulation of photonics devices and new materials.

Skills

Metasurfaces

Nanofabrication

Optics

Photonic simulation

Data analysis

Education

PhD in Physics/Optics/Materials Science & Engineering

Tools

COMSOL

Lumerical

HFSS

Python

NumPy

SciPy

Matplotlib

pandas

Job description

The Complex Engineered Materials (CEM) Research Group at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB) in Dayton, OH is looking for a qualified research-grade postdoctoral candidate with experience in the areas of optics, photonics, and electromagnetics to support a research effort relating to design, fabrication and characterization of metasurfaces and metamaterials, with particular focus on developing new nanofabrication techniques to enable multilayer metasurfaces.

This research opportunity involves the design, fabrication and characterization of optical frequency metasurfaces and metamaterials. The candidate will serve as a contractor working with an interdisciplinary team of researchers, developing/leveraging expertise in the cleanroom to fabricate metasurfaces as well as characterizing their performance. A major focus of this effort will be developing and tailoring fabrication approaches to develop true multilayer metasurfaces and other complex and novel paradigms which push performance bounds in this class of engineered material. The candidate will also have an opportunity to engage, learn and be involved in the design and simulation of these novel materials/devices.

Working at AFRL is a unique opportunity to solve important, long-term challenges that guide research efforts in an environment that strongly encourages collaboration (government/academic/industry), publication in top journals, and conference attendance, as well as opportunities to collaborate with internal and external teammates, customers, and partners to create objectives and work plans, review designs, support experimentation, and/or transition technical designs.

Requirements:

• Must be a US Citizen.
• Must be able to apply for and obtain a Secret clearance.
• PhD: Physics, Optics, Materials Science & Engineering, Electrical Engineering or a closely related science or engineering field.
• Applicants selected will be subject to a security investigation and will need to meet eligibility requirements for access to a classified environment and information.
• Must be able to work in an office environment at a desk and computer using a keyboard and mouse; potential for remote work/work-from-home.
• Must be able to work in a lab environment.
• Must be able to lift or carry up to 25 pounds.
• May travel ~10% to conferences, program reviews, industry meetings, or other collaborative events. Most or all travel would be CONUS (Continental United States).

This position is designed to be flexible, with responsibilities evolving to meet business needs and enable individual growth.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with cleanroom and other nanofabrication techniques applied to metasurface fabrication: the ideal candidate will have experience with electron beam lithography, photolithography, deposition, liftoff and etching techniques.
• Experience with optical benchtop measurements: in particular measurements of optical metasurfaces to include their wavefront shaping and spectral performance.
• Familiarity with or willingness to learn broader deposition and thin film characterization techniques.
• Proficiency or willingness to learn soft-lithography techniques, such as nanoimprint lithography, for metasurface fabrication.
• Experience with COMSOL, Lumerical, and/or HFSS.
• Ability and desire to quickly learn new techniques, devise research plans, and develop expertise in technical topics related to photonics and optics.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills as demonstrated by public presentations and peer-reviewed publications.
• Proficiency in advanced data analysis and visualization.
• Ability to work independently and in a group setting.
• Proficiency or willingness to learn Python; desired experience with scientific python packages including NumPy, SciPy, Matplotib, scikit, and pandas.

Why Work for Us?

Core4ce is a team of innovators, self-starters, and critical thinkers—driven by a shared mission to strengthen national security and advance warfighting outcomes.

We offer:

• 401(k) with 100% company match on the first 6% deferred, with immediate vesting
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage—employee portion paid 100% by Core4ce
• Unlimited access to training and certifications, with no pre-set cap on eligible professional development
• Tuition assistance for job-related degrees and courses
• Paid parental leave, PTO that grows with tenure, and generous holiday schedules
• Got a big idea? At Core4ce, The Forge gives every employee the chance to propose bold innovations and help bring them to life with internal backing.

Join us to build a career that matters—supported by a company that invests in you.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, disability, veteran status, age, genetic information, or other legally protected status.

*Core4ce provides the listed pay range for this position as a general guideline only and not as a guarantee of compensation or salary. Final offers may take into account a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, job responsibilities, education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, internal equity, market data alignment, any applicable collective bargaining agreement, and other legal requirements.