Process Engineer - Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD)

Job Description

Job Title: Senior Process Engineer - Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD). Location: Fremont, California, USA

Responsibilities:

• Own the process health and performance of assigned PVD modules using statistical process control (SPC), process monitoring, and data analysis.

• Develop, optimize, and qualify thin-film deposition processes for superconducting resonators, signal wiring, and interconnect structures.

• Qualify new equipment, materials, and process technologies;

• Analyze process, metrology, and electrical characterization data to improve reproducibility and device performance.

• Investigate root causes and implement corrective and preventive actions for process, equipment, and materials-related issues, coordinating across teams when needed.

• Work with facilities and equipment engineering on preventive maintenance, equipment recovery, and process qualification after maintenance or repairs.

• Document process development activities, maintain standard operating procedures, and train process technicians on new processes and equipment.

• Contribute to the technical roadmap for the process area, including equipment strategy, capability investments, and long-term scalability.

• Mentor and technically review the work of process engineers and technicians as opportunities arise;

• Represent process engineering in cross-functional design and technical reviews, helping teams make decisions involving materials, process integration, design, and quantum engineering.

Qualifications:

• Master's degree with 4 to 6 years of relevant industry or research experience, or a PhD with at least 2 years of relevant industry, postdoctoral, or research experience.

• Degree in Materials Science, Physics, Applied Physics, Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related field.

• Hands-on experience with PVD equipment, including sputtering, e-beam evaporation, or thermal evaporation.

• Experience with semiconductor fabrication processes and sustained, direct experience processing 4-inch or 6-inch wafers.

• Strong knowledge of vacuum systems and thin-film deposition, including diagnosing process or equipment drift.

• Understanding of semiconductor fabrication processes and superconducting or semiconductor device physics;

• Experience with process development, design of experiments (DOE), and engineering data analysis, with examples of using data to guide process decisions.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including technical documentation.

• Ability to work effectively in collaborative, cross-functional engineering teams.

• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced R&D environment with evolving priorities.

Preferred:

• Experience leading the end-to-end qualification of a new process, tool, or material for production or scaled R&D use.

• Experience mentoring engineers or technicians or setting technical direction within a process area.

• Experience owning a process module across multiple technology generations or major equipment transitions.

• Publications, patents, or documented internal improvements in process capability.

• Experience with superconducting thin films or device fabrication.

• Experience developing thin-film processes for semiconductor, superconducting, or quantum technologies;

• Hands-on experience with thin-film characterization techniques such as ellipsometry, AFM, SEM, XRR, XRD, or related methods.

• Experience analyzing engineering data using statistical methods and tools such as JMP, Python, MATLAB, or similar software.

• Exposure to quantum computing, cryogenic measurements, or superconducting device technologies.

• Experience working in a startup or R&D-focused engineering environment.

Benefits and compensation:

• Annual base salary: $170,000 to $200,000.

• Competitive compensation and equity.

• Medical, dental, and vision benefits.

• 401(k) plan.

• Paid parental leave.

• Rejuvenation days.

• Vacation policy aligned with local regulations and industry standards.

Additional information:

• Final compensation depends on relevant work experience, skills, and geographic location.

• Applications from women, minorities, and other underrepresented groups are encouraged.

• The employer is an equal opportunity employer and complies with applicable anti-discrimination laws;

• AI tools may assist with reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, and identifying inconsistencies or verification signals. These tools do not replace human judgment, and final hiring decisions are made by humans.

• For future opportunities, applicants can submit their details through the employer's general application page: Rigetti general application.