Physicist/Scientist III – PhD (2027 Summer Cohort)

About the role

We are seeking a highly motivated PhD‑level scientist or engineer to develop and apply advanced modeling capabilities for plasma processing applications, including plasma etching, plasma‑enhanced deposition, and atomic layer etching (ALE). This role focuses on understanding, modeling, and predicting plasma‑surface interaction processes using a combination of physics‑based methods and data‑driven approaches.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and apply advanced models for plasma etching, deposition, and plasma‑based surface modification processes
• Combine physics‑based and ML‑driven approaches to improve process understanding and predictive capability
• Collaborate closely with experimental teams to guide process development and interpret new experimental results
• Contribute to the development, validation, and maintenance of internal software tools, modeling frameworks, and best practices
• Communicate modeling results clearly and effectively to multidisciplinary teams, including scientists, engineers, and major customers

Required profile

• Must have a PhD in Engineering (e.g., Chemical, Materials, Mechanical) or Science (e.g., Physics, Chemistry) or a related field
• Demonstrated experience modeling plasma‑surface or gas‑surface interaction processes using ab initio quantum chemistry, molecular dynamics, and/or kinetic Monte Carlo methods
• Strong background in machine learning, particularly in the context of scientific computing or HPC environments
• Experience working with large, complex simulation datasets and integrating modeling results with experimental data

Required skills

• Ab initio quantum chemistry
• Molecular dynamics (MD)
• Kinetic Monte Carlo (kMC)
• Machine learning for scientific computing
• High‑performance computing (HPC) simulations

What we offer

• Salary range $138,000 – $190,000 per year
• Location: Santa Clara, CA
• Comprehensive benefits package, including health, wellbeing, bonus and stock award programs
• Supportive work culture with learning and development opportunities