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Research Engineer, Semiconductor

Periodic Labs· Science
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Menlo Park, CA$220k - $300kFull-timePosted 2mo ago

About the role

Research Engineer responsible for device-level validation of materials work, from deposition through patterned test vehicles, with short-loop experiments to link materials and interfaces to device behavior. Involves customer-facing engagements, collaboration across teams, and documentation for internal knowledge and AI training.

Responsibilities

  • Design, fabricate, and characterize short-loop device test vehicles that demonstrate material and device performance against clear electrical targets.
  • Build patterned devices end-to-end using photolithography, direct-write laser lithography, or e-beam lithography, integrated with deposition, etch, and metrology.
  • Deposit thin-film stacks with engineered, complex interfaces using PVD, PLD, MBE, and ALD/CVD techniques.
  • Perform electrical characterization on probe stations, and design and build custom measurement test benches where commercial tools fall short.
  • Connect materials and interface properties to device outcomes, feeding insights back into film-stack and process development.
  • Contribute technical expertise to customer-facing engagements, translating customer needs into experimental plans and results.
  • Document experimental methodology, results, and learnings to feed both internal knowledge and AI training infrastructure.

Qualifications

  • MS or PhD in Materials Science, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related field, plus relevant industry experience.
  • Semiconductor industry experience in device development or process integration (IDM, foundry, or memory manufacturer preferred).
  • Strong command of device physics and integration flows, with a track record of demonstrating device performance in short-loop test vehicles.
  • Hands-on fabrication experience spanning lithography (photo, laser direct-write, or e-beam), thin-film deposition, etch, and metrology.
  • Deep understanding of how materials selection and interface quality drive device performance.
  • Proficiency in probe-station device measurement, plus ability to architect and assemble custom electrical test setups.
  • Condensed matter physics foundation, spintronics, magnetic materials, or quantum phenomena a plus.
  • Knowledge of emerging memory and logic device architectures a plus.
  • Startup-ready mindset: able to operate in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment while following industry-standard best practices.

Skills

Required:Device design and fabricationThin-film depositionPatterning and lithographyElectrical measurementMaterials-to-device translationDocumentation
Nice to have:Customer-facing communication
Last updated Aug 26, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.

About Periodic Labs

From bits to atoms.

Periodic Labs is an artificial intelligence research company pioneering the next leap in scientific discovery. We operate at the intersection of machine learning and scientific experimentation under the thesis that that true understanding of the universe is only possible by interacting and experimenting on it.

artificial intelligencescientific discoverymachine learningscientific experimentation
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