Scientist / Senior Scientist / Principal Scientist

We are looking for an outstanding, hands-on scientist or engineer with an in-depth materials science knowledge, to join our sensor development efforts. Work will focus on sputtering, characterization and iterative optimization of the magnetic materials and stacks used in our system – both on bare substrates as well as on functional sensor devices. The ideal candidate will have experience with sputter deposition and advanced characterization of magnetic thin films, at both DC and RF frequencies, as well as a strong technical understanding of magnetism, magnetoelectric materials and magnetization dynamics. The candidate will be required to work closely with other members of the materials and engineering teams to meet project objectives and to bring Sonera's biomagnetic sensing platform to market. This person should be confident in taking on project management responsibilities, and comfortable with creative problem solving in a startup environment.

Typical base salary is in the $130,000 to $180,000 range; actual salary can be more or less than the posted range and will be determined based on the individual’s applicable skills, education, qualifications and experience for the role. Position title (Scientist / Senior Scientist / Principal Scientist) will be dependent on the individual’s applicable skills, education, qualifications, and experience for the role.

Responsibilities:

• Use in-house sputter deposition tool to sputter thin-film materials and stacks on a variety of substrates and devices (materials, sizes, and patterning conditions)
• Test and characterize high-frequency (RF) electrical and magnetic properties of sputtered thin films (on bare substrates) and patterned devices (on printed circuit boards) using both standard measurement hardware as well as custom-built systems
• Build statistical models to correlate device performance to materials design & processing and iteratively optimize
• Develop and execute team plans to validate device performance towards the goal of achieving preset performance metrics for Sonera’s sensors
• Conduct materials design reviews and provide technical support to other team members, be proactive in identifying and resolving technical problems
• Manage the materials product development cycle including design, fabrication, testing, review and optimization

Core skills and Education:

• PhD in Materials Science & Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related field
• Experience with physical vapor deposition of metals, oxides, magnetic and dielectric materials
• Experience optimizing film stacks – deposition parameters, film thicknesses, film composition, material selection, etc.
• Experience with electrical and magnetic characterization tools and techniques
• Experience with studying processing-structure-property correlations and iteratively optimizing film stacks
• Experience in coding & scripting and data analysis software
• Strong problem solving and critical thinking skills, strong multi-tasking and time management skills

Preferred Qualifications and Experience:

• PhD in Materials Science & Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related field and 3+ years of industry experience in materials processing, optimization and design for product development cycles
• Strong experience with sputter deposition of thin-film magnetic materials and stacks, and in integrating deposited materials with devices and optimizing the performance of a combined system
• Strong experience with magnetic thin film device physics and device characterization, e.g., magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJ) or magnetic random access memory (MRAM)
• Strong experience with a broad assortment of materials characterization tools (e.g., XRD, SEM, XPS), static magnetic (e.g., VSM, MPMS) as well as high frequency magnetic characterization (e.g., FMR)
• Strong knowledge of engineering data analysis (inferential statistics, DOE’s, regression) and statistical software (JMP, Minitab)
• Strong theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience with magnetic and multiferroic materials
• Excellent communication skills - verbal and written

Benefits

Compensation will additionally include participation in Sonera's Equity Incentive Plan

401(k) including generous company matching

Health, vision, dental insurance coverage

Flexible time-off policy, paid parental leave

This position will require access to information protected under U.S. export control laws and regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Please note that any offer for employment will be conditioned on authorization to receive software or technology controlled under these U.S. export control laws and regulations without sponsorship for an export license.

Sonera, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis or perception of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws.

It is company policy to perform background checks and review candidate references. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. Sonera, Inc. participates in the E-Verify Program.