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Senior Pvd Process Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Vital Chemicals

Senior PVD Equipment Engineer

Cupertino, CA · On-site

$128K - $177K/yr

The company is committed to enabling next-generation technologies through materials science and process innovation. Job Summary The Senior PVD Equipment Engineer is a senior technical role ...

Micron

Senior PVD/CVD Equipment Engineer

Boise, ID · On-site

$99K - $136K/yr

As a Senior PVD/CVD (Physical Vapor Deposition and/or Chemical Vapor Deposition) Equipment Engineer ... Collaborate with process engineers to identify and resolve equipment-related issues affecting ...

Micron

Senior PCVD Equipment Engineer

Boise, ID · On-site

$99K - $136K/yr

As a Senior PVD/CVD (Physical Vapor Deposition and/or Chemical Vapor Deposition) Equipment Engineer ... processes by focusing on the installation, maintenance, optimization, and development of our PVD ...

Micron

Senior PCVD Process Engineer

Eagle, ID · On-site

$99K - $128K/yr

As a Senior CVD/PVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition/ Physical Vapor Deposition) Process Engineer you will be primarily responsible for starting up, developing, and optimizing processes to improve product ...

GlobalFoundries

PVD Process Technician

New York, NY · On-site

$43K - $70K/yr

Process Technicians monitor workstation performance, manage detrimental issues and/or deviated ... Computer - computer sciences, technical, engineering, software knowledge. * Microsoft Suite ...

Micron

PCVD Process Engineer

Boise, ID

Employer will accept a Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Electrical and Computer ... Position also requires experience in: 1. CVD and/or PVD process area. 2. DRAM development and ...

Micron Technology

PCVD Process Engineer

Boise, ID · On-site

Employer will accept a Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Electrical and Computer ... Position also requires experience in: 1. CVD and/or PVD process area. 2. DRAM development and ...

Viavi Solutions

Manufacturing Process Engineer

Santa Rosa, CA · On-site

$80K - $107K/yr

The Senior Manufacturing Process Engineer develops, maintains, and evolves advanced manufacturing ... The position involves hands-on work with technologies such as PVD-based thin-film deposition, high ...

Viavi Solutions

Manufacturing Process Engineer

Santa Rosa, CA · On-site

$80K - $107K/yr

Job Summary: • The Senior Manufacturing Process Engineer develops, maintains, and evolves ... The position involves hands-on work with technologies such as PVD-based thin-film deposition, high ...

Ionbond, LLC

Process Engineer

Rockaway, NJ · On-site

$36.06 - $62.50/hr

We offer a broad range of hard, low-friction, wear-resistant coatings based on PVD, PACVD and CVD ... Process Engineering * Electrical / Electronic Systems * Six Sigma Experience * ISO 9001 ...

Micron Technology

Senior PCVD Equipment Engineer

Boise, ID · On-site

$99K - $136K/yr

As a Senior PVD/CVD (Physical Vapor Deposition and/or Chemical Vapor Deposition) Equipment Engineer ... processes by focusing on the installation, maintenance, optimization, and development of our PVD ...

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All JobsSenior Pvd Process Engineer Jobs

Senior Pvd Process Engineer information

See salary details

$75K

$121.1K

$170.5K

How much do senior pvd process engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 23, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior pvd process engineer in the United States is $121,116.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $104,000.00 and $134,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Senior Pvd Process Engineer vs Pvd Process Engineer?

AspectSenior Pvd Process EngineerPvd Process Engineer
ExperienceTypically 5+ years in PVD processesEntry to mid-level experience in PVD processes
ResponsibilitiesLeading process development, troubleshooting, mentoringExecuting process setups, monitoring, and basic troubleshooting
CertificationsRelevant certifications often preferredBasic industry certifications may suffice
Work EnvironmentManufacturing facilities, R&D labsManufacturing facilities, R&D labs

The main difference between a Senior Pvd Process Engineer and a Pvd Process Engineer lies in experience, responsibilities, and leadership. Senior engineers typically lead process development and mentor junior staff, while Pvd Process Engineers focus on executing and monitoring processes. Both roles work in similar environments within manufacturing and R&D settings, but the senior role requires more expertise and oversight.

What are Senior PVD Process Engineers?

Senior PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) Process Engineers are professionals who develop, optimize, and oversee thin film deposition processes typically used in semiconductor, electronics, or materials manufacturing. They are responsible for ensuring the quality and efficiency of PVD equipment and processes, troubleshooting issues, and implementing improvements. These engineers often collaborate with cross-functional teams to support product development and manufacturing needs, and they may also lead process integration and scale-up activities. Their expertise is crucial in maintaining high-yield and reliable production environments.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Senior PVD Process Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Senior PVD Process Engineer, you need a solid background in materials science, thin film deposition, and semiconductor manufacturing, usually backed by a relevant engineering degree and industry experience. Familiarity with PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) systems, process control software, and statistical process control (SPC) tools is typically required. Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication skills help you lead projects and collaborate with cross-functional teams. These skills are crucial for optimizing manufacturing processes, ensuring product quality, and driving innovation in a highly technical and fast-evolving industry.

How does a Senior PVD Process Engineer typically collaborate with cross-functional teams during process development and troubleshooting?

As a Senior PVD Process Engineer, you’ll frequently work alongside R&D, equipment engineering, and manufacturing teams to develop and optimize thin film deposition processes. Collaboration often involves joint problem-solving during process qualification, equipment upgrades, and yield improvement initiatives. Clear communication skills are essential, as you’ll be responsible for conveying technical findings, aligning process requirements, and leading cross-functional meetings to ensure smooth integration of new technologies into production. This collaborative environment offers opportunities to mentor junior engineers and influence the direction of process innovation.
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Senior Pvd Process Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Senior Pvd Process Engineer job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 80% Full Time, and 20% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $121,116 per year, or $58.2 per hour.
Sr. PVD Process Engineer, Solar Cells (Starlink)

Sr. PVD Process Engineer, Solar Cells (Starlink)

SpaceX

Bastrop, TX

$103K - $133K/yr

Other

Posted 13 days ago

SpaceX rating

8.7

Company rating: 8.7 out of 10

Based on 144 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

13th of 60 rated aerospace companies

Job description

SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one where we are not. Today SpaceX is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of enabling human life on Mars.
SR. PVD PROCESS ENGINEER, SOLAR CELLS (STARLINK)
Starlink believes in providing fast, reliable internet to those that need it most. We design, build, and launch the world's largest and most advanced satellite constellation that is capable of delivering high-speed internet to even the most remote locations.
As a Sr. PVD Process Engineer, you will spearhead state of the art production processes for an internal solar cell production line, providing high efficiency and high-quality solar cells for both our latest generation Starlink satellites and for Starship missions to the Moon and Mars. You will work through the life cycle of setting up a greenfield solar cell production plant, including equipment procurement, plant design/layout, equipment commissioning and ramp-up, recipe and process development, and working to develop a world-class production team and environment.
As a Sr. PVD Process Engineer, you will own the development, optimization, and scaling of Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) processes critical for depositing transparent conductive oxide (TCO) layers, such as ITO, and other thin films essential to high-efficiency SHJ cell performance. You will develop and iterate on the manufacturing processes and recipes to achieve a state-of-the-art silicon cell efficiency, low defect rate and cost, and high reliability cell for space-based applications. Your work will form the backbone of the Starlink network (photons of sunlight in is directly proportional to photons of data out to customers!) and help provide internet to tens of millions of customers all around the world.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
  • Design, qualify, and optimize PVD sputtering processes (e.g., DC/RF magnetron sputtering) for SHJ front and back contacts, ensuring uniformity, adhesion, resistivity, and optical transmission at GW-scale volumes
  • Lead process development for new toolsets and materials, including target management, deposition rate optimization, and defect reduction to support state-of-the-art efficiency cells
  • Responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining new and/or improved manufacturing processes, equipment, technologies, and facilities
  • Analyze production processes and machinery from a first principles, physics-based approach
  • Develop experiments to diagnose and correct manufacturing problems, utilizing robust DOE and statistical methodologies
  • Optimize process conditions and materials to improve the optical and electrical quality of solar cells
  • Perform defect characterization and analysis to determine root cause and develop action plans to improve yields
  • Develop project plans, budgets, and cost/benefit analysis for implementation of new processes or machines
  • Own and perform machine activation and testing with a small team of engineers and technicians
  • Prepare detailed content for technical design reviews, and demonstrate extreme ownership of the production outcome of the Starlink solar factory across yield, uptime, and cost

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
  • Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline
  • 5+ years of experience in chemical engineering design, analysis, and/or system implementation

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
  • Master's degree or Ph.D. in chemistry, chemical engineering, materials science, environmental, or other STEM discipline
  • 7+ years of hands-on experience in PVD process engineering, preferably in thin-film solar (SHJ, PERC, or CIGS), semiconductor, or display manufacturing
  • Proven track record of scaling PVD processes to high-volume production (>1GW/year equivalent)
  • Strong understanding of vacuum systems, plasma physics, sputtering dynamics, and thin-film characterization techniques (e.g., XRD, SEM, Hall effect)
  • Experience with SPC, DoE, and lean manufacturing principles
  • Ability to work in a cleanroom environment.
  • Hands-on experience working with complex fluid or mechanical based production systems in a professional setting
  • Experience transitioning products from design to manufacturing and scaling to high volume as part of a cross-functional team
  • Self-motivated with strong organizational, written, and oral communication skills
  • Experience with solar cell manufacturing equipment, such as wet chemical processing equipment, PE-CVD equipment, PVD machines, metallization and final test equipment, and wafer inspection equipment (experience in evaporation tools and ALD tools are a plus)
  • Experience or expertise with perovskite solar cells or perovskite tandem solar cells
  • Experience with micro-structure analysis tools (SEM, TEM, EDX, SIMS, etc.) and optical/electrical characterization tools (UV-VIS, I-V, Resistance, etc.)
  • Expertise in SHJ-specific PVD processes, including low-temperature ITO deposition for bifacial cells
  • Familiarity with advanced PVD tools and automation/integration for inline production
  • Proficiency in data analysis/scripting (Python, R, SQL) and simulation tools (e.g., SIMTRA for sputtering).
  • Experience in cost-of-ownership modeling, CapEx justification, and fab ramp-ups to multi-GW scales
  • Passion for sustainable energy and space technology; prior work in photovoltaics at GW-scale a plus

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
  • Ability to travel frequently for work, potentially for extended periods of time during machine buyoffs and startup
  • Ability to lift 25 lbs. unassisted
  • Lifting, standing, climbing, bending, grasping, sitting, pulling, pushing, stooping, stretching, and carrying are generally required to perform the functions of this position
  • Must be willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed

ITAR REQUIREMENTS:
    Learn more about the ITAR here.

SpaceX is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with SpaceX is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.
Applicants wishing to view a copy of SpaceX's Affirmative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to

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