Senior Electron Microscopy Engineer
Listed on 2026-10-09
-
Engineering
Quality Engineering, Materials Engineering, Process Engineer, Electronics Engineer
AOI is committed to providing equal opportunity in all of our employment practices, including hiring, placement, promotion, training, transfer and compensation, to all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, national origin, citizenship, religion, sex, veteran status, age, disability, marital status, or any other category protected by State or U.S. Federal law. Moreover, we endeavor to treat our employees fairly.
Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. (AOI) is seeking a Senior Electron Microscopy Engineer to support semiconductor laser failure analysis, process troubleshooting, and yield improvement.
The successful candidate will be a subject-matter expert in FIB, SEM, EDX/EDS, TEM/STEM, HRTEM, and electron diffraction
, with strong expertise in advanced FIB sample preparation and semiconductor defect analysis. A key expectation of this position is the ability to identify structural defects, understand their formation mechanisms
, and connect microscopy observations to semiconductor materials, fabrication processes, device performance, and reliability.
Job Duties
Perform advanced electron microscopy analysis using FIB, SEM, EDX/EDS, TEM/STEM, HRTEM, and electron diffraction to identify defects, interfaces, compositional abnormalities, and failure mechanisms.
Develop advanced FIB sample-preparation methods, including site-specific cross-sectional TEM lamella preparation, plan-view TEM preparation, low-damage thinning, and preparation of challenging semiconductor device structures.
Analyze crystallographic and process-induced defects such as dislocations, stacking faults, interface defects, regrowth defects, contamination, and other microstructural abnormalities, with emphasis on understanding their formation mechanisms and process origins
.
Correlate microscopy results with epitaxy, wafer-fabrication processes, device performance, reliability testing, and yield data to support root-cause analysis and process improvement.
Oversee microscopy laboratory operations, equipment performance, analytical methods, and sample-preparation capabilities.
Develop and maintain SOPs and analytical procedures, and train technicians and engineers in microscopy operation, sample preparation, and data interpretation.
Collaborate with Process Engineering, Epitaxy, Yield, Reliability, Quality, and R&D teams to investigate product failures and manufacturing issues.
Work with equipment vendors, universities, and external laboratories to introduce advanced microscopy technologies and expand analytical capability.
Prepare technical reports and clearly present analysis results, defect mechanisms, root-cause conclusions, and recommendations to technical teams and management.
Qualifications
Ph.D. in Materials Science, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field with 5+ years of relevant industrial experience
, or equivalent industrial experience demonstrating comparable technical expertise.
Recognized expertise in advanced electron microscopy
, including FIB, SEM, EDX/EDS, TEM/STEM, HRTEM, and electron diffraction, with deep hands-on experience in advanced FIB sample preparation such as plan-view TEM specimens and site-specific cross-sectional lamellae
.
Strong knowledge of crystallography, semiconductor defects, and defect-formation mechanisms
, with demonstrated ability to identify defects and determine their likely materials or process origins.
Strong knowledge of semiconductor devices and manufacturing processes, preferably compound semiconductor lasers, including epitaxy, e-beam lithography, photolithography, wet and dry etching, PVD, CVD, metallization, and epitaxial regrowth
.
Preferred Experience
Experience with
InP, In Ga As , In Ga As P, DFB lasers, EMLs, quantum-well structures, buried heterostructures, and semiconductor laser failure analysis is highly desirable.
Location
WHY AOI?
In addition to competitive salary, AOI offers
- Flexible and competitive health (medical, dental, vision) plans offer the employee with the right options to meet individual and family needs
- Employer matching on 401(k) deferrals
- Generous PTO policy, with unused PTO payout at end of the year
- Relocation package available within US
- Immigration sponsor ships (Must be currently authorized to work in the US)
(If this job is in fact in your jurisdiction, then you may be using a Proxy or VPN to access this site, and to progress further, you should change your connectivity to another mobile device or PC).