Nanofabrication Intern (AI)

TL;DR

Nanofabrication Intern (AI/Materials Science): Supporting the buildout of internal thin-film and nanofabrication capabilities to generate high-quality experimental data for AI training. Focus on executing cleanroom processes including lithography, deposition, and etch to validate AI-predicted materials.

Location: On-site in Menlo Park, CA

Company

AI and physical sciences company building state-of-the-art models to accelerate breakthroughs in materials, energy, and beyond.

What you will do

• Execute nanofabrication processes for microelectronic, photonic, and MEMS devices, including lithography, thin-film deposition, and etch workflows.
• Operate tools for sputtering, evaporation, ALD, PECVD, and plasma etching (RIE, ICP-RIE).
• Perform structural, optical, and electrical characterization using SEM, ellipsometry, XRD/XRR, and 4-point probe.
• Maintain detailed experimental records and metadata to feed the AI training pipeline.
• Collaborate with materials science, AI, and automation teams to link fabrication results with model predictions.
• Adhere to rigorous laboratory safety and facility protocols in shared cleanroom environments.

Requirements

• Pursuing or recently completed a degree in Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, Applied Physics, Chemical Engineering, or Chemistry.
• Hands-on experience in a university cleanroom, semiconductor lab, or related research environment.
• Practical exposure to lithography, deposition, and etch processes.
• Experience with silicon-based microelectronic, photonic, or MEMS devices.
• Must be based in or able to work on-site in Menlo Park, CA.

Nice to have

• Experience with full device fabrication flows involving lithography, deposition, and characterization.
• Hands-on experience with mask aligners, spin coaters, or advanced metrology tools.
• Exposure to functional materials such as superconductors, ferroelectrics, or multilayer stacks.
• Interest in the intersection of experimental science and AI-driven discovery.

Culture & Benefits

• Fast-paced frontier research environment backed by world-class investors.
• Opportunity to contribute to the early buildout of internal nanofabrication capabilities.
• Competitive compensation based on experience.
• Visa sponsorship provided with full legal support.