Epitaxy Engineer

Location: Abingdon, United States

Department: Spectacles

Employment Type: Full time

About Snap Inc

Snap Inc is a technology company. We believe the camera presents the greatest opportunity to improve the way people live and communicate. Snap contributes to human progress by empowering people to express themselves, live in the moment, learn about the world, and have fun together.

About the Role

Snap Inc is a camera company that believes AR will transform how people connect and create. We're seeking an Epitaxy Engineer to join our Spectacles team, where you'll pioneer III-V epitaxy technologies to power next-generation AR glasses that blend digital creativity with the real world. As part of Snap's innovative culture, you'll drive epitaxy advancements that enhance Spectacles' see-through displays, enabling immersive experiences in gaming, learning, and collaboration—bringing people closer through augmented reality. In this role, you'll lead daily epitaxy operations from process planning and MOCVD growth to advanced characterization with tools like XRD, PL, SEM, and AFM. You'll shape our epitaxial roadmap, ensuring alignment with Snap's goals for high-performance AR hardware, while conducting rigorous testing, data analysis, and yield improvements. Collaborating with cross-functional teams, you'll troubleshoot challenges and optimize for uniformity, productivity, and cost-efficiency, directly impacting the evolution of Snap OS-powered Spectacles. Joining Snap means thriving in a creative, diverse environment that values bold ideas and 'default together' collaboration (4+ days/week in office). With your expertise in III-V materials and photonics, you'll contribute to human progress by enabling AR innovations that let users express themselves, live in the moment, and have fun together. Snap is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity, offering comprehensive benefits like paid parental leave, medical coverage, mental health support, and equity in our success.

What You'll Do

• Drive the development of III-V epitaxy technologies to enable innovative AR features and next-generation Spectacles devices
• Lead day-to-day epitaxy operations, including process planning, recipe optimization, and growth execution
• Perform materials characterization using advanced tools such as XRD, PL, CL, EL, SEM, AFM, and surface defectivity assessments
• Contribute to the epitaxial technology roadmap, aligning R&D objectives with Snap's AR innovation and business goals
• Conduct process testing, data analysis, and quality assurance to improve epitaxial performance, uniformity, and yield
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Process Engineering, Equipment Engineering, Characterization & Test, Facilities, and Shift Engineers
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives to enhance productivity, repeatability, and cost efficiency
• Troubleshoot process issues and drive systematic improvements in epitaxy for camera and AR technologies
• Support the integration of epitaxy innovations into Spectacles' see-through AR glasses powered by Snap OS
• Document experimental results and communicate findings to advance Snap's creative culture of innovation

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Materials Science, Physics, Electrical Engineering, Chemistry, or a related field
• 2+ years of experience in epitaxy R&D or manufacturing environments
• Experience in photonics applications
• Hands-on experience with MOCVD systems and epitaxial growth processes
• Proficiency in materials characterization using tools such as XRD, PL, CL, EL, SEM, and AFM
• Strong understanding of III-V semiconductors and optoelectronics
• Experience in high-technology manufacturing environments

Preferred Qualifications

• Ph.D. degree in Materials Science, Physics, Electrical Engineering, Chemistry, or related discipline
• 5+ years of experience in R&D or high-volume manufacturing involving III-V materials
• Proven track record in mass production process development, yield improvement, and throughput optimization
• Familiarity with failure analysis, defect classification, and quality management tools
• Awareness of the competitive and technology landscape within the III-V semiconductor space

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Hands-on expertise with MOCVD systems
• Epitaxial growth process optimization
• Materials characterization (XRD, PL, CL, EL, SEM, AFM)
• III-V semiconductor technology
• Optoelectronics and photonics applications
• Equipment design and preventive maintenance
• Scrubber systems knowledge
• Data analysis and interpretation
• Process troubleshooting and improvement
• R&D process development
• Cross-functional collaboration
• Technical documentation
• Excellent communication skills
• Teamwork in fast-paced environments
• Yield and throughput optimization
• Defect analysis and quality assurance

Our Benefits

• Paid parental leave
• Comprehensive medical coverage
• Emotional and mental health support programs
• Compensation packages that share in Snap’s long-term success
• Dynamic collaboration in a 'default together' office environment (4+ days per week)
• Opportunities to work on cutting-edge AR glasses and camera technologies
• Inclusive culture fostering diverse backgrounds and creative expression
• Support for disabilities and special needs with accommodations

"Default Together" Policy: At Snap Inc, we practice a "default together" approach and expect team members to work in an office 4+ days per week.

Snap is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.