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Lithography Process Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Our Focal Plane Operations Process Engineering department provides world class semiconductor and ... Experience with wet etch, metal-lift off, lithography, plasma cleaning, and associated ...

Our Focal Plane Operations Process Engineering department provides world class semiconductor and ... Experience with wet etch, metal-lift off, lithography, plasma cleaning, and associated ...

Our Focal Plane Operations Process Engineering department provides world class semiconductor and ... Experience with wet etch, metal-lift off, lithography, plasma cleaning, and associated ...

Senior Process Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$200K - $300K/yr

Senior Process Engineer Substrate is addressing one of the most important technological problems ... Ownership of fabrication strategies in lithography, deposition, and etch, as well as designing ...

TFT Process Engineer

Cupertino, CA · On-site

$150.40 - $277.60/hr

Description As a Panel TFT Process Engineer, you will look for new materials and develop tough ... Photo Lithography, Thin Film, Etch or Integration function for a‑Si TFT, Metal Oxide TFT, LTPS ...

... lithography, deposition, furnace, dry etch, wet etch, and metrology as well as proficiency and ... Engineering and Process Engineering. You Will Do * Photolithography process development and ...

Process Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$106K - $142K/yr

As a member of the Manufacturing Process Engineering team, you will work alongside experienced ... lithography, used in high-volume manufacturing. This position offers excellent opportunities for ...

As a member of the Manufacturing Process Engineering team, you will work alongside experienced ... lithography, used in high-volume manufacturing. This position offers excellent opportunities for ...

As a member of the Manufacturing Process Engineering team, you will work alongside experienced ... lithography, used in high-volume manufacturing. This position offers excellent opportunities for ...

Physicist/Scientist E4

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$161K - $221K/yr

Job Mission We are looking to hire a highly motivated, hands-on technical lithography process engineer to support our cutting-edge AR/VR devices. This position will be in our advanced lithography ...

... experience in advanced lithography, patterning, or semiconductor process development ... engineering judgment, and hands-on experimentation. * Strong data analysis, troubleshooting, and ...

Sr. Process Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$140 - $210/hr

Senior-level experience in semiconductor process engineering, process development, or process ... Hands-on experience with wet or dry etching, coating, thin films, deposition, lithography ...

Showing results 21-40

Lithography Process Engineer information

See California salary details

$48.9K

$90.8K

$140.6K

How much do lithography process engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for lithography process engineer in California is $90,813.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $73,500.00 and $101,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a lithography process engineer do?

A Lithography Process Engineer is responsible for developing, optimizing, and maintaining the photolithography processes used in semiconductor manufacturing. They work with advanced equipment to transfer circuit patterns onto silicon wafers, ensuring high precision and yield. Their role involves troubleshooting process issues, improving process reliability, and collaborating with other engineering teams to support production goals. Lithography Process Engineers also stay up-to-date with new technologies and methods to continuously enhance manufacturing efficiency.

What are some common challenges faced by lithography process engineers and how can they be addressed?

Lithography Process Engineers often encounter challenges such as managing process variability, minimizing defects, and optimizing equipment performance to achieve precise patterning on semiconductor wafers. These challenges require strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and effective collaboration with cross-functional teams like equipment engineers and process integration specialists. Staying up-to-date with the latest lithography technologies and maintaining rigorous process controls can help address these issues, ensuring high yields and efficient production.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a lithography process engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Lithography Process Engineer, you need a solid background in semiconductor manufacturing, photolithography principles, and a degree in engineering or a related field. Familiarity with lithography equipment (e.g., steppers, scanners), process control software, and statistical analysis tools is typically required. Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and effective communication help you collaborate with cross-functional teams and address process challenges. These skills and qualifications are essential to optimize yields, maintain quality standards, and drive innovation in semiconductor fabrication.

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

AspectLithography Process EngineerSemiconductor Process Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, or related fields; certifications in process engineeringBachelor's or Master's in Chemical, Electrical, or Materials Engineering; similar certifications
Work EnvironmentCleanroom environments focused on photolithography steps in chip fabricationCleanroom or fab environments covering multiple process steps in semiconductor manufacturing
Industry UsagePrimarily in semiconductor fabrication plants, focusing on lithography processesAcross semiconductor manufacturing, including process development and production

While both roles operate in semiconductor manufacturing and require similar technical backgrounds, the Lithography Process Engineer specializes in photolithography techniques, whereas the Semiconductor Process Engineer oversees broader process steps. The Lithography Process Engineer focuses on patterning and imaging, making their role more specialized within the manufacturing process.

What are popular job titles related to Lithography Process Engineer jobs in California?

For Lithography Process Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Lithography Process Engineer jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Lithography Process Engineer jobs in California are:

Infographic showing various Lithography Process Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 79% Full Time, 17% Part Time, 2% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $90,813 per year, or $43.7 per hour.

Principal Wafer Process Engineer

Raytheon

Goleta, CA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 15 days ago


RTX rating

8.2

Company rating: 8.2 out of 10

Based on 86 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

38th of 72 rated aerospace companies


Job description

Date Posted:

2026-08-20

Country:

United States of America

Location:

US-CA-GOLETA-B01 ~ 6825 Cortona Dr ~ BLDG B01

Position Role Type:

Onsite

U.S. Citizen, U.S. Person, or Immigration Status Requirements:

U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are authorized to access information under this program/contract.

Security Clearance Type:

None/Not Required

Security Clearance Status:

Not Required

At Raytheon, the foundation of everything we do is rooted in our values and a higher calling – to help our nation and allies defend freedoms and deter aggression. We bring the strength of more than 100 years of experience and renowned engineering expertise to meet the needs of today’s mission and stay ahead of tomorrow’s threat. Our team solves tough, meaningful problems that create a safer, more secure world. 

Raytheon Vision Systems (RVS) is a world leader in the research, design and manufacturing of focal plane arrays and flight-based vision systems. Our Focal Plane Operations Process Engineering department provides world class semiconductor and focal plane array manufacturing processes in support of production and development products. We have an opportunity for a talented Principal Process Engineer with a background in semiconductor manufacturing or thin film deposition.

The Focal Plane Process Engineering department at RVS supports semiconductor wafer fabrication of challenging Electro-Optical applications in the Space, Tactical, Airborne and Emerging markets. The candidate will work with and lead other process engineers, skilled technicians, and cross-functional teams to develop strategies and processes for improving the fab performance and output using our metrics.

The ideal candidate will have technical proficiency in various fabrications of semiconductor components or microelectronics using lithography, deposition, furnace, dry etch, wet etch, and metrology as well as proficiency and comfort in interfacing with multiple functions including Product Engineering, Systems Engineering, Quality, Mechanical Design Engineering, Factory Management, Equipment Engineering and Process Engineering.

You Will Do

  • Managing process development and improvement projects, including novel processing techniques, yield increase, throughput, and safety improvements
  • Responsible for reviewing material in WIP, certifying operators, dispositioning out of flow material, and hands on processing of novel detector designs
  • Providing Process Ownership of vacuum coating tools, etch tools, or lithography tools
  • Developing requirements and qualification plans for new equipment procurements.
  • Work in a cleanroom environment with full cover all garments.

Qualifications You Must Have  

  • Typically requires a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) and a minimum of 8 years of prior relevant experience.
  • Experience in Semiconductor Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, and/or Process Engineering in Optics, Electro-Optics or Microelectronics environment or Wafer Processing.

Qualifications We Prefer

  • Experience with wet etch, metal-lift off, lithography, plasma cleaning, and associated semiconductor process equipment
  • Experience with principles of vacuum system operations
  • Experience with principles of photolithography
  • Experience with etch (dry and wet)
  • Experience with infrared detector technology and semiconductor physics
  • Project management experience
  • Knowledge of statistical process control and design of experiments
  • Equipment and controls system experience

What We Offer

  • Our values drive our actions, behaviors, and performance with a vision for a safer, more connected world. At RTX we value: Trust, Respect, Accountability, Collaboration, and Innovation.

Learn More & Apply Now!

  • Please consider the following role type definition as you apply for this role.
  • Onsite: Employees who are working in Onsite roles will work primarily onsite. This includes all production and maintenance employees, as they are essential to the development of our products.

This position is an onsite role – Goleta, CA:

Visit RVS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zixvFAC2kA

Explore Raytheon in Goleta: https://careers.rtx.com/global/en/raytheon-goleta-ca-location

#LI-ONSITE

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As part of our commitment to maintaining a secure hiring process, candidates may be asked to attend select steps of the interview process in-person at one of our office locations, regardless of whether the role is designated as on-site, hybrid or remote.

The salary range for this role is 118,300 USD - 224,900 USD. The salary range provided is a good faith estimate representative of all experience levels. RTX considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role, function and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, location, education/training, and key skills. Hired applicants may be eligible for benefits, including but not limited to, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, 401(k) match, flexible spending accounts, flexible work schedules, employee assistance program, Employee Scholar Program, parental leave, paid time off, and holidays. Specific benefits are dependent upon the specific business unit as well as whether or not the position is covered by a collective-bargaining agreement. Hired applicants may be eligible for annual short-term and/or long-term incentive compensation programs depending on the level of the position and whether or not it is covered by a collective-bargaining agreement. Payments under these annual programs are not guaranteed and are dependent upon a variety of factors including, but not limited to, individual performance, business unit performance, and/or the company’s performance. This role is a U.S.-based role. If the successful candidate resides in a U.S. territory, the appropriate pay structure and benefits will apply. RTX anticipates the application window closing approximately 40 days from the date the notice was posted. However, factors such as candidate flow and business necessity may require RTX to shorten or extend the application window.

RTX is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or veteran status, or any other applicable state or federal protected class. RTX provides affirmative action in employment for qualified Individuals with a Disability and Protected Veterans in compliance with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act.

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About RTX

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Industry

Guided missile and space vehicle manufacturing, it services, aerospace product and parts manufacturing and engineering professional services

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Waltham, MA, US

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