Senior Scientist Plasma Physics

Job Description: Senior Scientist - Plasma Physics

About Energetiq

Energetiq Technology is the high technology, ultra-bright light source division of Hamamatsu Corp., a Japanese optical components and systems company. At Energetiq we are growing our market presence by introducing breakthrough products using our patented, ultra-bright Laser-Driven Light Source (LDLS™) and Electrodeless Z-Pinch™ EUV (Extreme Ultraviolet) technologies. These technologies are used in diverse markets for cutting-edge semiconductor industries, sensor testing, and in a variety of scientific applications. Our customers are sophisticated equipment manufacturers that operate at the forefront of what is possible.

Position Summary

The Senior Scientist - Plasma Physics is to lead development of future EUV sources from pathfinding to prototype phase and beyond, as well as improving the performance of current generation EUV sources. The individual will closely work with a team of scientist and engineers. This role requires strong background in plasma theory/simulation and experimentation, as well as considerations for practical aspects of product development.

The Senior Scientist is expected to drive pathfinding for the future EUV sources by evaluating diverse potential technological candidates while employing theoretical assessments and plasma simulations, as well as building proof-of-concept hardware and conducting experiments as needed. The Scientist will also conceive, plan, and execute experiments utilizing R&D EUV sources and beamlines, analyze the data with a wide range of tools. The Scientist is to bring the system technology up to prototype build & evaluation state with sufficient EUV performance, along with considerations for reliability and serviceability.

The Senior Scientist will also work on exploring possible improvement paths for current generation EUV sources. The individual will push the limits of current technology for higher performance, and further widen the applications space for the current and future generations of the EUV sources.

The Senior Scientist is expected to interact with internal & external EUV scientists and engineers as well as a broad range of customers from both Industrial and Academic communities. The individual will be responsible for identifying opportunities for intellectual properties and documenting / submitting them for publications & patents.

While this role will be primarily dedicated to EUV technology developments, the Senior Scientist will have opportunities to contribute in a consulting role to Laser Driven Light Source plasma platform, as well as other activities involving physics modeling, numerical analysis, and simulation.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the development of next-generation EUV source technologies. Bring them from pathfinding to prototype phase and beyond.
• Survey, identify, and evaluate candidate plasma technologies for future EUV sources by utilizing theories, simulations and experimentations.
• Design and execute experiments involving proof-of-concept hardware, R&D EUV sources, and metrology equipment for plasma / optical / electrical / thermal / gas characterizations, guided by insight developed through physics modeling.
• Compare the experimental results with theory and simulations. Develop first principles and empirical models as necessary to describe current performance and inform experiments.
• Bring the technology to sufficient level for prototype system builds.
• Extend the performance envelope of our Electrodeless Z-Pinch technology to enable more applications of the source.
• Represent Energetiq's EUV technology to the customer base and defend our leading position as EUV source supplier for semiconductor development and production metrology.
• Develop and manage project budgets.

Minimum Requirements and Qualifications

• Ph.D. in physics or related field
• 5+ years of post-graduate Academic or Industrial experience on plasma R&D

• Extensive experience in plasma modeling / simulation such as:
  1. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), Electro-Magnetics, and Magneto-Hydrodynamics (MHD).

• Deep understanding of plasma physics, compressible hydrodynamics, thermal and electrical conduction, and radiation
• Extensive experience with experimentations and characterization on plasma.

• Familiarity with power electronics and high voltage experiments

• Experience with data analysis/visualization tools such as Python, Matlab, Octave.

• Demonstrated record of publishing and presenting results of original research.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills and ability to deliver research and technical presentations to both internal and external audiences.

• Working knowledge of Optics and Optical Physics
• Ability to travel both domestically and internationally, up to 10%.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Computational Simulation packages such as COMSOL, ANSYS, OpenFOAM.

• Experience with Vacuum systems.
• Experience with Vacuum-UV Optics hardware.
• Strong knowledge of Optics and Optical Physics, such as simulations involving Xray ~ EUV spectrum.
• Experience with Thermal and Gas transport simulations and experimentations
• Patent application experiences.
• EUV or Z-pinch experience.
• Product development experiences.
• Circuit simulations
• 8+ years of post-graduate experience in Plasma R&D