Focal Plane Engineer

HRL Laboratories pioneers the next frontiers of physical and information science. Delivering transformative technologies in automotive, aerospace and defense, HRL advances the critical missions of its customers to help them remove limitations and create competitive advantage. HRL then transitions the work back to customers – ready for real-world application. For more than 70 years, HRL’s rich portfolio of scientific discoveries and engineering innovations continues to build on each other — often in unexpected, profound and far-reaching ways.

As a private company owned jointly by Boeing and GM, HRL prioritizes purpose over profit, significantly advancing the state of the art.

HRL Laboratories pioneers world-class infrared sensor systems for aerospace and defense, enhancing national capabilities through innovative solutions. We collaborate closely with our customers to transform emerging needs into high-performance outcomes. Our business model leverages our focus on advanced research and product delivery, ensuring customer satisfaction and mission success.

As a Focal Plane Engineer, you will act as a primary technical interface for process and product development, supporting our internal foundry and driving excellence throughout the full manufacturing lifecycle.

• Develop semiconductor processes and integration schemes to support infrared device architectures and focal plane array (FPA) manufacturing.
• Execute and manage FPA manufacturing plans, ensuring all required engineering activities are completed and adequately documented prior to build initiation, and that manufacturing plans are baselined and approved by functional stakeholders.
• Evaluate and optimize process routes, establish best practices, and drive continuous improvements in product cost, schedule, yield, and manufacturability.
• Document processes, prepare technical reports, review inline metrology and electrical data, and perform failure analysis and root cause analysis.
• Provide technical leadership for root cause and corrective action (RCCA) activities, including troubleshooting complex issues, participating in tiger teams, and developing effective recovery plans.
• Support mask design and tape-out activities by defining and reviewing process design rules and participating in final mask data reviews to ensure compliance with manufacturing requirements.
• Support technical activities at subcontractors and external vendors, including process transfer, troubleshooting, and resolution of manufacturing issues.
• Monitor and report build progress, work-in-process (WIP), and process configurations, identifying opportunities to improve manufacturing efficiency and execution.
• Apply an understanding of cost, schedule, and risk management to development and manufacturing activities, ensuring alignment with program and organizational objectives.
• Collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams to develop scalable, manufacturable, and portable process solutions.
• Leverage data-driven analysis and logical reasoning to identify process improvements, assess risks, and support timely resolution of technical and manufacturing challenges.
• Serve as a technical interface to customers and program stakeholders, representing program needs and translating customer requirements into actionable engineering priorities.

This role requires a collaborative, results-oriented engineer with strong technical, analytical, and cross-functional skills. The ideal candidate will possess:

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Materials Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field with 5+ years of fabrication process experience.
• Demonstrated ability to interface effectively with customers and program stakeholders, translate customer needs into technical requirements, and advocate for program priorities.
• Hands‑on experience with cleanroom fabrication and semiconductor process development.
• Strong understanding of semiconductor device physics and the ability to translate device performance requirements into relevant process requirements, critical process steps, key performance indicators (KPIs), and tolerances.
• Experience analyzing manufacturing and process…