Process Technician, Thin Films

The role

The Process Technician will own day-to-day tool operation, sample preparation, and first-line maintenance in a thin-film lab. This role involves running deposition tools, preparing samples, and operating characterization tools to support materials discovery.

What you will do

• Run deposition tools to SOP.
• Execute recipes on vacuum-based thin-film deposition systems.
• Prepare samples including dicing, cleaving, mounting, and cross-section prep.
• Clean and prep substrates per workflow-specific recipes.
• Operate characterization tools and collect film data.
• Perform first-line and preventive maintenance.
• Keep tools qualified by running qual and monitoring samples.
• Support non-standard work for engineers.
• Document all runs and meet metadata standards.
• Own lab safety and housekeeping.

Required qualifications

• 3+ years of hands-on experience operating thin-film deposition and/or metrology equipment in a semiconductor fab, R&D line, or equipment supplier environment.
• Working knowledge of at least one deposition technique.
• Sample prep skill with delicate materials.
• Comfort with basic metrology data.
• Mechanical aptitude and hands-on maintenance instinct.
• Rigorous documentation habits and attention to detail.
• Cleanroom experience and respect for protocol, chemical safety, and contamination control.
• Ability to work independently and prioritize requests.
• High school diploma or equivalent.

Nice to have

• Associate degree or technical certificate in a related field, or equivalent military or industry training.
• Experience in a high-mix, low-volume R&D environment.
• Vacuum system troubleshooting, RF matching and plasma tuning, or mass flow and pressure control calibration.
• Experience with LIMS, MES, or other systems for tracking samples, runs, and characterization results.
• Wafer-level metrology experience.
• Familiarity with in-situ or real-time process monitoring during deposition.
• Prior work at university nanofabrication facilities or shared cleanrooms.

Before you apply

• Must be authorized to work in the U.S. for the duration of the contract.
• Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

About the company

Periodic Labs is building an autonomous laboratory for high-throughput materials discovery. Their work combines advanced chemistry, robotics, automation, AI, and materials science.