Senior PVD Hardware Engineer [620] - Hybrid (Dallas, TX, US), United States
About the role
This role involves the operation, optimization, and continuous improvement of PVD systems and thin-film deposition processes. This position contributes to building the hardware and processes for quantum computing.
What you'll do
- Operate, monitor, and maintain PVD systems and associated equipment, including preventive maintenance and troubleshooting.
- Own and optimize PVD modules and thin-film deposition processes within the fabrication flow.
- Design, execute, and analyze experiments using statistical methods and DOE to improve process performance, yield, and reliability.
- Maintain and improve processes of record (POR) and associated process documentation.
- Run wafer lots to support fabrication production and analyze PVD and film metrology data.
- Develop and implement process improvements, working cross-functionally to resolve technical challenges and improve fabrication outcomes.
What you'll need
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related technical field with 7+ years of relevant experience, or a Master's degree with 5+ years of relevant experience.
- Hands-on experience operating, maintaining, and troubleshooting PVD systems, ideally AMAT Endura.
- Strong understanding of vacuum systems, thin-film deposition, and semiconductor fabrication processes.
- Experience with process optimization, DOE/statistical analysis, yield improvement, and film metrology.
- Strong mechanical aptitude and experience working with tools, equipment, and lab instrumentation.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and DOE/statistical analysis software.
Nice to have
- 7+ years of semiconductor industry experience, preferably in high-volume manufacturing wafer fabs.
- Experience with PVD process integration across multiple fabrication steps.
- Experience developing or improving processes of record (POR).
- Experience supporting equipment installation, qualification, or vendor integration.
- Experience with advanced metrology techniques or analysis of thin-film properties.
- Experience working in an R&D or low-volume, high-complexity fabrication environment.
This role has been open 1 day — well below the 47-day median for Hardware Systems Engineering roles.
Hardware Systems Engineering · AI ML Hardware
|
Open roles in category
848
|
Median days open
47 d
|
Median salary
$159k
|
See the full market breakdown ▾Category comparison, and who else is hiring
| Metric | D-Wave | All employers we track in this specialty (848 roles · 102 employers) |
|---|---|---|
| Open roles in this specialty | 3 | 848 |
| Open roles in the wider Software, Firmware & Systems family | 20 | 5833 · 143 employers |
| Median days open | 58 d | 47 d (+11 d vs this employer) |
| Median salary (USD postings) | — | $159k |
Who's hiring in this category
- Intel Corporation · 59 open roles · median 19 d
- NVIDIA · 55 open roles · median 51 d
- KLA Corporation · 51 open roles · median 43 d
- Teradyne · 44 open roles · median 49 d
- AMD · 43 open roles · median 54 d
- Applied Materials · 41 open roles · median 66 d
How we counted: 848 open Hardware Systems Engineering (AI ML Hardware) roles from 102 employers tracked in the SemiconductorJobs index, counted 27 Sept 2026. Specialty figures count only roles carrying this exact specialty label, so an employer's related work in neighbouring specialties is not included there — it is counted in the wider Software, Firmware & Systems family row. Figures refresh nightly.