Principal Engineer – Process Development, Dry Etch, NAND

Job Title

Principal Engineer – Process Development, Dry Etch, NAND

Role Summary

Technical leader responsible for dry etch process development across NAND modules. Owns process roadmaps, drives cross-functional execution, and closes technology gaps with internal teams and suppliers to meet structural and device targets.

This role focuses on high-impact plasma etch development, scalability for advanced structures, and delivery of manufacturable solutions.

Experience Level

Senior. Experience guidance provided in education section: typically 5+ years with a PhD, 7+ years with a Master’s, or 10+ years with a Bachelor’s in a relevant technical field.

Responsibilities

Primary accountabilities include process development, technical leadership, and cross-functional program delivery:

• Lead dry etch unit process and critical NAND module development to meet structural and electrical specifications.
• Develop and present dry etch process and technology roadmaps for current and future nodes.
• Drive advanced scalability solutions for high-aspect-ratio etches, including pulsing and other advanced schemes.
• Lead cross-functional teams to solve complex structural and device challenges and align stakeholders across process areas and sites.
• Manage supplier evaluations, head-to-head comparisons, and vendor engagements to accelerate process and hardware solutions.
• Provide technical mentorship and act as a subject-matter resource for peers in dry etch technology.
• Report status, risks, and mitigation plans to leadership stakeholders.
• Integrate AI-assisted tools and data-driven methods into development workflows and share improvements that increase efficiency or quality.

Requirements

Essential technical and interpersonal requirements for success in this role.

• Significant dry etch process development (PD/R&D) experience with demonstrated leadership of complex projects and cross-functional delivery.
• Deep knowledge of plasma etch fundamentals: plasma physics/chemistry, reactor architectures, and etch chemistries; able to apply mechanistic reasoning to process outcomes.
• Strong statistical and experimental skills: SPC, DOE, statistical analysis, and structured root-cause analysis (RCA).
• Technical leadership through influence: ability to drive alignment and execution across multiple stakeholders and sites.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills; capable of presenting roadmaps and program updates to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Preferred: basic data science skills, Python, and experience with AI-enabled analysis.

Education Requirements

PhD with ≥5 years relevant experience, Master’s with ≥7 years, or Bachelor’s with ≥10 years in Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Physics, or a related technical field; equivalent practical experience considered.

About the Company

Company: Micron Technology

Headquarters: Boise, Idaho, USA

Micron Technology is a global leader in memory and storage solutions, dedicated to transforming how the world uses information. The company offers a diverse portfolio of high-performance DRAM, NAND, and NOR memory products under the Micron and Crucial brands. With a commitment to customer focus and technological innovation, Micron drives advancements in artificial intelligence, 5G, and other data-centric applications, empowering users to learn, communicate, and progress.