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Pld Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Altera Corporation

ITAR Specialist

San Jose, CA · On-site

$142K - $206K/yr

Experience with semiconductor or programmable-logic device (PLD/FPGA) technologies. * Prior work in a Defense Industrial Base (DIB) environment. * Compliance certifications such as C|ECP, EXIM, or ...

Altera

ITAR Specialist

San Jose, CA · On-site

Experience with semiconductor or programmablelogic device (PLD/FPGA) technologies. * Prior work in a Defense Industrial Base (DIB) environment. * Compliance certifications such as C|ECP, EXIM, or ...

Periodic Labs

Environmental Health and Safety

Menlo Park, CA · On-site

$97K - $132K/yr

... PLD and the complexity of what we run overnight and autonomously is increasing every month. We believe EHS is integral to this ambition, not a compliance function bolted on after the fact, but a core ...

Qualcomm

Hardware Board Design Engineer

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$145K - $191K/yr

FPGA/PLD bring-up and debug experience. * Working knowledge of Python, TCL, or PERL for debug and automation. Minimum Qualifications: • Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Information Systems ...

Periodic Labs

Nanofabrication Intern - Fall 2026

Menlo Park, CA · On-site

$19.75 - $25.75/hr

Operate or support thin-film deposition processes such as sputtering, evaporation, PVD, PLD, ALD, PECVD, or related techniques. * Run or assist with etch processes such as wet etching, plasma etching ...

NEOTECH

Test Engineer I (24522)

Chatsworth, CA · On-site

Effective use of common electronic manufacturing equipment such as oscilloscopes, meters, power supplies, PLD programmers, etc. * Due to ITAR and / or CUI compliance, this position requires ...

NEOTech

Test Engineer I (24522)

Chatsworth, CA · On-site

$75K - $85K/yr

Effective use of common electronic manufacturing equipment such as oscilloscopes, meters, power supplies, PLD programmers, etc. * Due to ITAR and / or CUI compliance, this position requires ...

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Pld information

See California salary details

$11

$24

$37

How much do pld jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 6, 2026, the average hourly pay for pld in California is $24.31, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $17.55 and $25.87 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a pld?

To thrive as a Professional Land Surveyor, you need a solid understanding of surveying principles, mathematics, and local land regulations, typically supported by a degree in surveying or a related field and licensure (PLS). Proficiency with CAD software, GPS technology, GIS systems, and surveying instruments is crucial. Attention to detail, problem-solving, and strong communication skills help ensure accuracy and effective collaboration with clients and project teams. These skills and qualifications are vital for delivering precise land measurements, complying with legal standards, and supporting successful land development projects.

What are some common challenges faced by product leads when balancing stakeholder priorities?

Product Leads often encounter challenges when aligning diverse stakeholder interests, including those from engineering, marketing, and executive leadership. Navigating conflicting priorities requires strong communication, negotiation, and prioritization skills to ensure the product roadmap aligns with business goals while still addressing user needs. Regular cross-functional meetings and transparent decision-making processes are key strategies Product Leads use to manage these challenges effectively.

What is the difference between Pld vs Electrician?

AspectPldElectrician
Required CredentialsTypically requires a technical certification or diploma in PLC programming or automationRequires a high school diploma and electrical trade license or apprenticeship completion
Work EnvironmentWorks mainly in industrial or manufacturing settings, focusing on automation systemsWorks in residential, commercial, or industrial electrical installations and repairs
Industry UsageCommonly employed in manufacturing, automation, and process control industriesUsed across construction, maintenance, and electrical service sectors

While Pld specialists focus on programming and maintaining PLC systems in industrial environments, Electricians handle a broader range of electrical installations and repairs across various settings. Both roles require electrical knowledge, but Pld roles are more specialized in automation technology.

What is a PLD?

PLDs, or Programmable Logic Devices, are integrated circuits that can be configured by the user to perform specific logic functions. Unlike fixed-function logic circuits, PLDs offer flexibility because their logical operation is not set at the time of manufacturing, but can be programmed and reprogrammed as needed. They are commonly used in digital systems to implement custom logic, replace discrete logic gates, or prototype designs before creating custom chips. Examples of PLDs include PALs (Programmable Array Logic), GALs (Generic Array Logic), and CPLDs (Complex Programmable Logic Devices).
What are popular job titles related to Pld jobs in California? For Pld jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Pld jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Pld jobs in California are:
Pld jobs near you
Infographic showing various Pld job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 1% As Needed, 94% Full Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $50,567 per year, or $24.3 per hour.

Research Associate - Thin Films

Periodic Labs

Menlo Park, CA • On-site

Contractor

Re-posted 28 days ago

Job description

About Periodic Labs
We're an AI and physical sciences company building state-of-the-art models to accelerate breakthroughs across materials, energy, and beyond. Backed by world-class investors and growing rapidly, we operate at the pace the frontier requires. Our team brings deep expertise, genuine ownership, and an insatiable drive to push the boundaries of what's scientifically possible.
About the Role
Join a world-class team of scientists and engineers pushing the boundaries of physical R&D in a groundbreaking lab where AI and automation unlock discoveries at unprecedented speed and scale.
Periodic Labs is developing AI that can both simulate science and verify its predictions to train on the full scientific method. A central challenge in that mission is the gap between bulk materials discovery and thin-film form: materials our AI predicts and our powder lab synthesizes must ultimately be validated as scalable thin films to be relevant to semiconductor, memory, and advanced materials applications. We are building a dedicated thin-film lab (PVD, PLD, plasma ALD) with construction beginning in May 2026, while actively generating early data at partner facilities including Stanford Nanofab and other user facilities in the Bay Area.
We are seeking a hands-on Research Associate in Thin Films to execute advanced deposition and nanofabrication processes, generate high-quality experimental data, and collaborate closely with our AI and materials teams. This is a 12-month fixed-term position with the potential to convert to full time.
In the near term you will operate at external partner facilities - Stanford Nanofab, UC Berkeley NanoLab, and others - before Periodic's own tools come online. As the in-house lab is commissioned, you will transition to running experiments on our PVD, PLD, and metrology suite. Throughout, your work directly feeds the AI training pipeline: the structural and functional data you produce shapes what our models learn about how materials behave in thin-film form.
What You'll Do
  • Execute thin-film deposition and related nanofabrication processes - including PVD (sputtering, evaporation), PLD, and where relevant ALD - initially at partner cleanroom facilities such as Stanford Nanofab, transitioning to Periodic's in-house lab as tools are commissioned.
  • Prepare substrates, manage process flows, and maintain detailed experimental records that meet the metadata and data quality standards required for AI training. Every experiment you run is a potential data point for our models - documentation quality matters as much as deposition quality.
  • Perform structural and functional thin-film characterization: XRD/XRR for structure and thickness, ellipsometry and profilometry for film properties, SEM/EDX for morphology and composition, and 4-point probe and basic transport measurements for electrical properties.
  • Support in-situ metrology during deposition: monitor RHEED during PLD for epitaxial growth quality and ellipsometry during PVD for real-time thickness control.
  • Collaborate with the AI and materials science teams to close the bulk-to-thin-film property gap - helping define which deposition parameters to vary, interpreting film characterization results in context of what the AI predicts, and flagging discrepancies that may indicate new physics or synthesis insights.
  • Troubleshoot process issues and iterate quickly on recipes under guidance from senior team members. Escalate anomalies rather than working around them, and document both failures and fixes in a format that preserves institutional knowledge.
  • Follow rigorous laboratory safety and facility protocols, including at external partner facilities with their own cleanroom safety requirements.

You Will Thrive in This Role If You Have
  • Currently pursuing or recently completed a PhD (or advanced graduate degree) in materials science, physics, chemistry, or a related field - or equivalent hands-on experience in research labs or process engineering.
  • Strong background in nanofabrication or thin-film processing, developed in a university or research lab environment. You have spent real time at a tool, not just observed someone else operate it.
  • Hands-on experience operating thin-film deposition equipment: sputtering, evaporation, PLD, ALD, or related techniques. Familiarity with the practical realities of these systems - target conditioning, chamber qualification, substrate preparation, and recipe troubleshooting.
  • Basic thin-film characterization experience: you know how to read an XRD pattern, interpret an ellipsometry fit, and recognize a SEM image that signals a process problem.
  • Strong documentation habits and attention to detail. You log what you did, not just what you intended to do, and you understand why that distinction matters in a data-driven science environment.
  • Ability to ramp up quickly on new equipment and experimental workflows, and comfort operating independently in shared research facilities where you are responsible for your own training and access.

Especially Strong Candidates May Also Have
  • Experience working in university nanofabrication facilities or shared cleanroom environments - including completing facility-specific safety training, navigating tool reservation systems, and operating within shared-use norms.
  • Exposure to functional materials in thin-film form: superconductors, magnetics, ferroelectrics, thermoelectrics, or multi-layer device stacks relevant to memory or semiconductor applications.
  • Familiarity with LIMS or other lab information systems used to track samples, experiments, and characterization results - and the instinct to treat data logging as part of the experiment, not an afterthought.
  • Experience with wafer-level metrology: film thickness mapping, stress/warpage measurement, or 4-point probe resistivity mapping at wafer scale rather than just coupon scale.
  • Interest in working at the intersection of experimental science and AI-driven discovery - curiosity about what our models predict and what that means for how you design the next experiment.

Mechanics
Minimum education: Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and training or experience
Location: Our lab is located in Menlo Park and we prefer folks to be located in Menlo Park or San Francisco but can be flexible based on role
Compensation: The annual compensation range for this role - $180,000-$225,000
This is a 12-month fixed-term position, with the potential to convert to full time.
Visa sponsorship: Yes, we sponsor visas and will do everything we can to assist in this process with our legal support.
We're building a team of the world's best - the scientists, engineers, and problem-solvers who don't just follow the frontier, they define it. If you're driven to bring AI to life in the physical world and make discoveries that have never been made before, you belong here.

Apply