Principal Engineer – Process Development, Cell Film, NAND

Job Title

Principal Engineer – Process Development, Cell Film, NAND

Role Summary

The Principal Engineer provides technical leadership for cell film process development for advanced 3D NAND devices, owning technical direction, module development, and transfer into manufacturing.

This role leads cross-functional teams to define strategy, resolve complex process/device issues, and ensure manufacturability and ramp readiness for next-generation NAND scaling.

Experience Level

Senior — principal-level engineering role. Posting specifies senior experience expectations via degree/years equivalencies (see Education Requirements).

Responsibilities

Key responsibilities focus on technical strategy, end-to-end process development and scaling, complex problem resolution, and technical leadership.

• Define and implement technical strategy and roadmap for cell film process development aligned to business and technology goals.
• Lead multi-disciplinary development and integration of thin film processes for advanced NAND, ensuring manufacturability and scalability.
• Drive technology transfer and ramp activities from R&D to high-volume manufacturing.
• Diagnose and resolve complex process/device failures (RCA), and lead programs for yield, cost reduction, and reliability improvement.
• Mentor senior engineers, influence technical direction across teams, and represent the organization in technical collaborations and forums.
• Integrate AI-assisted tools and data analytics into workflows to improve efficiency and quality; promote continuous improvement and sharing of AI-enabled enhancements.

Requirements

Must-have technical and professional skills required to perform successfully in this role.

• Must-have technical skills: Deep hands-on expertise in ALD/CVD thin film processes for 3D NAND (development, optimization, and manufacturing sustainment); strong understanding of process–device interactions, scaling challenges, and reliability behavior.
• Proven ability to drive materials, chemistry, and process improvements, including tool optimizations, via structured experimentation and cross-functional collaboration.
• Proficient in DOE, SPC, and data analytics to optimize processes and resolve complex issues; ability to serve as a technical lead and mentor across process, integration, and manufacturing teams.
• Soft skills: Structured problem-solving, learning agility in R&D, clear communication, and effective cross-functional collaboration.
• Preferred: Contributions to technology benchmarking, roadmap inputs, technical documentation, or IP generation.

Education Requirements

Candidates must meet one of the following experience/education equivalencies: PhD with ≥5 years, Master’s with ≥7 years, or Bachelor’s with ≥10 years of relevant experience. Relevant fields include Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Physics, or related technical disciplines. Equivalent practical experience is accepted per the posted equivalencies.