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Nanoelectronics & Device-Physics Engineer

Astera Institute· Foundation
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Emeryville HQ$200k - $230kFull-timePosted 2mo ago

About the role

The Astera Institute seeks a Nanoelectronics & Device-Physics Engineer to design the electrostatic drive and field-effect position sensor for a nanoscale actuator, own its fabrication process and electrical characterization, and work with cleanroom partners to realize the device.

Responsibilities

  • Design the electrostatic drive stack — patterned electrode, insulating high-k dielectric, and compliant polymer to achieve ~10 nm plate displacement and ~100 pN force at low drive voltage, and validate dielectric long-term reliability.
  • Design a field-effect (FET) sensor that reads the mechanism's position electrically, including low-noise readout for nanometer-scale motion and closed-loop control.
  • Define the full device stack — patterned electrode, high-k dielectric, compliant polymer, and the DNA-origami actuator — and direct its fabrication (including electron-beam lithography) at cleanroom partners.
  • Characterize the finished device on the bench: voltage–displacement response, reversibility and hysteresis over many actuation cycles, and force/displacement by single-molecule AFM.
  • Ensure the measurement toolchain can actually resolve the quantities being measured.

Qualifications

  • PhD or MS in electrical engineering, applied physics, materials science, or a related field, grounded in semiconductor device physics.
  • Experience with high-k dielectrics and thin-film stacks, FET or biosensor charge sensing, and low-noise electrical measurement.
  • Cleanroom process design and working familiarity with electron-beam lithography (running or directing fabrication).
  • Comfort at the bench with nanoscale electromechanical characterization; AFM experience is a plus.
  • Ability to partner closely with molecular-design and controls colleagues on a tightly integrated device.

Skills

Required:Electrostatic drive designFET sensing / biosensor charge sensingCleanroom process designNanoscale characterization

Benefits

  • See the Benefits Summary linked in the job posting.
Last updated Sep 23, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.

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