MEMS Process Integration Scientist

HRL Laboratories pioneers the next frontiers of physical and information science. Delivering transformative technologies in automotive, aerospace and defense, HRL advances the critical missions of its customers to help them remove limitations and create competitive advantage. HRL then transitions the work back to customers – ready for real-world application. For more than 70 years, HRL’s rich portfolio of scientific discoveries and engineering innovations continues to build on each other — often in unexpected, profound and far-reaching ways. As a private company owned jointly by Boeing and GM, HRL prioritizes purpose over profit, significantly advancing the state of the art.

HRL's compact, high-performance MEMS IMUs are revolutionizing navigation systems by delivering reliable guidance in GPS-degraded environments. Engineered with navigation-grade precision, these IMUs provide a cost-effective and scalable solution for automotive, aerospace, and other demanding applications where traditional GPS reliance falls short.

These innovations aim to deliver a first-of-its-kind navigation-grade component that combines reliability, precision, and affordability. By offering a viable alternative to traditional IMUs, HRL's MEMS technology is advancing the capabilities of autonomous systems and enabling precise navigation in challenging environments.

•    Ph.D. or Master’s Degree in a physical science or engineering field with 5+ years of fabrication process experience in an R&D environment
•    Proven Expertise in Process Development: Demonstrate strong skills in process development, optimization, design of experiments (DOE), statistical data analysis, and innovative problem-solving to drive cutting-edge advancements
•    Collaborative Team Environment: Strong verbal and written communication skills to thrive in a dynamic, multi-disciplinary team and enable effective cross-laboratory collaboration
•    End-to-End Fabrication Mastery: Ability to integrate diverse process recipes into seamless fabrication workflows while addressing process interdependencies to achieve high-performance results
•    Hands-On Experience with Advanced Techniques: Proficiency in the following state-of-the-art technologies: 
o    Contact/stepper photolithography
o    Wet and plasma dry etching
o    High aspect-ratio deep reactive ion etching (DRIE) for silicon, glass, and other MEMS materials
o    Chemical vapor deposition (CVD)
o    Dielectric and metal depositions
o    Wafer bonding and vacuum encapsulation of microscale structures
o    Sacrificial and structural layer creation and wet/dry release processes
•    Precision Metrology Skills: Expertise in using advanced tools such as optical/infrared microscopy, interferometric measurements, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with elemental analysis to ensure quality and precision.
•    Innovative Design Expertise: Experience in designing and characterizing process control monitors (PCM) for in-process verification, along with proficiency in creating and modifying mask layouts using industry-standard CAD software like L-Edit or Cadence
•    Technical Proposal Development: Experience in writing technical proposals to present innovative research and development concepts

•    Hands-On Micro-Machining Experience: Experience with both surface and bulk micro-machining is highly desired.
•    Fabrication Documentation: Strong ability to document fabrication experiments accurately and thoroughly.
•    Back-End Wafer Processing: Experience in wafer grinding, CMP, die singulation, and assembly processes into packages
•    Data Analysis Proficiency: Familiarity with data analysis software such as JMP, MATLAB, or Python is a significant advantage
•    Automation Skills: Experience in automating fabrication data collection and analysis
•    Device Simulation Expertise: Knowledge of mechanical, thermal, or electrical Finite Element Analysis (FEA) modeling using tools like COMSOL or SolidWorks
•    Inline Process Characterization: Experience in designing and conducting wafer or die-level electrical or optical process control monitor (PCM) testing

Must be able to perform safely in a MEMS microfabrication cleanroom and follow standard operating practices

US Citizenship with the ability to obtain and maintain a US Government security clearance

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that some people are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single desired qualification. At HRL, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

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Keywords/ Phrases: Dry Etch, Wafer level bonding, idea generation, proposal writing, principal investigator