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Film Developer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

RTX

Thin Film Manufacturing Engineer

Mckinney, TX · On-site

$68K - $131K/yr

Provide engineering and production support for multiple thin film processes including PVD metal deposition, laser drilling, photolithography, electroplating, electroless plating, and wet chemical ...

Raytheon

Thin Film Manufacturing Engineer

Mckinney, TX

$67K - $87K/yr

Provide engineering and production support for multiple thin film processes including PVD metal deposition, laser drilling, photolithography, electroplating, electroless plating, and wet chemical ...

RTX

Thin Film Manufacturing Engineer

Mckinney, TX

$131K/yr

Provide engineering and production support for multiple thin film processes including PVD metal deposition, laser drilling, photolithography, electroplating, electroless plating, and wet chemical ...

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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 Aug 17, 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 job categories do people searching Film Developer jobs look for?

The top searched job categories for Film Developer jobs are:

Film Developer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Film Developer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 80% Full Time, 3% Part Time, and 17% Contract. Highlights an 80% Physical, 6% Hybrid, and 14% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $129,348 per year, or $62.2 per hour.

Senior Manufacturing Engineer - Thin Film Engineering (PVD, PECVD, ALD & RIE)

Ensurge Micropower ASA

San Jose, CA • On-site

$162K - $198K/yr

Full-time

Posted 26 days ago

Job description

About Ensurge Micropower
Ensurge Micropower (OSE: ENSU) is a pioneer in solid-state microbattery technology,
enabling the next generation of intelligent, connected devices. Leveraging proprietary thin-film and roll-to-roll manufacturing, Ensurge delivers safe, high-energy-density batteries for
wearables, health tech, industrial sensing, and defense applications. As our technology
transitions from development to production, disciplined manufacturing execution becomes the
differentiator.
Role Overview
Ensurge is seeking a Senior Manufacturing Engineer (IC) to own and scale the Thin-Film
Engineering processes - deposition (PVD/Sputtering, PECVD, ALD) and etch (RIE) - from
pilot through early production. This role is not just about process - it is about delivering
manufacturing results.
Responsibilities
Own daily manufacturing performance for the PVD/Sputtering, PECVD, ALD, and RIE
process areas
  • Drive output, yield, uptime, and cycle time
  • Support production directly - troubleshooting issues in real time
  • Partner with Operations to ensure line execution meets plan

Convert R&D processes into repeatable, production-ready workflows
  • Define and lock critical process parameters (CPPs) - e.g., chamber pressure, Ar/process
    gas flow, RF/DC power, substrate bias, deposition rate, film stress and thickness
    uniformity targets (PVD/PECVD); precursor/co-reactant pulse and purge times, cycle
    count, growth per cycle (GPC), and substrate temperature (ALD); RF power, gas
    chemistry (e.g., CF4/O2/Cl2), etch rate, selectivity, sidewall profile/anisotropy, DC bias,
    and endpoint detection (RIE)
  • Define and lock control limits and OCAPs
  • Ensure processes are robust, stable, and scalable
    Work with Equipment Engineering to:
  • Define tool requirements (sputter cathodes/targets, PECVD chambers, ALD reactors and
    precursor delivery systems, RIE/ICP-RIE chambers and endpoint detection systems,
    RF/DC power supplies, vacuum, gas delivery, and abatement/scrubber systems)
  • Improve reliability and uptime
  • Implement process-driven upgrades
  • Lead tool qualification and process acceptance
  • Ensure equipment supports throughput, precision, and repeatability
    Own flow from substrate input → deposition/etch → downstream handoff to assembly
  • Reduce bottlenecks, WIP, and inefficiencies
  • Improve line balance and production scheduling alignment
  • Support layout and flow improvements as the system scales
    Partner with Quality to implement:
  • SPC and process control on film thickness, stress, uniformity, and conformality
  • Film characterization (ellipsometry, profilometry, XRD, SEM/AFM, four-point probe) to validate deposition results against CPPs
  • Traceability and data capture
    Build and maintain:
  • SOPs
  • Process specs
  • Control plans
  • Ensure manufacturing is data-driven and auditable
    Lead structured RCA on:
  • Yield loss
  • Defects
  • Downtime
  • Use characterization data (SEM, XRD, cross-section imaging) to root-cause excursions
  • Implement sustainable fixes - not workarounds
  • Drive continuous improvement aligned to operational excellence principles (standard work, DMS, etc.)
    Qualifications
    Required
  • 7-12+ years in manufacturing engineering with thin-film deposition and etch
    (PVD/sputtering, PECVD, ALD, and/or RIE) in battery, semiconductor, or thin-film
    industries
  • Proven experience owning manufacturing processes on the floor
  • Strong track record of driving yield and throughput improvements
  • Experience supporting or leading pilot → production scale-up
  • Hands-on mindset - comfortable working directly with equipment, technicians, and
    operators
  • Working knowledge of thin-film characterization techniques (e.g., ellipsometry,
    profilometry, XRD, SEM) and their use in validating and controlling deposition processes
    Preferred
  • Understanding of film stress engineering, plasma physics, RF coupling, and DC self-bias
  • Understanding of plasma etch chemistry, selectivity, anisotropy, and endpoint detection
    (RIE/ICP-RIE)
  • Familiarity with ALD precursor chemistry, self-limiting surface reactions, and pulse/purge sequencing
  • Vacuum systems and chamber conditioning experience
  • Experience with image-based film/defect characterization (SEM, optical microscopy) and
    correlating characterization data back to process control limits
  • Experience with MES, traceability systems, or data-driven manufacturing
    Salary Range:
    $162,000-$198,000
    The base salary range is specific to California. The salary of the final candidate selected for this role will be determined by a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, internal equity, experience, education, specialty, and training.
Ensurge logo

About Ensurge

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Industry

Electrical equipment, appliance, and component manufacturing

Company size

11 - 50 Employees

Headquarters location

San Jose, CA, US

Year founded

2005

Social media

Twitter

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