New

Sr. Process Engineer, Metal Deposition, Terafab

Tesla Motors, Inc.
paid holidays, flex time, 401(k)
United States, Texas, Austin
Apr 15, 2026
What to Expect We are building Terafab, a vertically integrated semiconductor factory at an unprecedented scale. The facility houses logic, memory, packaging, test, and lithography mask production under one roof, optimized for rapid iteration and maximum compute density per square foot. Process engineering is where Terafab technology gets built, atom by atom, and metal films determine device speed and reliability. You will develop and own metal deposition processes across three distinct chip families: edge-inference processors, space-hardened chips for orbital satellites, and high-bandwidth memory. You'll control resistivity, adhesion, and step coverage while managing electromigration, stress, and interface quality across diverse thermal and mechanical environments. You should have deep expertise in metal deposition, but be ready to work across core process domains such as plating, etch, and metrology as integration evolves. This is a highly hands-on role at one of the most ambitious fab programs in the world. What You'll Do Develop and qualify ALD, CVD, and PVD processes for metal gate, work function metals, barrier layers, seed layers, and local interconnect (Co, Ru, W, TiN, TaN) at 2nm-class nodes Characterize metal film properties-resistivity, conformality, step coverage, grain structure, and adhesion-using XRF, four-point probe, XRD, TEM, and SIMS Evaluate novel metal materials including Ru and Co local interconnect and backside power delivery network (BSPDN) metallization schemes Qualify deposition tools from installation through production readiness, including chamber matching, target management, and process window qualification Analyze processes from a first-principles, physics-based approach to understand and manipulate mechanisms, not just recipes Lead root cause analysis, establish inline metrology and SPC control strategies, and drive systematic yield improvement Support 24/7 manufacturing operations through rotations, on-call availability, and rapid response to critical production issues Drive next-generation metal materials and process development What You'll Bring Degree in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or related technical field, or equivalent experience 5+ years of hands-on thin films process engineering experience in a semiconductor fab, especially <7nm in a logic, memory, or foundry environment Deep experience with ALD/CVD/PVD tool qualification (Applied Materials, Lam, or Tokyo Electron), metal deposition process development, and process of record (POR) establishment at advanced nodes Proficiency with metal films metrology tools: four-point probe, XRF, XRD, TEM, SIMS, film stress measurement, and defect inspection Strong DOE skills and statistical analysis capability (JMP, Python, or R) Ability to work closely and proactively across lithography, etch, thin films, integration, and equipment engineering teams Compensation and Benefits Benefits Along with competitive pay, as a full-time Tesla employee, you are eligible for the following benefits at day 1 of hire: Medical plans > plan options with $0 payroll deduction Family-building, fertility, adoption and surrogacy benefits Dental (including orthodontic coverage) and vision plans, both have options with a $0 paycheck contribution Company Paid (Health Savings Accounts) HSA Contribution when enrolled in the High-Deductible medical plan with HSA Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) 401(k) with employer match, Employee Stock Purchase Plans, and other financial benefits Company paid Basic Life, AD&D Short-term and long-term disability insurance (90 day waiting period) Employee Assistance Program Sick and Vacation time (Flex time for salary positions, Accrued hours for Hourly positions), and Paid Holidays Back-up childcare and parenting support resources Voluntary benefits to include: critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident insurance, theft & legal services, and pet insurance Weight Loss and Tobacco Cessation Programs Tesla Babies program Commuter benefits Employee discounts and perks program