Process Engineer Jobs in San Jose, CA

ABOUT LUMILENS

At Lumilens we are building the critical photonics infrastructure that powers tomorrow’s AI supercomputing. From chip-to-chip optical interconnects to scalable photonic engines, Lumilens is unlocking a new era of computing faster, cooler, and massively more efficient.

We’re a well-funded startup backed by Mayfield and led by veterans who’ve built and scaled some of the most transformative technologies in the industry. This isn’t incremental innovation, it’s a ground-floor opportunity to rethink the optical layer from the silicon up. You’ll work alongside a team of world-class engineers solving some of the hardest challenges in optics, systems, and scale. Every decision you make will directly influence how we build, source, and deliver the infrastructure of tomorrow.

If you're looking for mission, momentum, and the chance to make an outsized impact, jump on the rocket ship. We’re just getting started.

The Role

As Generative AI continues to accelerate, the demands on data center infrastructure are shifting from individual chips to tightly integrated systems of chips. At Lumilens, our Photonic technology is redefining interconnect performance with dramatically higher bandwidth, better energy efficiency, and greater scalability. In this role, you will drive process development for novel III-V etching, coating, and related fabrication modules that enable next-generation photonic systems. You will translate product requirements into process requirements, define the tooling and metrology needed to execute, and institutionalize repeatable processes that can scale from development into manufacturing.

Responsibilities

• Drive process development for novel III-V etching, coating, and related semiconductor fabrication modules in support of Lumilens’ advanced photonics platform.

• Translate product and device requirements into clear process requirements, specifications, control plans, and acceptance criteria.

• Define process tooling needs, including equipment capability, process windows, fixturing, materials, and vendor requirements.

• Design, execute, and manage DOEs to optimize etch profiles, coating performance, process repeatability, yield, and manufacturability.

• Define metrology requirements, measurement methods, inspection strategy, and outsourcing approach for process development and qualification.

• Evaluate and select tooling, vendors, and external partners based on technical capability, commercial considerations, scalability, and long-term process ownership.

• Institutionalize new tools and processes through documentation, process flows, work instructions, engineering reports, and training materials.

• Support assessment of silicon photonics processing flows, including process compatibility, integration risks, yield-limiting factors, and opportunities for improvement.

• Collaborate with device, photonics, packaging, manufacturing, and external fab partners to troubleshoot process issues and drive corrective actions.

Guidelines

• Senior-level experience in semiconductor process engineering, process development, or process integration, ideally with III-V materials, silicon photonics, compound semiconductors, or photonic devices.

• Hands-on experience with wet or dry etching, coating, thin films, deposition, lithography, metrology, or related cleanroom fabrication processes.

• Ability to define process requirements from product requirements and translate technical needs into executable process flows, specifications, and control plans.

• Strong working knowledge of DOE design, process characterization, statistical analysis, capability studies, and data-driven process optimization.

• Experience defining metrology methods and working with internal or outsourced metrology resources such as SEM, profilometry, ellipsometry, optical inspection, or similar techniques.

• Demonstrated ability to evaluate, select, and qualify tooling based on process performance, vendor capability, cost, schedule, serviceability, and scalability.

• Experience documenting and institutionalizing new processes, including process flows, recipes, work instructions, qualification reports, and lessons learned.

• Familiarity with silicon photonics processing, heterogeneous integration, or III-V to SiPh process interfaces is highly valuable.

• Strong problem-solving, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills in a fast-paced development environment.

Why Join Us?

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience
• Comprehensive benefits package including health insurance
• Professional development opportunities and certification support
• Access to cutting-edge photonics and advanced manufacturing technologies
• Collaborative work environment with cross-functional teams solving complex challenges

Lumilens is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, gender, identity, orientation, veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.