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Compound Semiconductor Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Experience and familiarity with compound semiconductor epitaxy equipment, processes, and characterization tools (including photoluminescence and x-ray diffraction) is highly desirable, but not ...

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Compound Semiconductor information

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How much do compound semiconductor jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 12, 2026, the average hourly pay for compound semiconductor in the United States is $23.27, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $18.75 and $26.44 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a compound semiconductor?

Compound semiconductors are materials made from two or more elements, typically from different groups in the periodic table, such as gallium arsenide (GaAs) or indium phosphide (InP). Unlike silicon, which is a single-element semiconductor, compound semiconductors offer unique electrical and optical properties that make them essential for high-speed electronics, optoelectronic devices, and advanced communication systems. They are widely used in applications like LEDs, laser diodes, solar cells, and 5G devices because of their high electron mobility and ability to operate at higher frequencies.

What are the typical collaborative dynamics between compound semiconductor engineers and other departments within a technology company?

Compound semiconductor engineers often work closely with multidisciplinary teams, including process engineers, device physicists, and manufacturing specialists. Collaboration is essential, especially during the design, prototyping, and testing phases, as these engineers must integrate their materials expertise with the requirements of electrical and systems engineers. Regular cross-functional meetings and project reviews are common, ensuring that specifications are met and potential issues are identified early. This collaborative environment not only helps deliver high-performance devices but also provides valuable exposure to different aspects of technology development, supporting career growth.

What is the difference between Compound Semiconductor vs Semiconductor Process Engineer?

AspectCompound SemiconductorSemiconductor Process Engineer
Required CredentialsDegree in Electrical, Materials Engineering, or Physics; often specialized certificationsDegree in Electrical, Materials, or Chemical Engineering; process-specific certifications
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, fabrication facilities, high-tech manufacturingSemiconductor fabrication plants, R&D labs, production lines
Industry UsageOptoelectronics, RF devices, high-speed electronicsMicroprocessors, memory chips, integrated circuits
Common Search/ComparisonYesYes

Compound Semiconductor professionals focus on materials like GaAs and InP used in optoelectronics and RF applications, while Semiconductor Process Engineers work on manufacturing silicon-based chips. Both roles require similar technical backgrounds and often collaborate in high-tech manufacturing environments, but their specific focus areas differ based on the materials and devices involved.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a compound semiconductor engineer?

To thrive as a Compound Semiconductor Engineer, you need a strong background in materials science, solid-state physics, and electrical engineering, usually supported by a relevant degree such as electrical engineering or applied physics. Familiarity with semiconductor fabrication tools, cleanroom procedures, and simulation software like TCAD is typically required, and certifications in cleanroom safety or semiconductor processing can be advantageous. Attention to detail, problem-solving, and effective teamwork are crucial soft skills in this role. These competencies ensure precision in device fabrication, innovative development, and successful collaboration on complex semiconductor projects.
More about Compound Semiconductor jobs
What cities are hiring for Compound Semiconductor jobs? Cities with the most Compound Semiconductor job openings:
Infographic showing various Compound Semiconductor job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 92% Full Time, 5% Part Time, 2% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 89% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $48,394 per year, or $23.3 per hour.

Reliability Engineer - Compound Semiconductor ICs

Keysight Technologies, Inc.

Santa Rosa, CA • On-site

$112K - $141K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 19 days ago


Keysight Technologies rating

8.1

Company rating: 8.1 out of 10

Based on 20 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

49th of 157 rated electronics manufacturers


Job description

Overview
Keysight is at the forefront of technology innovation, delivering breakthroughs and trusted insights in electronic design, simulation, prototyping, test, manufacturing, and optimization. Our ~16,800 employees create world-class solutions in communications, 5G, automotive, energy, quantum, aerospace, defense, and semiconductor markets for customers in over 100 countries. Learn more about what we do.
Our award-winning culture embraces a bold vision of where technology can take us and a passion for tackling challenging problems with industry-first solutions. We believe that when people feel a sense of belonging, they can be more creative, innovative, and thrive at all points in their careers.
Responsibilities
Join a team at the forefront of semiconductor innovation, enabling the breakthrough technologies that differentiate Keysight's industry-leading design enablement solutions. As a Reliability Engineer, you will work hands-on with some of the world's most advanced compound semiconductor ICs and high-performance interconnect technologies that power next-generation RF, microwave, millimeter-wave, and high-speed digital products.
In this role, you will play a critical part in ensuring that cutting-edge technologies meet the demanding performance, quality, and lifetime expectations of Keysight customers. You will collaborate closely with device engineers, process technologists, product designers, and manufacturing teams to evaluate, qualify, and continuously improve the technologies that form the foundation of Keysight's product leadership. If you are excited by advanced semiconductor technology, data-driven problem solving, and the challenge of ensuring reliability in products operating at the leading edge of performance, this role offers an opportunity to make a visible and lasting impact.
What You'll Do
  • Design, develop, and execute reliability qualification strategies for advanced compound semiconductor ICs, interposer technologies, and next-generation packaging and interconnect solutions.
  • Evaluate emerging semiconductor and integration technologies, ensuring they meet the stringent reliability requirements of high-performance Test & Measurement applications.
  • Apply advanced statistical and data analysis techniques to identify reliability risks, understand failure mechanisms, and guide technology development decisions.
  • Build and expand reliability characterization infrastructure, enabling the rapid assessment of new technologies while supporting future growth in capability and test capacity.
  • Partner with technology development, product engineering, and manufacturing teams to translate reliability data into action that drives product success.
  • Communicate results to technical and business stakeholders, influencing technology roadmaps and qualification decisions.

Qualifications
Qualifications & What Will Help You Succeed
We're looking for a highly motivated engineer or scientist who is excited by the challenge of developing and qualifying the advanced semiconductor technologies that power Keysight's industry-leading measurement solutions.
This role is well-suited for candidates with experience in either semiconductor device reliability or advanced interconnect and packaging reliability. The strongest candidates will bring expertise spanning both domains and enjoy solving reliability challenges that arise across the entire technology stack-from transistor-level degradation mechanisms to package- and system-level interconnect reliability.
Required Qualifications
This role requires a combination of practical hands-on experience, academic and analytical skills
  • B.S. in Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Physics, or a related technical field (or equivalent industry experience).

Candidates must have proven experience in 1 or more of the following key areas
    • Strong understanding of transistor and diode operation, including device characteristics, performance tradeoffs, and failure mechanisms.

    • Solid foundation in semiconductor device physics and the underlying principles governing device behavior and reliability. AND/OR

    • Experience with advanced interposer, packaging, and interconnect technologies, including an understanding of the physical mechanisms that influence long-term reliability and performance.

In addition, we are looking for the following skills
  • Strong background in probability, statistics, and data analysis, with the ability to draw meaningful conclusions from complex datasets.

  • Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with a demonstrated ability to investigate challenging technical issues and develop data-driven solutions.
  • Effective communication and interpersonal skills, enabling productive collaboration across multidisciplinary engineering teams.
  • A high level of ownership, accountability, initiative, and self-motivation, with a proactive approach to tackling technical challenges and driving results.

Preferred Qualifications
  • Knowledge of III-V semiconductor technologies and the physics of high-performance compound semiconductor devices.
  • Experience with high-frequency device technologies, including device fabrication, process integration, characterization, or reliability evaluation.
  • Hands-on experience applying Statistical Process Control (SPC) and Design of Experiments (DOE) methodologies in a research, development, or manufacturing environment.

What Sets Exceptional Candidates Apart
  • Expertise in both semiconductor device reliability and advanced interconnect/package reliability.
  • A passion for understanding how advanced semiconductor technologies work-and why they fail.
  • The ability to connect device physics, reliability behavior, and statistical analysis to solve complex engineering problems.
  • Curiosity and enthusiasm for working on technologies operating at the forefront of RF, microwave, millimeter-wave, and heterogeneous integration performance.
  • A desire to influence the qualification and deployment of the technologies that directly enable Keysight's next generation of differentiated products.

This role is ideal for engineers who enjoy combining deep technical analysis, cutting-edge semiconductor and packaging technologies, and data-driven decision making to ensure the long-term success of breakthrough products. You will have the opportunity to evaluate the reliability of technologies that directly contribute to Keysight's product differentiation and performance leadership in the Test & Measurement industry.
The role will be based at our HQ in Santa Rosa, CA. Candidates must be local or willing to relocate to Santa Rosa area.
This position requires access to certain goods, software, technology, or technical data subject to U.S. export control laws and regulations. Under these laws and regulations, U.S. persons (which includes U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents, refugees, and asylees) working for Keysight can access export-controlled items without authorization from the U.S. government. For any individual who is not a U.S. person, Keysight may need authorization from the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Commerce, or other appropriate federal agency before the individual can access export-controlled items. Employment in this position for non-U.S. persons is contingent on Keysight's ability to obtain any required government authorizations. Candidates must be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident of the U.S., or protected individual, having authorization from the U.S. government for export-controlled items under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).
Careers Privacy Statement***Keysight is an Equal Opportunity Employer.***
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other protected categories under all applicable laws.
The level of role will be based on applicable experience, education and skills; Most offers will be between the minimum and the midpoint of the Salary Range listed below.
Santa Rosa, CA MIN $138,960.00- MID $185,280.00- MAX $231,600.00
Note: For other locations, pay ranges will vary by region
This role is eligible for Keysight Results Bonus Program
US Employees may be eligible for the following benefits:
  • Medical, dental and vision
  • Health Savings Account
  • Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
  • Life, Accident, Disability insurance
  • Business Travel Accident and Business Travel Health
  • 401(k) Plan
  • Flexible Time Off, Paid Holidays
  • Paid Family Leave
  • Discounts, Perks
  • Tuition Reimbursement
  • Adoption Assistance
  • ESPP (Employee Stock Purchase Plan)

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