Senior Staff Process Development Engineer

SkyWater Technology, Inc.; BLOOMINGTON (MN); On-site; USD 114,000 - 171,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401k match

Medical, dental, vision benefits

On-site fitness facility

On-site self-serve market

Job summary

SkyWater Technology, Inc. in Minnesota is seeking a Senior Staff Process Development Engineer to join our Advanced Technology Services group.

You will lead the fabrication and integration of quantum devices in a semiconductor foundry, developing and optimizing processes for low-loss photonic waveguides and related quantum components. You will collaborate with design, process, packaging, and test teams to ensure manufacturability, document recipes, and drive improvements toward full-scale

Qualifications

• BS, MS, or PhD in Electrical Eng, Materials Science, Chemical Eng, Physics, Optical Engineering or related discipline.
• Experience with cleanroom fabrication tools (lithography, etch, deposition, CMP, metrology).
• BS and 7 years or MS and 5 years or PhD and 2-3 years of engineering experience in a semiconductor fab or lab environment.
• Basic knowledge of semiconductor fabrication and equipment.
• Strong organizational skills and work ethic.
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to thrive in a large cross-functional program environment.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize fabrication process flows for wafer level manufacturing of low-loss photonic waveguides, ensuring seamless execution.
• Support integration of components relevant to quantum applications.
• Collaborate with process integration teams to troubleshoot yield, optical loss, and reliability issues across the fab flow.
• Develop test and characterization methodologies for waveguide loss, modulator bandwidth, coupling efficiency, and device-level quantum metrics.
• Interface with cross-functional teams to ensure manufacturability of quantum photonic devices.
• Document process recipes, integration flows, and failure analysis for internal knowledge transfer and process control.
• Collaborate with CAD engineers to validate incoming layout files, constructing frames with essential metrology boxes and electrical test structures.
• Implement data collection schemes and collaborate with process and tool experts to formulate effective process recipes.
• Design and conduct experiments to validate and optimize process recipes.
• Liaise with the failure analysis lab to submit samples for cross-sectioning, contributing to continuous improvement.
• Monitor customer material and proactively address processing issues, ensuring a smooth workflow.
• Conduct regular meetings with customers, providing updates on project progress as materials move through the production line.
• Deliver process reviews with the goal of transitioning the device to full-scale production

Skills

Cleanroom tools

Lithography

Etch

Deposition

CMP

Metrology

Education

BS in Electrical Engineering

MS in Electrical Engineering

PhD in a related field

Job description

Bold Thinking. World Changing. At SkyWater, our ingenuity helps improve lives around the world by manufacturing U.S. made semiconductors that are essential ingredients of modern life. Automotive safety enhancements, life-saving medical devices, consumer electronics and American security require semiconductors. Working in our Minnesota headquarters, Florida, or Texas location - employees join together to improve the world.

Explore what's possible. Joining our U.S. - based team means contributing to and learning about the commercialization of some of the most exciting technologies the world has ever seen. We are turning "science fiction" into everyday reality through technologies such as superconducting, 3D integrated circuits or computer chips, carbon nanotubes, photonic logic devices, micro electro-mechanical systems and other emerging device topologies. We manufacture products for aerospace and defense, medical, automotive, consumer and industrial markets, to name a few. Our customers include emerging leaders who rely on our intellectual property security and quality manufacturing services.

Step into the future. SkyWater's values of Integrity, Excellence, Collaboration, Empowerment and Growth Mindset guide us to cultivate an empowered, learning environment. We also invest in developing highly skilled, dedicated employees - and employees who are entering the workforce for the first time, from the military, and a variety of educational backgrounds.

Are you bold thinking? Find your place on our team and help us change the world!

In the Advanced Technology Services (ATS) group at SkyWater, our team works hand in hand with customers to develop a wide range of exciting new, novel, and fully customized technologies - including superconducting ICs, quantum computing devices, carbon nanotube devices, MEMs, Bio sensors, DNA sequencing devices, Si photonics, and III-V devices.

We are seeking a Senior Staff Process Development Engineer to join our team, working on the fabrication and integration of quantum devices in a semiconductor foundry environment.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize fabrication process flows for wafer level manufacturing of low-loss photonic waveguides, ensuring seamless execution
• Support integration of components relevant to quantum applications
• Collaborate with process integration teams to troubleshoot yield, optical loss, and reliability issues across the fab flow
• Develop test and characterization methodologies for waveguide loss, modulator bandwidth, coupling efficiency, and device-level quantum metrics
• Interface with cross-functional teams (customer, design, process, packaging, test) to ensure manufacturability of quantum photonic devices
• Document process recipes, integration flows, and failure analysis for internal knowledge transfer and process control
• Collaborate with CAD engineers to validate incoming layout files, constructing frames with essential metrology boxes and electrical test structures.
• Implement data collection schemes and collaborate with process and tool experts to formulate effective process recipes.
• Design and conduct experiments to validate and optimize process recipes.
• Liaise with the failure analysis lab to submit samples for cross-sectioning, contributing to continuous improvement.
• Monitor customer material and proactively address processing issues, ensuring a smooth workflow
• Conduct regular meetings with customers, providing updates on project progress as materials move through the production line
• Deliver process reviews with the goal of transitioning the device to full-scale production

Required Qualifications

• BS, MS, or PhD in Electrical Eng, Materials Science, Chemical Eng, Physics, Optical Engineering or related discipline
• Experience with cleanroom fabrication tools (lithography, etch, deposition, CMP, metrology)
• BS and 7 years or MS and 5 years or PhD and 2-3 years of engineering experience in a semiconductor fab or lab environment.
• Basic knowledge of semiconductor fabrication and equipment.
• Strong organizational skills and work ethic.
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to thrive in a large cross-functional program environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• PhD in a related field.
• Research experience in materials used in semiconductor manufacturing.
• Exposure to various aspects of semiconductor manufacturing processes.
• Experience with foundry-scale (200mm/300mm) photonic process design kits (PDKs)
• Hands‑on experience with photonic integrated circuit (PIC) fabrication in a cleanroom/fab environment
• Demonstrated experience with low-loss waveguide fabrication (etch processes, cladding deposition, propagation loss reduction techniques)
• Strong understanding of optical characterization techniques (loss measurement, spectral characterization)
• Familiarity with high-speed modulator design, fabrication, or characterization (RF/electro-optic co‑design a plus)
• Working knowledge of quantum photonics principles as applied to at least one of: quantum networking, quantum sensing, or quantum computing
• Familiarity with cryogenic packaging or testing quantum hardware
• Background in RF/microwave engineering for modulator driver integration
• Publication record or patents in integrated photonics, quantum optics, or related fields
• Prior work in a semiconductor fab or foundry environment

The annual salary range for this role is $114,320 - $171,480. Pay offered is based on many factors including, but not limited to, the job‑related experience, skills, education, and credentials of each candidate.

SkyWater offers an exciting environment where the brightest semiconductor minds come together to achieve exceptional results. We offer competitive salary and an opportunity to participate in incentive plans as well as other employee financial benefits, including 401k match, and life insurance.

Additionally, SkyWater offers a comprehensive benefits package which promotes a healthy life. This includes benefit eligibility day one, medical, dental, mental health benefits, vision, legal planning, short‑and‑long‑term disability, paid time off, paid holidays, an on‑site fitness facility, and an on‑site self‑serve market.

SkyWater complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities unless doing so would cause an undue hardship. Alternative methods of applying for employment are available to individuals unable to submit an application through this site because of a disability. To request reasonable accommodations, to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact Human Resources at 952-851-5200 or [e-mail].

EOE, including disability/vets