About the position
Excelitas Technologies is seeking a self-driven Senior Thin Films Engineer to lead the development of high-performance optical coatings. This role is critical in the design and manufacturing of advanced photonics products, particularly focusing on the development and continuous improvement of proprietary MEMS tunable optical devices and micro-optics. The successful candidate will work closely with Design Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, and other cross-functional teams to ensure the highest system performance in compact and cost-effective formats across various applications, including biomedical, semiconductor, and aerospace sectors. The position requires a hands-on approach, emphasizing collaboration and teamwork. The Senior Thin Films Engineer will be responsible for developing dielectric thin films, characterizing them, and controlling the associated processes. This includes leading the development of coating processes for e-beam and Ion-Assisted Deposition (IAD) to enhance yield and performance, designing optical thin film coatings for visible and near-infrared products, and providing recipe development and parameter optimization. In addition to technical responsibilities, the role involves monitoring coating performance, troubleshooting coating tools and processes, and collaborating with wafer fabrication engineers to improve device performance. The engineer will also be tasked with implementing and documenting work instructions, tests, and specifications, as well as providing engineering support and technical guidance to manufacturing personnel. The successful candidate will ensure that processes are transitioned smoothly from research and development to manufacturing, while driving projects to completion on time and within budget.
Responsibilities
- Lead the development and continuous improvement of high-performance optical coatings.
- Develop coating processes for e-beam / IAD to improve yield and performance.
- Design optical thin film coatings for VIS and NIR products.
- Provide recipe development, parameter optimization and process documentation.
- Use characterization equipment to understand film uniformity and performance to drive process improvements and tool design.
- Monitor coating performance.
- Design and specify fixturing and other mechanical components.
- Troubleshoot coating tools and process.
- Collaborate with wafer fabrication engineers to improve device performance.
- Implement, document, work instructions, tests & specifications.
- Provide engineering support and technical guidance to manufacturing personnel.
- Develop documentation for transitioning process from R&D to manufacturing.
- Understand upstream and downstream processes interactions and ensure that process customers are satisfied.
- Drive projects to completion on time and within budget.
Requirements
- MS/PhD in Optical Engineering, Materials Science or a related discipline.
- 5+ years of industrial experience with optical thin films.
- Excellent technical, interpersonal and documentation skills.
- Experience with thin film optical design and characterization required.
- Experience with process / tool troubleshooting.
- Strong experimental and analytical skills.
- Strong organizational and problem-solving skills.
- Experience with experimental design and process control.
- Working knowledge of wafer processing preferred.
- Working knowledge of lasers, MEMS devices and optoelectronics preferred.
