Senior Research Scientist
$165,000 - $205,000 USD yearly
Lead the design, integration, and validation of high-power laser spike annealing systems and optomechanical assemblies.
Originally posted 2 November 2026 by the employer.
About the role
As a Senior Research Scientist at Veeco Instruments, you will turn complex technical and customer challenges into validated system and subsystem solutions, from early concept through prototype testing and product transition. Your focus will be on advancing laser spike annealing systems across applied physics, high-power lasers, optical measurement, and optomechanical design.
What you'll do
- Lead the design and validation of laser spike annealing system and subsystem improvements that advance performance, reliability, and product capability.
- Translate complex engineering and customer problems into experimental plans, technical requirements, risk assessments, and development recommendations.
- Design, integrate, and test prototypes, assemblies, optical diagnostics, and optomechanical components from concept through verification.
- Own laboratory experiments and data analysis to identify root causes, guide design decisions, and define next-step development work.
- Diagnose precision-system performance issues across optical, electrical, mechanical, software, and process interfaces.
- Convert customer needs and field findings into technology development and transition plans across research, product, and service teams.
What you'll need
- Ph.D. in physics, applied physics, optical engineering, electrical engineering, or a closely related field with 3+ years of relevant industry/applied research experience, or a Master's degree with 6+ years of experience.
- Hands-on experience with high-power laser systems, optical measurement, laboratory prototyping, and precision-system testing.
- Deep knowledge of laser physics, optical systems, optomechanical components, measurement methods, and laboratory safety practices.
- Proficiency in precision-system troubleshooting across hardware, software, controls, optics, and process conditions.
- Experience with design and analysis tools used for optical, mechanical, system, or experimental development.
- Ability to travel internationally up to 30% and work for extended periods in a Class 1000 cleanroom environment.
Nice to have
- Knowledge of semiconductor fabrication, thermal processing, or capital equipment development.
- Experience using programming for instrument control, data acquisition, automation, or technical analysis.
Skills: laser spike annealing, optomechanical, high-power lasers, optical diagnostics, precision-system
More semiconductor jobs: Equipment engineering jobs
This role has been open 0 days — well below the 47-day median for Semiconductor Equipment Engineering roles.
Semiconductor Equipment Engineering · Optical Laser Systems
|
Open roles in category
48
|
Median days open
47 d
|
Category median salary (all employers)
$158k
|
See the full market breakdown ▾Category comparison, skills in demand, and who else is hiring
| Metric | Veeco Instruments | All employers we track in this specialty (48 roles · 11 employers) |
|---|---|---|
| Open roles in this specialty | 1 | 48 |
| Open roles in the wider Process, Fab & Equipment family | 85 | 10073 · 105 employers |
| Median days open | 0 d | 47 d (−47 d vs this employer) |
| Median salary (USD postings) | — | $158k |
Skills observed across this category: laser spike annealing, optomechanical, high-power lasers, optical diagnostics, precision-system
Who's hiring in this category
- KLA Corporation · 14 open roles · median 131 d
- ASML · 12 open roles · median 29 d
- Applied Materials · 5 open roles · median 45 d
- MKS Instruments · 5 open roles · median 105 d
- Keysight Technologies · 4 open roles · median 9 d
- Coherent Corp · 2 open roles · median 58 d
How we counted: 48 open Semiconductor Equipment Engineering (Optical Laser Systems) roles from 11 employers tracked in the SemiconductorJobs index, counted 3 Nov 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 Process, Fab & Equipment family row. Figures refresh nightly.