Principal Epitaxial Engineer

Work Setting: 100% onsite semiconductor manufacturing and R&D environment in Fremont, CA

Travel: Occasional travel to other company sites as needed

Compensation: $100,625 - $172,250 per year

Benefits: Medical, dental, vision, 401(k), employee stock purchase program, paid time off, and comprehensive employee benefits package

Relocation: Available on a case-by-case basis

Sponsorship: Will consider H1b-transfers/TN-1 Visas

Position Summary

A global leader in compound semiconductor and photonics technology is seeking a Lead / Principal Epitaxial Engineer to lead the development of advanced MOCVD epitaxial growth processes supporting next-generation InP and GaAs optoelectronic devices.

This is a highly technical engineering role focused on new product development, epitaxial process innovation, and continuous process improvement within a high-volume manufacturing environment. The successful candidate will partner closely with Device Design, Product Engineering, and Manufacturing teams to develop new epitaxial structures, improve device performance, and drive process capability from R&D through production.

This opportunity is ideal for an experienced epitaxy engineer who enjoys solving complex materials and process challenges while serving as a technical leader within a collaborative engineering organization.

What You'll Do

• Lead the development and optimization of MOCVD epitaxial growth processes for InP and GaAs-based optoelectronic devices

• Partner with Design and Product Engineering teams to develop new epitaxial structures and support new product introductions

• Drive process improvements focused on yield, throughput, capacity, cost, and overall manufacturing performance

• Analyze epitaxial growth data using SPC, DOE, JMP, and other statistical tools to improve process capability

• Develop and implement characterization methods using XRD, ECV, photoluminescence (PL), reflectance, and related techniques

• Troubleshoot complex process issues and implement corrective actions to improve process stability

• Present technical findings and development results to engineering leadership and cross-functional teams

• Support technology transfer from development into high-volume manufacturing while ensuring process consistency and compliance

What You Bring

• M.S. in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline (or equivalent experience)

• 5+ years of experience with MOCVD crystal growth of InP, GaAs, or other III-V compound semiconductor materials

• Strong understanding of epitaxial growth processes and compound semiconductor device technology

• Experience using epitaxial characterization tools including XRD, ECV, PL, and reflectance

• Knowledge of SPC, DOE, Gage studies, process control, and statistical data analysis

• Experience using JMP or similar statistical software preferred

• Strong technical problem-solving, communication, and collaboration skills

• Ability to manage multiple technical projects within a fast-paced manufacturing environment

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience developing epitaxial structures for lasers, EMLs, DMLs, photodiodes, VCSELs, or other optoelectronic devices

• Experience supporting both R&D and high-volume manufacturing

• Background leading new process development or technology transfer projects

• Experience mentoring engineers or serving as a technical lead

• Familiarity with semiconductor manufacturing and cleanroom environments

Why This Opportunity

• Lead development of advanced InP and GaAs technologies used in AI infrastructure, optical networking, and next-generation datacenter applications

• High-impact technical leadership role with direct influence on new product development

• Opportunity to work alongside world-class experts in compound semiconductor technology

• Collaborative environment with strong interaction across Design, Product, and Manufacturing Engineering

• Exposure to both cutting-edge R&D and high-volume semiconductor manufacturing

• Competitive compensation, annual bonus opportunity, and comprehensive benefits

• Long-term career growth within a global technology leader in photonics and semiconductor innovation