Senior Electromechanical Engineer — ESC Systems Lead

Substrate Inc.; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 275,000; Full time

Job summary

Substrate Inc. in San Francisco is seeking an experienced Electromechanical Engineer to lead the development of next-generation electrostatic chucks for semiconductor wafer handling.

You will drive design, testing, and integration across a cross-functional team to deliver high-precision, reliable solutions. Ideal candidates hold an MS or PhD in EE, ME, or Physics, with 7+ years in semiconductor equipment development and 3+ years in ESC technology, plus strong HV systems and materials

Qualifications

• MS or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or related field.
• 7+ years in semiconductor equipment development, with at least 3 years specific to ESC technology.
• Demonstrated expertise in electrostatic principles, high-voltage systems, and materials compatibility.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and optimization of advanced electrostatic chucks for semiconductor wafer handling and processing.
• Direct a cross-functional team of engineers and collaborate with manufacturing, materials science, and quality assurance teams.
• Develop technical specifications, project plans, and design criteria for ESC systems.
• Oversee prototyping, testing, validation, and production implementation processes.
• Optimize ESC performance parameters including electrostatic force distribution, temperature uniformity, and particulate contamination control.
• Drive innovation to address industry challenges such as RF compatibility, charging/discharging speed, and lifetime reliability.
• Analyze test data and implement design improvements to meet performance and yield targets.
• Collaborate with Substrate staff to understand requirements and deliver solutions that match advanced process needs.

Education

MS or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or related field

Tools

Electrostatic chuck (ESC) technology

Job description

Substrate Inc. in San Francisco is seeking an experienced Electromechanical Engineer to lead the development of next-generation electrostatic chucks for semiconductor wafer handling.

You will drive design, testing, and integration across a cross-functional team to deliver high-precision, reliable solutions. Ideal candidates hold an MS or PhD in EE, ME, or Physics, with 7+ years in semiconductor equipment development and 3+ years in ESC technology, plus strong HV systems and materials