Staff Process Development Engineer, Etch

Socket.dev; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 165,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision insurance

Generous PTO

Visa sponsorship

Life & Disability Insurance

Parental Leave

401(k) retirement plan

Learning & Development

Commuter benefits

Free meals & snacks

Job summary

fab2, an early-stage hardware startup in Austin, TX, is seeking a Staff Process Development Engineer to design and run semiconductor etching and thin-film processes. You will own experiment design and execution, review literature, and work with senior process engineers to push new techniques.

This high-ownership role offers autonomy in a fast-moving startup, with opportunities to influence tool design, develop recipes, improve yield, and contribute to novel R&D.

Qualifications

• PhD + 10 years of experience developing nanofabrication processes, device flows, and mentoring technical teams.
• Experience operating dry etch, thin film deposition, and lithography tools.
• Hands-on cleanroom experience with multi-step fabrication flows.
• Recipe development and optimization for some subset of dry etch, thin film deposition, or lithography.
• Familiarity with key metrology such as ellipsometry, profilometry, SEM, etc.

Responsibilities

• Work in the lab to design and run experiments alongside senior process engineers.
• Read academic papers and technical literature to inform experimental design; whiteboard ideas and iterate quickly.
• Learn and operate a range of semiconductor tools, including etch, deposition, lithography, and metrology systems.
• Develop, transfer, and optimize process recipes across platforms with a focus on consistency, yield, and throughput.
• Analyze process data, troubleshoot recipe or equipment issues, and clearly document findings and results for the team.

Skills

Nanofabrication

Experiment design

Data analysis

Cleanroom

Education

PhD + 10 years experience

Tools

Dry etch

Thin film deposition

Lithography

Metrology

Job description

About fab2

The fab2 team can build anything. We design all the hardware and software needed to make chips and we make the fabs, tools, and components ourselves.We're looking for exceptional, hands-on people who can iterate to the limits of what's possible.

fab2 was founded by Sam Zeloof and Jim Keller. Sam is best known for making chips in his garage, and Jim has been a leader in the semiconductor industry for the past 40 years.

About the team

The Process Team sits at the heart of our in-house device development, driving the design of each new generation of tools. This is unlike any role at a traditional foundry—we simultaneously develop recipes, apply novel materials, test and characterize our chips, and troubleshoot tools.

About the role

As a Staff Process Development Engineer at fab2, you’ll be responsible for experiment design and execution of new semiconductor, etching and thin-film fabrication methods. We're looking for someone with both a strong understanding of traditional semiconductor processing and etching methods along with an open-mindedness to new techniques. It'll be helpful if you have the ability to digest and filter a large body of existing work (academic papers, books, etc.)

This is a high-ownership role with lots of autonomy in a fast-moving startup environment. You’ll have the opportunity to contribute to novel R&D processes and influence tool design. Candidates should have hands-on cleanroom experience and a track record of developing nanofabrication recipes from scratch, ideally across multiple process steps.

Responsibilities

• Work in the lab to design and run experiments alongside senior process engineers

• Read academic papers and technical literature to inform experimental design; whiteboard ideas and iterate quickly

• Learn and operate a range of semiconductor tools, including etch, deposition, lithography, and metrology systems

• Develop, transfer, and optimize process recipes across platforms with a focus on consistency, yield, and throughput

• Analyze process data, troubleshoot recipe or equipment issues, and clearly document findings and results for the team

Required Experience

• PhD + 10 years of experience (or equivalent) developing nanofabrication processes, device flows, and mentoring technical teams

• Experience operating dry etch, thin film deposition, and lithography tools

• Hands-on cleanroom experience with multi-step fabrication flows

• Recipe development and optimization for some subset of dry etch, thin film deposition, or lithography

• Familiarity with key metrology such as ellipsometry, profilometry, SEM, etc

Nice-to-have

• Mechanical or maintenance experience with fab tools

• Full device‐flow experience

Working at fab2

We’re an early-stage hardware startup with solid funding and world-class advisors located in Austin, San Francisco and Lockhart.

Compensation: fab2 is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. The annual salary range for this role is $165,000 – $220,000. Compensation is determined based on your qualifications and experience. Our total compensation package also includes generous equity in fab2.

Benefits: fab2 Semi offers the following benefits, subject to applicable eligibility requirements:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance

• Generous Paid Time Off inclusive of Holidays and Sick Time

• Visa Sponsorship

• Life and Disability Insurance

• Paid Parental Leave

• 401(k) retirement plan

• Weekly Learning & Development opportunities

• Commuter Benefits including Parking and Late Night Uber rides from the office

• Lunches daily, Dinners 3x per week, Stocked Office Kitchen with Snacks and Spindrifts

We are an equal-opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability or other legally protected statuses.

Export Control Analysis: This position involves access to technology that is subject to U.S. export controls. Any job offer made will be contingent upon the applicant’s capacity to serve in compliance with U.S. export controls.

fab2, formerly known as Atomic Semi