Senior Electron Microscopy Engineer

Instruct-ERIC; Sugar Land (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. (AOI) seeks a Senior Electron Microscopy Engineer to support semiconductor laser failure analysis, process troubleshooting, and yield improvement.

The candidate will be an expert in FIB, SEM, EDX/EDS, TEM/STEM, HRTEM, and electron diffraction, with strong capabilities in advanced sample preparation and defect analysis. Responsibilities include developing FIB methods, correlating microscopy with epitaxy and device performance, overseeing lab operations, training

Qualifications

• PhD with 5+ years of industrial experience or equivalent.
• Expertise in advanced electron microscopy with hands-on FIB sample prep.
• Strong knowledge of crystallography and semiconductor defects and their origins.
• Experience with semiconductor laser devices, epitaxy, and related processes preferred.

Responsibilities

• Perform advanced electron microscopy analysis to identify defects, interfaces, and failure mechanisms.
• Develop advanced FIB sample-preparation methods for TEM lamella and plan-view prep.
• Analyze crystallographic and process-induced defects and their formation mechanisms.
• Correlate microscopy results with epitaxy, wafer fabrication, device performance and yield data.
• Oversee microscopy lab operations, equipment performance, and sample-preparation capabilities.
• Develop SOPs and train technicians and engineers in microscopy operation, sample preparation, and data interpretation.
• Collaborate with Process Engineering, Epitaxy, Yield, Reliability, Quality, and R&D teams.
• Work with equipment vendors, universities, and external laboratories to expand analytical capability.
• Prepare technical reports and clearly present analysis results to technical teams and management.

Skills

FIB

SEM

TEM/STEM

EDX/EDS

HRTEM

Electron diffraction

Lab operations

Education

PhD in Materials Science/Physics/EE

Tools

FIB instrument

SEM instrument

TEM/STEM instruments

Job description

Jobs in Structural Biology and Related Fields

Texas, United States

Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. (AOI) is seeking a Senior Electron Microscopy Engineer to support semiconductor laser failure analysis, process troubleshooting, and yield improvement.

The successful candidate will be a subject-matter expert in FIB, SEM, EDX/EDS, TEM/STEM, HRTEM, and electron diffraction, with strong expertise in advanced FIB sample preparation and semiconductor defect analysis. A key expectation of this position is the ability to identify structural defects, understand their formation mechanisms, and connect microscopy observations to semiconductor materials, fabrication processes, device performance, and reliability.

Job Duties

• Perform advanced electron microscopy analysis using FIB, SEM, EDX/EDS, TEM/STEM, HRTEM, and electron diffraction to identify defects, interfaces, compositional abnormalities, and failure mechanisms.
• Develop advanced FIB sample-preparation methods, including site-specific cross-sectional TEM lamella preparation, plan-view TEM preparation, low-damage thinning, and preparation of challenging semiconductor device structures.
• Analyze crystallographic and process-induced defects such as dislocations, stacking faults, interface defects, regrowth defects, contamination, and other microstructural abnormalities, with emphasis on understanding their formation mechanisms and process origins.
• Correlate microscopy results with epitaxy, wafer-fabrication processes, device performance, reliability testing, and yield data to support root-cause analysis and process improvement.
• Oversee microscopy laboratory operations, equipment performance, analytical methods, and sample-preparation capabilities.
• Develop and maintain SOPs and analytical procedures, and train technicians and engineers in microscopy operation, sample preparation, and data interpretation.
• Collaborate with Process Engineering, Epitaxy, Yield, Reliability, Quality, and R&D teams to investigate product failures and manufacturing issues.
• Work with equipment vendors, universities, and external laboratories to introduce advanced microscopy technologies and expand analytical capability.
• Prepare technical reports and clearly present analysis results, defect mechanisms, root-cause conclusions, and recommendations to technical teams and management.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Materials Science, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field with 5+ years of relevant industrial experience, or equivalent industrial experience demonstrating comparable technical expertise.
• Recognized expertise in advanced electron microscopy, including FIB, SEM, EDX/EDS, TEM/STEM, HRTEM, and electron diffraction, with deep hands-on experience in advanced FIB sample preparation such as plan-view TEM specimens and site-specific cross-sectional lamellae.
• Strong knowledge of crystallography, semiconductor defects, and defect-formation mechanisms, with demonstrated ability to identify defects and determine their likely materials or process origins.
• Strong knowledge of semiconductor devices and manufacturing processes, preferably compound semiconductor lasers, including epitaxy, e-beam lithography, photolithography, wet and dry etching, PVD, CVD, metallization, and epitaxial regrowth.

Preferred Experience

• Experience with InP, InGaAs, InGaAsP, DFB lasers, EMLs, quantum-well structures, buried heterostructures, and semiconductor laser failure analysis is highly desirable.