Staff Process Engineer (Plasma Etch)

TL;DR

Staff Process Engineer (Plasma Etch): Developing and deploying advanced dry etch processes into the eyepiece manufacturing flow for AR optical waveguides with an accent on process readiness for high-volume manufacturing. Focus on yield improvement, process transfer, and scaling robust production-ready processes in a cleanroom environment.

Location: Fully onsite in Austin, TX. Relocation assistance is available for non-local candidates.

Company

A pioneer in Augmented Reality (AR) optics and display systems creating immersive AR experiences through advanced waveguide technology.

What you will do

• Develop and optimize dry etch and plasma processes for wafer-based manufacturing applications.
• Improve process capability and manufacturing performance using DOE, SPC, and CPK analysis.
• Troubleshoot complex process and equipment issues in a cleanroom semiconductor environment.
• Transfer R&D processes into high-volume manufacturing, including process qualification and scale-up.
• Lead PFMEA, OCAP, and Kaizen initiatives to optimize optical quality, throughput, and cost.
• Mentor engineers and technicians while scaling robust manufacturing processes.

Requirements

• 8+ years of experience in nanofabrication, semiconductor manufacturing, or related microfabrication environments.
• Hands-on experience with dry etch/plasma processing equipment and vacuum systems.
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Electrical, Chemical, Mechanical, or Materials Science Engineering.
• Strong understanding of plasma physics, plasma-surface interactions, and etching mechanisms.
• Experience with SPC, DOE, and structured root cause methodologies such as Six Sigma or DMAIC.
• Must be based in or able to work fully onsite in Austin, TX.

Nice to have

• M.S. or Ph.D. in a related engineering discipline.
• Experience with JMP or other statistical analysis tools.
• Metrology experience using SEM, TEM, or related characterization techniques.
• Familiarity with FDC, automated data collection, or process automation systems.
• Experience supporting wafer-level optics or photonics manufacturing.

Culture & Benefits

• Work within a united team where employees are empowered and trusted to make a significant impact.
• Opportunity to collaborate with industry experts to solve real-world problems in the AR ecosystem.
• Relocation assistance provided for qualified non-local candidates.
• Collaborative environment focusing on innovation and diverse perspectives.