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Film Developer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Senior Thin Film Engineer

Irvine, CA · On-site

$100K - $140K/yr

As a Senior Thin Film Engineer at MKS Newport, you will partner with Thin Film Engineering to develop, support execute and maintain coating designs and processes. In this role, you will report to the ...

As a Thin Film Engineer at MKS Newport, you will partner with Thin Film Coating to design, develop, manufacture and test optical surface treatments. In this role, you will report to the Director of ...

Thin Film Engineer

Irvine, CA · On-site

$80K - $100K/yr

As a Thin Film Engineer at MKS Newport, you will partner with Thin Film Coating to design, develop, manufacture and test optical surface treatments. In this role, you will report to the Director of ...

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Film Developer information

See salary details

$40K

$129.3K

$158.5K

How much do film developer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 8, 2026, the average yearly pay for film developer in the United States is $129,348.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $106,000.00 and $157,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a film developer do?

A film developer is responsible for processing photographic film to produce negatives or prints. This involves using chemical solutions in a darkroom to develop, stop, and fix the images captured on the film. Film developers must carefully control timing, temperature, and agitation to ensure high-quality results. They may also work with both black and white and color film, and sometimes perform additional tasks like retouching or scanning developed images for digital use.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a film developer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Film Developer, you need a solid understanding of photographic processes, chemical handling, and film types, typically supported by experience or formal training in photography or imaging sciences. Familiarity with darkroom equipment, film scanners, and photo editing software is essential for processing and digitizing film. Attention to detail, patience, and effective time management are standout soft skills in this role. These skills ensure high-quality film development, accurate image reproduction, and efficient workflow in both professional labs and creative studios.

What are some common challenges film developers face when working with different types of photographic film?

Film developers often encounter challenges such as managing varying chemical processing requirements for different film stocks, ensuring consistent temperature control, and handling delicate negatives to prevent damage. Each type of film—black and white, color negative, or slide film—has unique development processes, which require careful attention to timing and chemistry. Staying organized and detail-oriented is essential, as small mistakes can impact image quality. Collaboration with photographers and lab technicians is also frequent, ensuring that the final results meet creative expectations.

What is the difference between Film Developer vs Photographic Processor?

AspectFilm DeveloperPhotographic Processor
CredentialsTypically requires knowledge of chemical processing and film typesRequires understanding of various chemicals and processing steps
Work EnvironmentDarkroom or specialized processing labsProcessing labs, photo labs, or darkrooms
Industry UsageUsed mainly in film photography and darkroom developmentUsed in commercial labs, photo studios, and film processing facilities

While both Film Developer and Photographic Processor involve chemical processing of photographic materials, the Film Developer specifically refers to the chemical solution that develops the exposed film, whereas the Photographic Processor encompasses the entire process of developing, fixing, and washing photographic prints or films. The roles often overlap, but Film Developer is more focused on the chemical solution preparation and application, while Photographic Processor handles the full processing workflow.

More about Film Developer jobs

What states have the most Film Developer jobs?

States with the most job openings for Film Developer jobs include:

What are popular job titles related to Film Developer jobs?

For Film Developer jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Film Developer job openings in the United States as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 85% Full Time, 3% Part Time, and 12% Contract. Highlights an 79% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 17% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $129,348 per year, or $62.2 per hour.

Senior Thin Film Engineer

Irvine, CA

MKS Instruments, Inc.
Manufacturing • 1 - 5K employees

$100K - $140K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 4 days ago


Job description

A Day in Your Life at MKS:
As a Senior Thin Film Engineer at MKS Newport, you will partner with Thin Film Engineering to develop, support execute and maintain coating designs and processes. In this role, you will report to the Director of Thin Film Engineering.
You Will Make an Impact By:

  • Developing, designing and optimizing optical thin film deposition processes to meet requirements and specifications, for ion beam sputtering, ion assist and electron beam coating processes for our thin film coatings group
  • Working closely with design engineers and technicians to resolve technical issues, troubleshooting and characterization of coating chambers processes
  • Characterizing the equipment and coating process, and working with the team to reduce downtime
  • Managing defect issues, implementing root cause solutions to those issues, and continuously promote improvement, quality and cost
  • Supporting the team with process documentation, training and formalizing work instruction documents
  • Supporting the coating process and training of technicians and machine maintenance personnel


Skills You Bring:

  • Bachelor Degree in Materials Science, Physics or Engineering with 3-5 years of in-depth experience in a thin film manufacturing environment
  • Correlating thin film performance with deposition chamber hardware and processes
  • Experience troubleshooting and problem solving thin film processes
  • Strong communication skills
  • Proficiency using Microsoft Excel & PowerPoint


Physical Demands and Working Conditions:

  • Must be able to remain in a stationary position for extended periods of time and climb stairs
  • Constantly operates a computer and other office productivity machinery
  • Occasionally moves/positions up to 10 pounds
  • This job operates in a professional office and laboratory environment

We are interested in a qualified candidate who is eligible to work in the United States. However, we will not be sponsoring work visas for this position, at this time.

Compensation and Benefits:
Salary Pay Range: $100,000 to $140,000 per year. This range is a good faith estimate of the expected salary range for this position, based on a wide range of factors including qualifications, experience and training, operational and business needs and other considerations permitted by law.At MKS, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for the role.

Bonus: This position is eligible for a discretionary annual bonus, in an amount to be determined by MKS [or as applicable].

Benefits: MKS offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance coverage (medical, dental and vision), 401(k) with company match, life and disability insurance, 12 paid holidays, sick time, 15 paid vacation days, [6 weeks fully paid] parental leave, adoption assistance and tuition reimbursement [and for participation in any stock programs, signing bonus, etc.].

MKS is an equal opportunity employer, including disability, veteran status and all categories protected by law. Please review our EOE statements for additional details.

MKS will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act and the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers.

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Globally, our policy is to recruit individuals from wide and diverse backgrounds. However, certain positions require access to controlled goods and technologies subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) or Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Applicants for these positions may need to be "U.S. persons." "U.S. persons" are generally defined as U.S. citizens, noncitizen nationals, lawful permanent residents (or, green card holders), individuals granted asylum, and individuals admitted as refugees.

MKS Inc. and its affiliates and subsidiaries ("MKS") is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer: diverse candidates are encouraged to apply. We win as a team and are committed to recruiting and hiring qualified applicants regardless of race, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions), religion, age, ancestry, physical or mental disability or handicap, marital status, membership in the uniformed services, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, or any other category protected by applicable law. Hiring decisions are based on merit, qualifications and business needs. We conduct background checks and drug screens, in accordance with applicable law and company policies. MKS is generally only hiring candidates who reside in states where we are registered to do business.

MKS is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or interview process due to a disability, please contact us at:accommodationsatMKS@mksinst.com.

If applying for a specific job, please include the requisition number (ex: RXXXX), the title and location of the role