Staff Dry Etch Process Engineer

NOKIA; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Nokia Optical Networks in Sunnyvale seeks a Staff Dry Etch Process Engineer to develop, integrate, and optimize plasma etch processes for InP photonic integrated circuits and related optical devices. You will work hands-on with dry etch equipment, chamber hardware, and metrology systems to improve CD control, profile, and device performance.

Collaborating with lithography, thin films, wet etch, and device engineering teams, you will drive DOE, SPC, and advanced process control methodologies to

Qualifications

• M.S. or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or related field.
• BS degree with 5+ years semiconductor/photonic process engineering experience will also be considered.
• Experience in semiconductor or photonic process development, integration, or sustaining engineering.

Responsibilities

• Develop, qualify, and sustain dry etch processes for InP photonic integrated circuits and related optical devices.
• Optimize etch rate, CD control, sidewall profile, selectivity, and device performance.
• Collaborate across lithography, wet etch, thin film, metallization, reliability, and device engineering teams to develop integrated process flows.
• Drive defect reduction, yield improvement, and process capability using DOE, SPC, and advanced process control.
• Perform root-cause analysis and corrective actions for excursions and yield losses.
• Support technology transfer from development into manufacturing while maintaining process stability.
• Provide on-call support for 24x7 manufacturing operations and cross-functional problem solving.
• Leverage AI, data analytics, and ML tools to improve process efficiency and productivity.

Skills

DOE planning

Statistical analysis

Process capability improvement

Multidisciplinary collaboration

Ownership mindset

Education

MS or PhD in Electrical Engineering or related field

BS + 5+ years semiconductor/photonic experience

Tools

ICP/RIE dry etch systems

Optical metrology (SEM)

DOE software and SPC tools

Job description

At Nokia Optical Networks, advanced photonic technologies become scalable products powering the world's communication infrastructure. Our team develops and manufactures cutting-edge Indium Phosphide (InP) photonic integrated circuits (PICs), enabling coherent optics, high-speed transceivers, tunable lasers, optical amplifiers, and next-generation networking solutions. We work closely with device design, integration, manufacturing, equipment suppliers, and product teams to bring innovative concepts from research into high-volume production.

As a Staff Dry Etch Process Engineer, you will develop, integrate, and optimize plasma etch processes used in the fabrication of advanced photonic devices. You will work hands-on with dry etch equipment, chamber hardware, consumables, masks, and metrology systems to improve critical dimensions, profile control, sidewall roughness, etch selectivity, yield, and manufacturability. You will collaborate across photolithography, thin films, wet etch, device engineering, integration, reliability, and manufacturing teams to support both technology development and production operations.

This position provides opportunities to collaborate with Nokia R&D and manufacturing organizations globally, as well as equipment and material suppliers, to develop robust process solutions aligned with Nokia's optical networking technology roadmap. The role also supports adoption of advanced analytics, automation, and AI-enabled solutions to accelerate process development and operational excellence.

• 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.
• Analyze processes from a first-principles, physics-based approach to understand and manipulate mechanisms, not just recipes
• Collaborate with lithography, wet etch, thin film, metallization, reliability, and device engineering teams to develop integrated process flows.
• Partner with equipment and materials suppliers on chamber matching, hardware upgrades, process optimization, and cost-of-ownership improvements.
• Document process baselines, engineering evaluations, change controls, and best practices; communicate results to cross-functional teams and management.
• Support technology transfer from development into manufacturing while maintaining process stability and product quality.
• Support a 24x7 manufacturing operation through participation in on-call support, issue escalation, and cross-functional problem-solving when required.
• Demonstrates flexibility in work schedule and is willing to work swing shifts based on business requirements.
• Leverage AI, machine learning, and advanced data analytics tools to improve process efficiency, yield, and engineering productivity.

• M.S. or Ph.D. 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.
• Ability to work effectively across multidisciplinary engineering and manufacturing organizations.
• Strong ownership mindset with a demonstrated ability to independently drive projects, solve problems, and deliver results.
• Ability to prioritize and respond quickly to manufacturing challenges in a dynamic environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Hands-on experience with ICP, RIE, or other advanced dry etch systems used in compound semiconductor or photonic device manufacturing.
• Experience processing InP, GaAs, SiN, silicon photonics, or other III-V semiconductor technologies.
• Understanding of photonic device fabrication challenges, including waveguide profile control, etch depth uniformity, optical loss reduction, and dimensional variation control.
• Experience with optical metrology, SEM analysis, cross-section characterization, and defect inspection techniques.
• Knowledge of photonic integrated circuit fabrication, including lasers, modulators, optical amplifiers, and passive optical components.
• Experience supporting technology transfer, yield improvement, and high-volume manufacturing environments.
• Experience collaborating with equipment suppliers and external technology partners on process development initiatives.