The Thin Films Organization (TFO) is seeking a Process Engineer with expertise in ion-beam deposition for Optical films. The ideal candidate will also be proficient in substrate cleaning processes and thin film characterization methods.
Responsibilities- Development, optimization, and manufacturability of thin film deposition processes in high-volume production.
- Developing, implementing, and optimizing substrate cleaning processes.
- Collaborate with Design Engineering and Operations organizations for process implementation and resolution of manufacturing challenges.
- Analyze and interpret in-process data to determine process adjustments.
- Drive defect reduction and uniformity improvements through systematic process improvements.
- Perform yield and performance data analysis to monitor process capability, product health trends and drive yield improvements.
- Develop and define process input requirements for new deposition equipment including specific settings, maintenance, material requirements, and operating conditions and limits.
- M.S. or Ph.D. in Electrical/ Mechanical or Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or in a STEM related field
- 3+ years experience or Advanced degree in Engineering discipline
- Ability to work in a cleanroom environment.
- Demonstrated experience in thin film characterization
- Experience with statistical process control (SPC), Design of experiments (DOE)
- Fundamental knowledge of material properties and manufacturing methods of Multilayered oxide films, ideally in the context for use in optic components
- Demonstrated Surface Chemistry/Interactions of substrate and dielectric thin films in plasma environments relevant to
- Strongly preferred experience in failure analysis of materials
- Ability to balance priorities in daily tasks and strategic projects.
- Hands on work ethic. Initiative and ownership of responsibilities and actions.
- Ability to partner and collaborate well with team members across functions.
- Conveying information with clarity and directness, ensuring the message is understood across diverse teams.
- Root Cause Corrective Action / Lean / Six Sigma
- Product or process engineering experience in high volume manufacturing
- Employer-subsidized medical, dental, vision and life insurance
- Short-term and long-term disability coverage
- 401(k) match, flexible spending accounts and health savings accounts
- Employee assistance program and educational assistance
- Parental leave and 12 paid holidays
- Paid time off for vacation, personal and sick time
Skills Required
- M.S. or Ph.D. in Electrical, Mechanical, or Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related STEM field
- 3+ years of experience or an advanced degree in an engineering discipline
- Ability to work in a cleanroom environment
- Demonstrated experience in thin-film characterization
- Experience with statistical process control (SPC)
- Experience with design of experiments (DOE)
- Knowledge of multilayered oxide film material properties and manufacturing methods
- Knowledge of substrate and dielectric thin-film surface chemistry and interactions in plasma environments
- Experience in materials failure analysis
- Root cause corrective action, Lean, or Six Sigma experience
- Product or process engineering experience in high-volume manufacturing
The Aerospace Corporation Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about The Aerospace Corporation and has not been reviewed or approved by The Aerospace Corporation.
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Retirement Support — The 401(k) plan provides a company‑paid contribution of 8–12% based on years of service with immediate eligibility and vesting, and eligible employees can access retiree medical benefits.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Paid time off includes 15 vacation days (rising to 20 after five years), nine paid holidays, and unlimited sick time for exempt employees with accruals for non‑exempt staff.
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Flexible Benefits — Flexible work models include a 9/80 schedule with alternating Fridays off, supported by backup care services, an EAP, relocation assistance, and home‑office stipends where applicable.
The Aerospace Corporation Insights
What We Do
The space enterprise has been transformed by rapid change and growth. New vehicles for national security space, a more rapid launch cadence, proliferated satellite constellations, the pursuit of interplanetary exploration, and thriving commercial ventures are changing the nature of the space industry. The Aerospace Corporation (Aerospace) is a leading architect for U.S. space programs, shaping efforts to outpace threats to our national security while cultivating the technologies needed to further this new era of space commercialization and exploration. Aerospace works across the space enterprise in service of the public interest. In addition to supporting the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community, our customers include NASA, NOAA, numerous federal agencies, and commercial space — all of whom benefit from our deep technical knowledge. We only pursue business related to the space mission and complementary fields, operating as the nation’s trusted partner to solve the toughest challenges and develop reliable and innovative technologies. Innovation in space occurs when people have the freedom to imagine and do. At Aerospace, we take pride in our readiness to solve some of the most complex challenges in the space enterprise.
Why Work With Us
We are a non-profit corporation chartered by the government to work on the hardest problems in space. We employ technical experts in every discipline of space-related science and engineering who touch every part of the US space program. Come join us as we make an impact bigger than ourselves.
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