Senior Materials and Surface Science Engineer

nEye.ai; Emeryville (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

nEye.ai is seeking a senior individual contributor with deep expertise in materials science and surface chemistry as it applies to semiconductor fabrication. This critical role will analyze and improve fabrication processes to enhance optical performance in silicon photonics devices.

The ideal candidate has a PhD and 7–15+ years of experience, and will work across design, process, and testing teams to optimize material interfaces. This position offers opportunities for impactful research and innovation.

Qualifications

• 7–15+ years of experience in semiconductor, photonics, or advanced materials environments.
• Hands-on experience with failure analysis and materials characterization techniques.
• Experience working in or closely with semiconductor fabs.

Responsibilities

• Investigate surface chemistry impacts on silicon-based photonic materials.
• Analyze etching and deposition effects on material performance.
• Collaborate with design and process teams for improved manufacturability.

Skills

Surface chemistry expertise

Materials characterization techniques

Deep understanding of interface physics

Expertise in dielectric and semiconductor thin films

Knowledge of plasma processes

Education

PhD in Materials Science, Applied Physics, Electrical Engineering, or related field

Tools

SEM

TEM

AFM

XPS

SIMS

Job description

About Us

nEye.ai, a well-funded optical switch startup, is poised to revolutionize the future of data centers. nEye’s MEMS-based silicon photonics optical circuit switches (OCS) eliminate critical bottlenecks in AI processing by enabling direct optical connections among thousands of GPUs and memory units. The company's OCS is an ultra-low power consumption, high radix, compact chip-scale design, offering hyperscale data centers enhanced performance, efficiency, and scalability.

Job Overview

We are looking for a senior individual contributor with deep expertise in materials science and surface chemistry as it applies to semiconductor fabrication and optical systems. This role is critical to understanding and improving how fabrication processes at the material and interface level impact optical performance in our silicon photonics devices. You will work across design, process, and test to analyze, diagnose, and improve material interfaces, thin films, and surface interactions that directly affect device behavior, reliability, and yield.

Key Responsibilities

• Investigate how surface chemistry and material interfaces in silicon-based photonic and MEMS material systems impact performance
• Analyze effects of etching, deposition, oxidation, and plasma processes on surface states, morphology, and optical mechanisms
• Partner with design and process teams to translate material-level insights into improved device performance and manufacturability
• Lead investigations connecting fabrication outcomes to device-level optical and mechanical performance
• Design and interpret experiments involving thin films, interfaces, and surface treatments (e.g., passivation, cleaning, annealing)
• Collaborate with fabrication partners on process evaluation and optimization
• Utilize and guide characterization efforts using techniques such as SEM, TEM, AFM, XPS, ellipsometry, SIMS, etc.
• Develop models or frameworks that connect process to material properties and optical outcomes

Required Qualifications

• PhD in Materials Science, Applied Physics, Electrical Engineering, or related field
• 7–15+ years of experience in semiconductor, photonics, or adjacent advanced materials environments
• Deep understanding of surface chemistry and interface physics in semiconductor systems
• Expertise in dielectric and semiconductor thin films and metallization
• Strong knowledge of plasma processes, etching, deposition, oxidation, and their impact on materials
• Strong intuition for how material properties affect optical phenomena
• Experience working in or closely with semiconductor fabs / foundries
• Hands‑on experience with failure analysis and materials characterization techniques

Nice To Have Skills

• Direct experience with silicon photonics or optical devices
• Familiarity with waveguides, optical interfaces, or photonic integration
• Experience in MEMS fabrication or integration
• Background in process development or integration engineering
• Exposure to modeling optical-material interactions

nEye.ai is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.

Starting salary and title will depend on, and be commensurate with, relevant industry experience, skills, training, education, market demands, and the ultimate job duties and requirements.