Scientist, PVD Thin-Film Coatings & Automation

General Atomics; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

General Atomics in San Diego (Torrey Pines), CA, invites applications for a Scientist role in the Inertial Fusion Technology (IFT) group. The position focuses on developing, supporting, and optimizing materials and thin-film coatings used in laser-driven fusion research.

You will contribute to vacuum processing, deposition, and system performance, with opportunities to automate workflows and advance PVD techniques.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experimentalist with experience in automating equipment and test workflows.
• Experience with PVD coatings such as sputtering, process optimization, and production-relevant execution.

Responsibilities

• Support the operation of scientific systems by evaluating and interpreting needs and problems and developing effective approaches to resolve complex technical issues.
• Troubleshoot, analyze, and repair systems in assigned area by utilizing standard scientific principles, and implement robust corrective actions.
• Lead improvements to equipment automation and data workflow to increase throughput, repeatability, and quality.
• Execute and guide PVD thin-film development (e.g., sputtering) and process optimization, supporting both R&D and production-facing deliverables.
• Document findings, communicate results to scientific staff, and make technical presentations as required.
• Coordinate segments of a specific project and engage with internal organizations and customers on difficult technical issues; may represent the organization in providing solutions associated with specific projects.
• Provide direction to designers and technicians; may provide direction to less experienced professional staff and lead teams on semi-routine tasks.
• May develop and/or perform computational modeling of scientific phenomena to support interpretation, prediction, or design decisions.

Job description

General Atomics in San Diego (Torrey Pines), CA, invites applications for a Scientist role in the Inertial Fusion Technology (IFT) group. The position focuses on developing, supporting, and optimizing materials and thin-film coatings used in laser-driven fusion research.

You will contribute to vacuum processing, deposition, and system performance, with opportunities to automate workflows and advance PVD techniques.