Senior Dry-Etch Process Engineer for InP PICs

NOKIA; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Nokia Optical Networks in San Jose, CA is seeking a Staff Dry Etch Process Engineer to develop, integrate, and optimize plasma etch processes for InP photonic integrated circuits and related devices.

You will work hands-on with dry etch equipment, collaborating across lithography, thin films, and device engineering teams to improve etch performance, yield, and manufacturability while supporting production operations and transfer from development to manufacturing.

Qualifications

• MS or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical field.
• B.S. degree with 5+ years of semiconductor, photonics, or optoelectronic process engineering experience will also be considered.
• Experience in semiconductor or photonic process development, integration, or sustaining engineering.
• Strong understanding of plasma etch fundamentals, chamber hardware, process characterization, and defect reduction methodologies.
• Experience with DOE planning, statistical analysis, SPC, and process capability improvement.

Responsibilities

• Develop, qualify, and sustain dry etch processes for InP photonic integrated circuits and related optical devices.
• Optimize critical process metrics including etch rate, CD control, sidewall profile, selectivity, surface morphology, roughness, uniformity, and device performance.
• Support fabrication of optical structures such as waveguides, SOAs, lasers, modulators, and passive optical components.
• Drive defect reduction, yield improvement, and process capability enhancement using DOE, SPC, statistical analysis, and advanced process control methodologies.
• Perform root-cause analysis and corrective actions for process excursions, equipment issues, yield losses, and device performance gaps.

Skills

Dry etch fundamentals

DOE planning

Statistical analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Process optimization

Education

MS or PhD in Electrical Engineering

B.S. with 5+ years experience

Tools

ICP/RIE equipment

Optical metrology

SEM analysis

Job description

Nokia Optical Networks in San Jose, CA is seeking a Staff Dry Etch Process Engineer to develop, integrate, and optimize plasma etch processes for InP photonic integrated circuits and related devices.

You will work hands-on with dry etch equipment, collaborating across lithography, thin films, and device engineering teams to improve etch performance, yield, and manufacturability while supporting production operations and transfer from development to manufacturing.