Research Engineer – Semiconductor Materials

SRI International has an immediate opening in our Princeton, NJ campus for a Research Engineer in Semiconductor Materials . This position will leverage deep knowledge of semiconductor materials growth and fabrication to aid our in-house foundry. In this position, you will work with a small, dedicated research team on existing programs, with the long term goal of cultivating your own programs and research directions. Successful candidates will have a strong background in semiconductor material growth – particularly by MOCVD in commercial machines – as well as an understanding of how to characterize these materials and integrate into fabrication processes. Ideally the candidate has developed their understanding through extensive hands-on experience in materials growth and characterization. Our work aims to leverage these materials into inventing new technologies and techniques, developing prototypes, and constructing fieldable systems. Activities will be very hands-on, operating over a variety of projects related to national security.

SRI’s Advanced Technology and Systems Division conducts innovative research and development in a wide range of disciplines, from hardware security and mixed-signal integrated circuits to novel nanoscale optoelectronic devices and quantum sensing. Candidates will have the opportunity to work on programs outside of the MOCVD focus area and contribute to innovations at all levels of the development process. This position will be on-site in Princeton, NJ.

Responsibilities

• Conduct MOCVD growth of III-V materials (InP, GaAs, GaSb), including control of composition, doping, and layer thickness (down to quantum wells).
• Characterize grown materials and adjust growth processes to optimize growth conditions.
• Maintenance of existing growth and characterization equipment and installation and qualification of new equipment.
• Seek, develop, and champion new research opportunities. Write and win proposals as a member of our team to actively seek funding from various government and commercial agencies.
• Make technical presentations to external clients, academic, government, and industry audiences and to internal staff.

Qualifications

• Required - M.S. or Ph.D. in Materials Science or related field. Recent graduates are welcome to apply, while industry experience is also a plus.
• Due to government requirements, U.S. Citizenship is required with the ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance.
• Experience in wafer-scale crystal growth techniques such as MOCVD, MBE, CBE, etc.
• Experience in crystal characterization techniques such as XRD, PL, SEM, Hall-effect, ECV, etc.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in a microfabrication environment. Hands-on experience on a range of deposition, etch, lithography, and characterization tools.
• Experience with instrument repair and installation.
• Programming experience for analysis, simulation, and instrumentation, e.g. with MATLAB, C++, Python, LabVIEW.
• Active Security Clearance

The salary range is: $104,139-$154,903. Salary ranges will vary and are based on several factors, including geographic location, market competitiveness and equity amongst internal employees in similar roles. Positions may also qualify for SRI's Pay for Outstanding Performance program or the annual Performance Based Compensation program. SRI also has a competitive benefits package, to view details please go to https://www.sri.com/resources/benefits/. SRI will accept applications until the position is filled.

SRI is an independent nonprofit research institute headquartered in Menlo Park, Calif., with a rich history of supporting government and industry. We create and deliver world-changing solutions for a safer, healthier, and more sustainable future. For almost 80 years, we have collaborated across technical and scientific disciplines to discover and develop groundbreaking products and technologies and bring innovations and ideas to the marketplace.