Senior Process Engineer at substrate

Compensation

$200,000 – $300,000/yr

Setup: Hybrid
Location: San Francisco, California
Level: not_specified
Posted: Feb 13, 2026

Description

Substrate is seeking a Senior Process Engineer to develop and characterize critical components for their platform. The role involves hands-on micro- and nanofabrication in cleanrooms across the San Francisco Bay Area, leading teams, optimizing processes, and contributing to internal research facility construction. Key responsibilities include collaborating on device design, fabricating MEMS/NEMS devices, owning fabrication strategies, iterating on structural designs, and characterizing materials using various techniques.

Required Skills

Microfabrication
Nanofabrication
Lithography
Thin Film Deposition
Etching
Characterization Techniques
Electron Microscopy
Scanning Probe Microscopy
Inductively Coupled Plasma Etching
Plasma Etching
Instrument Scoping
Procurement
Installation
Commissioning
Safety Procedures
Best Practices

Additional Information

Minimum Education: Master's or higher degree in chemical engineering, electrical engineering, materials science, mechanical engineering, physics, or a related discipline.
Required Previous Experiences: 7 years of hands-on micro- or nanofabrication experience in cleanroom user facilities
Demonstrated ability to lead work safely and collaboratively in a cleanroom user facility
Deep understanding of, and ability to design based on, micro- and nanofabrication considerations such as top-down vs. bottom-up, pattern transfer, material compatibilities, etch selectivity and directionality, and thin film and surface engineering
Deep understanding of the mechanical, optical, and chemical properties of materials which typically determine the performance of nanofabricated devices
Preferred Qualifications: 5+ years of hands-on experience in characterization techniques such as electron microscopy and scanning probe microscopy
Experience operating a Raith EBPG 5200/5200+, including aligned exposures
3+ years of hands-on experience in inductively coupled plasma etching, with a strong understanding of the principles of plasma etching and recipe parameters
3+ years of experience in industrial R&D
Experience with instrument scoping, procurement, installation, and commissioning
Experience with safety procedures and best practices when working with potentially hazardous liquid chemicals