Periodic Labs
Research Associate - Thin Films
Menlo Park · Senior · Full-time
H1B sponsorship available$180k-$225kDetected 134 days ago
SEMResearch
About the role
- Join a world-class team of scientists and engineers pushing the boundaries of physical R&D in a groundbreaking lab where AI and automation unlock discoveries at unprecedented speed and scale.
- This is a 12-month fixed-term position with the potential to convert to full time.
- As the in-house lab is commissioned, you will transition to running experiments on our PVD, PLD, and metrology suite.
Responsibilities
- Execute thin-film deposition and related nanofabrication processes - including PVD (sputtering, evaporation), PLD, and where relevant ALD - initially at partner cleanroom facilities such as Stanford Nanofab, transitioning to Periodic's in-house lab as tools are commissioned.
- Perform structural and functional thin-film characterization: XRD/XRR for structure and thickness, ellipsometry and profilometry for film, SEM/EDX for morphology and composition, and 4-point probe and basic transport measurements for electrical.
- Support in-situ metrology during deposition: monitor RHEED during PLD for epitaxial growth quality and ellipsometry during PVD for real-time thickness control.
- Collaborate with the AI and materials science teams to close the bulk-to-thin-film property gap - helping define which deposition parameters to vary, interpreting film characterization results in context of what the AI predicts, and flagging discrepancies that may indicate new physics or synthesis insights.
- Troubleshoot process issues and iterate quickly on recipes under guidance from senior team members. Escalate anomalies rather than working around them, and document both failures and fixes in a format that preserves institutional knowledge.
- Follow rigorous laboratory safety and facility protocols, including at external partner facilities with their own cleanroom safety requirements.
- Ability to ramp up quickly on new equipment and experimental workflows, and comfort operating independently in shared research facilities where you are responsible for your own training and access.
Requirements
- Familiarity with the practical realities of these systems - target conditioning, chamber qualification, substrate preparation, and recipe troubleshooting.
- Prepare substrates, manage process flows, and maintain detailed experimental records that meet the metadata and data quality standards required for AI training.
- Currently pursuing or recently completed a PhD (or advanced graduate degree) in materials science, physics, chemistry, or a related field - or equivalent hands-on experience in research labs or process engineering.
- You have spent real time at a tool, not just observed someone else operate it.
- Basic thin-film characterization experience: you know how to read an XRD pattern, interpret an ellipsometry fit, and recognize a SEM image that signals a process problem.
Compensation
- The annual compensation range for this role - $180,000-$225,000
Company info
- We are building a dedicated thin-film lab (PVD, PLD, plasma ALD) with construction beginning in May 2026, while actively generating early data at partner facilities including Stanford Nanofab and other user facilities in the Bay Area.
Visa & Work Authorization
- Yes, we sponsor visas and will do everything we can to assist in this process with our legal support.
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This listing is sourced directly from Periodic Labs's careers page and normalized into a canonical job model.