Staff Process Development Engineer, Etch • Process Engineering Austin view →

Fab2; Austin (TX); Hybrid; USD 165,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision insurance

Generous paid time off

Visa sponsorship

401(k) retirement plan

Stock options / equity

Job summary

fab2 is seeking a Staff Process Development Engineer in Austin, TX. You will design and execute semiconductor nanofabrication experiments, pushing etching and thin-film methods to new limits in a fast-paced startup. Hands-on cleanroom work and cross‑functional collaboration are essential.

You will read papers, mentor teams, and help translate research into scalable recipes while contributing to tool design and process optimization. The role offers significant ownership and equity in fab2.

Qualifications

• PhD with 10+ years in nanofabrication process development and mentoring technical teams.
• Hands-on in dry etch, thin film deposition and lithography.
• Experience with multiple fabrication flows and metrology equipment.

Responsibilities

• Design and run experiments in the lab with senior process engineers.
• Read literature to inform experimental design and iterate quickly.
• Learn and operate semiconductor tools (etch, deposition, lithography, metrology).
• Develop, transfer, and optimize recipes across platforms for consistency and yield.
• Analyze data, troubleshoot, and document results for the team.

Skills

Lab skills

Experiment design

Analytical thinking

Mentoring

Communication

Education

PhD + 10 years experience

Tools

Dry etch equipment

Thin film deposition equipment

Lithography tools

Ellipsometry

Profilometry

SEM

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, world‑class advisors, and labs/offices in Austin, TX, Lockhart, TX, and San Francisco, CA.

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:

• 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