Material Characterization Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

KYOCERA SLD Laser, Inc. (KSLD) is a global leader in the commercialization of gallium nitride (GaN) based laser light sources. As a wholly owned subsidiary of KYOCERA Corporation, KSLD combines advanced laser innovation with the strength, scale, and manufacturing excellence of a global technology leader.

KSLD develops and manufactures high performance LaserLight™ solutions engineered to deliver exceptional brightness, efficiency, and reliability. Our GaN laser technologies enable a wide range of applications, including automotive and mobility, specialty and portable lighting, projection and AR/VR displays, biomedical instrumentation, industrial imaging, and emerging communication technologies such as LiFi. With vertically integrated capabilities and deep technical expertise, KSLD collaborates closely with customers to deliver application specific laser solutions, accelerating development timelines from concept through production. The company operates advanced R&D and manufacturing facilities in Santa Barbara, CA and Fremont, CA, supporting both innovation and high volume manufacturing needs.

KSLD is ISO 9001 certified and IATF 16949 compliant for automotive applications, and its products meet rigorous UL and IEC safety standards, reflecting a strong commitment to quality, safety, and reliability.

Recognized by Fortune magazine’s Best Workplaces in Manufacturing & Production™, KSLD fosters an employee centric culture built on collaboration, technical excellence, and continuous innovation. Guided by a mission to engineer the future of light, KSLD develops laser based solutions that power next generation mobility, consumer, specialty lighting, and industrial technologies.

KSLD will continue to pioneer the future of light by developing, manufacturing and marketing innovative laser based products with high efficiency and luminance for mobility, specialty lighting, consumer, and industrial applications.

To learn more about KSLD, visit www.kyocerasldlaser.com or contact the company at info@kyocerasldlaser.com or 18667535273.

Job Description

KSLD is seeking a Senior Epitaxy Metrology and Characterization Engineer to join the Epitaxy engineering team in the Fremont, CA location. The successful candidate will own key epitaxy metrology and characterization tools, coordinate external advanced material characterization activities, and help build the team’s understanding of how epitaxial material properties and process conditions impact final laser performance, yield, and reliability. This role requires a strong understanding of compound semiconductor epitaxy, wafer metrology, and material characterization, with hands-on experience using XRD, AFM, SEM, PL, optical microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, and RTA.

Specific Responsibilities

• Own, maintain, and develop epitaxy metrology and material characterization tools and methods for GaN-based laser wafers, including XRD, AFM, SEM, PL, optical microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, and RTA.

• Serve as tool owner and technical expert for key metrology and characterization equipment, ensuring measurement capability, calibration, preventive maintenance, troubleshooting, and data integrity.

• Drive process improvements for EPI lab characterization and directly guide lab technicians

• Perform MSA and GR&R studies to validate metrology repeatability and reproducibility in support of ISO 9001, IATF 16949, and internal quality requirements.

• Establish SPC monitoring and excursion response methods for critical epitaxy material metrics that influence laser performance, yield, and reliability.

• Correlate epitaxial structure, surface morphology, defectivity, optical properties, and thermal-process effects with downstream laser device performance and reliability results.

• Own and coordinate external advanced material characterization activities, including external lab engagement, sample preparation, measurement planning, data review, and interpretation for techniques such as SIMS, CL, TEM, and other specialized analyses.

• Specify, procure, qualify, and bring up new metrology or characterization equipment needed to support epitaxy development, sustaining engineering, and production control.

• Create work instructions, measurement procedures, data review guidelines, and training materials for engineers and process technicians.

• Provide hands-on fab-floor support for wafer characterization, measurement recipe optimization, process troubleshooting, and continuous improvement activities.

Experience and Skills

•  BS or graduate degree in Materials Science, Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, Chemistry, Mechanical Engineering, or other relevant physical science or engineering discipline.

•  Experience with compound semiconductor epitaxy, GaN materials, wafer metrology, or semiconductor process development in an industrial manufacturing environment or university research lab.

•  Hands-on experience with several of the following characterization tools and methods: XRD, AFM, SEM, PL, optical microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, RTA, profilometry, ellipsometry, interferometry, automated visual inspection, or advanced characterization techniques such as SIMS, CL, and TEM.

•  Strong data analysis skills, including the ability to analyze large metrology datasets and correlate material characterization results with process conditions, device performance, yield, and reliability using tools such as JMP, Minitab, Python, or equivalent software.

•  Experience supporting quality systems and manufacturing controls, including ISO 9001, IATF 16949, MSA, GR&R, SPC, 5S, 8D, or lean six sigma practices.

•  Excellent communication skills with the ability to document procedures, summarize characterization results, and communicate technical findings clearly to epitaxy, process, device, and quality teams.

•  Comfortable working in a hands-on fab environment and supporting tasks outside standard job duties as needed in a fast-moving development and manufacturing organization.

The full-time base salary range for the position of Sr Metrology and Characterization Engineer is $136,000 to $160,000 per annum. The range reflects the minimum and maximum possible base salary for new hires for the role, based on the advertised location. Individual pay is determined by several factors including work location, job related skills, experience, and relevant education and training. For more information about the base salary range applicable to the work location, talk to the recruiter. Because of export-control requirements, applicants must qualify as a “U.S. Person” as defined by the United States Export Control Regulations. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Kyocera SLD Laser, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, physical or mental disability, legally protected medical condition, military or veteran status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other basis protected by local, state, or federal laws.

 The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and requirements of personnel as classified.