Equipment Engineer (AI/Thin-Film Semiconductor)

Location: On-site in Menlo Park, California; this role cannot be performed remotely.

Salary: $200,000–$275,000 plus equity, commensurate with experience.

Company

Periodic Labs is an AI and physical sciences company developing models to accelerate breakthroughs in materials, energy, and related scientific fields.

What you will do

• Build out and scale an AI-accelerated thin-film and semiconductor processing laboratory.
• Commission, qualify, maintain, and troubleshoot PVD, CVD, and ALD deposition systems.
• Integrate in-situ characterization and metrology capabilities into process equipment.
• Define equipment specifications, acceptance criteria, qualification protocols, and SOPs.
• Work with vendors on equipment selection, procurement, installation, technical evaluation, and failure resolution.
• Monitor equipment health, perform root-cause analysis, and establish standardized data pipelines for AI training infrastructure.

Requirements

• BS, MS, or PhD in Mechanical, Chemical, or Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related field.
• Extensive hands-on experience with vacuum systems in semiconductor, nanofabrication, or advanced materials environments.
• Deep expertise in high-vacuum operation and deposition hardware, including plasma sources, gas delivery, and thermal management.
• Experience integrating in-situ metrology, characterization systems, or environmental chambers into process equipment.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment while applying industry-standard practices.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States.

Culture & Benefits

• Hands-on work in an AI-accelerated materials and semiconductor research laboratory.
• Collaboration with AI/ML, simulation, process engineering, physics, and chemistry teams.
• Standard weekday schedule.
• Equity included in the compensation package.
• Visa sponsorship is available for exceptional candidates.