Principal Engineer (PVD Equipment & Process Development)

Location: Milpitas, California, United States; onsite role with approximately 20% domestic and international travel.

Salary: $205,800–$360,200 annually.

Company

hirify.global provides semiconductor inspection tools, metrology systems, process solutions, and computational analytics, including advanced wafer-processing solutions for etch, deposition, and vapor-based technologies.

What you will do

• Lead technical projects developing new PVD equipment, chambers, hardware, and process capabilities for future semiconductor devices.
• Define requirements, technical breakthroughs, priorities, schedules, and risks across sophisticated development programs.
• Partner with process and hardware engineering teams to optimize PVD chamber and equipment capabilities.
• Translate device, metallization, and material requirements into equipment, chamber, hardware, and process requirements.
• Coordinate development across process engineering, hardware, materials, device integration, characterization, manufacturing, and supplier teams.
• Lead activities from early technology evaluation through equipment and process qualification, implementation, and communication of technical recommendations to leadership and partners.

Requirements

• M.S. or Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, Materials Science, or a related semiconductor discipline.
• 15+ years of semiconductor experience in PVD, thin-film deposition, metallization, process equipment, or related technology development.
• Deep technical knowledge of PVD deposition processes and equipment.
• Experience developing, modifying, or introducing PVD equipment, process chambers, or chamber hardware.
• Strong understanding of semiconductor device integration and fabrication, including processes before and after metallization.
• Experience with device metallization and annealing and their relationship to device performance.
• Experience leading complex technical development projects involving process, equipment, hardware, materials, and device requirements.
• Experience evaluating or introducing new deposition materials and material stacks for advanced device applications.
• Knowledge of materials and device characterization and ability to use characterization results to guide technical development.
• Experience collaborating with semiconductor equipment manufacturers and component suppliers, plus strong technical leadership, project management, communication, and multifunctional collaboration skills.

Nice to have

• Experience developing or modifying PVD chambers, sources, or other deposition-system hardware.
• Experience taking new equipment and process capabilities from concept through development, qualification, and manufacturing implementation.
• Knowledge of CVD and other thin-film deposition technologies.
• Experience working with global equipment and component suppliers.

Culture & Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, life, and other voluntary benefits.
• 401(k) with company matching and an employee stock purchase program.
• Student debt assistance, tuition reimbursement, development programs, and career growth opportunities.
• Financial planning, wellness, employee assistance, paid time off, paid holidays, and family care and bonding leave.
• Work on semiconductor technologies supporting AI, data centers, automotive, and electronic devices.