Staff MEMS Engineer

AEye, Inc; Pleasanton (CA); On-site; USD 175,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

AEye, Inc is seeking a Staff MEMS Engineer to own MEMS mirror design, process stack and test methods across its hardware, quality, and operations teams. You will coordinate with foundries and suppliers to qualify devices for volume production and help shape the long-term MEMS roadmap for the product line.

This hands-on, individual contributor role requires deep MEMS knowledge and the ability to lead characterization, screening, and integration while representing AEye's technical position with

Qualifications

• Eight or more years in MEMS device engineering.
• Experience with MEMS scanning mirrors or electrostatic/piezoelectric actuators.
• Experience bringing MEMS devices from design to production with external foundries.
• Strong ability to evaluate designs and predict impact on performance.

Responsibilities

• Own MEMS mirror technical baseline across suppliers.
• Define acceptance criteria and test methods for MEMS devices.
• Lead electrical and optical characterization in the lab and automate tests.
• Manage interface with foundry partners and provide technical direction to teams.

Skills

MEMS engineering

Electrical engineering

Mechanical engineering

Applied physics

Education

MS or PhD in Electrical/Mechanical Engineering or Applied Physics

Tools

SOI process

Wafer bonding

Process simulation

Job description

AEye builds software-defined LiDAR around a pair of MEMS scanning mirrors. The Staff MEMS Engineer is the technical authority for those mirrors: how they are designed, how they perform, and how they are manufactured and qualified for volume production through external foundries. The role works across AEye's systems, hardware, quality and operations teams and with our foundry and component partners and contributes to the long‑term MEMS roadmap for the product line.

This is a hands‑on individual contributor position with technical ownership. The engineer works with a small MEMS team on characterization, screening and integration, and represents AEye's technical position with suppliers.

Responsibilities

• Own the MEMS mirror technical baseline: device design, process stack and material specification, performance model, and configuration control across suppliers.
• Serve as the in‑house expert on MEMS mirror physics: electrostatic actuation, piezoresistive position sensing, dynamics and high‑voltage behavior.
• Define acceptance criteria and test conditions for MEMS devices, aligned with system requirements and with suppliers.
• Review and evaluate supplier process data, root cause analyses and design proposals, and provide technical direction.
• Develop the MEMS supply and technology roadmap: design evolution, qualification of additional supply sources, and assessment of commercially available devices against system requirements.
• Lead electrical and optical characterization in the laboratory and drive the development of automated screening and test.
• Work with Systems Engineering on scan pattern, control loop and optical constraints related to the mirror.
• Work with Quality on reliability and root cause analysis, and with Operations on the handoff of screened devices into scanner assembly.
• Manage the technical interface with foundry partners: development plans, data exchange, technical reviews, and on‑site engagement as needed.
• Provide clear written status, analysis and recommendations to engineering management.

Required qualifications

• MS or PhD in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, applied physics or a related discipline.
• Eight or more years in MEMS device engineering, including direct experience with MEMS scanning mirrors or comparable electrostatic or piezoelectric actuators.
• Deep understanding of MEMS device design, simulation and behavior, sufficient to evaluate designs and process changes and predict their effect on performance and reliability.
• Experience bringing a MEMS device from design through an external foundry to production, including SOI‑based process flows and wafer bonding.
• Experience assessing design alternatives, second‑source options or commercial components against system requirements.
• Hands‑on electrical and optical characterization of MEMS devices: actuation, position feedback, leakage and breakdown, optical angle measurement.
• Experience defining acceptance criteria and test methods for externally supplied components.
• Strong written and verbal communication, with the ability to document technical positions for management, suppliers and peers.

Preferred qualifications

• Optical MEMS or LiDAR scanning experience.
• Piezoresistive sensing and closed‑loop control of MEMS devices.
• Reliability qualification for automotive, aerospace or space applications.
• Experience managing the technical side of a foundry or supplier relationship.
• Experience in a small, fast‑moving engineering organization.

Working environment

• Minimum of 3 days onsite at AEye's Pleasanton facility, with regular laboratory work.
• Ability to lift up to 40lbs
• Periodic travel to supplier and partner sites.

Base Salary Range $175,000-$200,000

Voluntary Self‑Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self‑identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in AEye, Inc’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.