Senior Process Engineer

Sr. Process Engineer

Job Title: Sr. Process Engineer

Work Location: Harris County, Texas

Summary:

Seeking a Sr. Process Engineer to lead process optimization, defect reduction, and support scaling and documentation of critical process steps in a manufacturing environment. This role involves technical ownership of deposition tools, process improvement, and mentoring junior engineers.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the development, optimization, and continuous improvement of buffer layer deposition processes using PVD systems.
• Serve as the technical owner for deposition tools and processes, ensuring reliability and process capability.
• Design and execute experiments to control thin-film growth mechanisms, including grain size, orientation, and texture.
• Investigate complex process and equipment issues, determine root causes, and implement corrective actions.
• Own process development projects from problem definition through experimental validation and implementation.
• Maintain process documentation, specifications, and operating procedures to meet quality and regulatory standards.
• Mentor junior engineers and support the development of internal technical expertise in thin-film deposition and PVD processing.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to implement process improvements and ensure stable manufacturing operations.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field; advanced degree preferred.
• 4+ years of process or manufacturing experience (advanced degree may substitute for experience).
• Hands-on experience tuning thin-film grain size, texture, or crystallographic orientation using PVD techniques, including ion-assisted deposition.
• Experience sustaining and optimizing vacuum deposition systems.
• Strong understanding of PVD process parameters and their influence on film growth, including plasma characteristics, ion energy and flux, cathode voltage, pulsed power, gas pressure, and film nucleation.
• Experience with thin-film metrology such as x-ray diffraction, electron diffraction (preferably RHEED), and ellipsometry.
• Experience leading Kaizen or lean events, and familiarity with Six Sigma, statistical analysis, or automation tools is a plus.
• Background in superconducting materials, oxide films, or textured thin-film systems is advantageous.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills with a data-driven engineering mindset.
• Ability to lead technical investigations independently and translate experimental results into manufacturable solutions.