Process Engineer in Somerset

About Veeco

You probably don’t realize it, but what we do at Veeco touches the lives of every person, every day. It’s a bold statement, but it’s true. From the smartphones in our pockets that access the world’s collective knowledge, to the cloud-based services where all that information lives, to high-speed wireless communication and computing power needed to drive artificial intelligence, augmented and virtual reality, gaming and so much more, our technology is all around us. We design, develop, manufacture, and service highly complex, cutting-edge machines used by our customers to create the essential devices that drive the digital age, connect the world, and improve the human experience. Along with the world’s leading technology companies, many of which are household names, we help solve their most difficult material science challenges, enabling technologies for a more connected, sustainable, and convenient world. We’re looking for material difference-makers to join our growing team.

Overview

Veeco’s products combine innovative technology with capital efficiency to support our customers’ most critical semiconductor manufacturing processes. We are seeking a Process Engineer to support process and tool validation to achieve customer specifications, helping ensure our capital equipment performs reliably in customer manufacturing environments. In this role, you will support the validation of both NPI evaluation tools and existing production tools, working hands-on with deposition and etch systems to confirm performance, stability, and repeatability in accordance with customer specifications. You will execute qualification plans, analyze process data, and help identify and resolve issues that affect tool performance during qualification and at the customer site. You will work closely with experienced engineers across R&D, Manufacturing, Final Test, Operations, and Marketing, contributing to validation activities that serve as a critical readiness check before tools are delivered. This position is well-suited for an engineer who enjoys operating equipment from a customer perspective, practical problem-solving, structured testing, and seeing their work directly impact customer success.

Responsibilities

• Review and interpret customer process requirements and Factory operating parameters, a full complement of tests, and acceptance requirements operating conditions at the customer site.
• Develop and execute process validation and qualification plans reflecting customer fab use cases, operating conditions.
• Validate tool performance, repeatability, and stability against customer specifications under customer-representative operating conditions prior to shipment.
• Ensure tools are production-ready and capable of meeting customer expectations for throughput, uniformity, reliability, and operational consistency.
• Execute process testing and validation runs using customer-representative parameters and conditions.
• Perform measurement and characterization of processed wafers and substrates.
• Analyze process and equipment data to confirm robustness, stability, and readiness for sustained operation at customer-expected run-rates.
• Identify trends or variability that could impact tool performance, yield, or uptime once operated continuously in the customer fab.
• Investigate and resolve process or tool performance gaps identified during validation.
• Lead structured technical escalations, including data preparation, root cause analysis, and corrective action verification.
• Develop recovery plans when validation schedules, run-rate verification, or delivery milestones are at risk.
• Document issues, resolutions, and lessons learned to support continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with R&D, Marketing, Manufacturing, Final Test, and Operations teams to align on customer requirements and validation readiness.
• Provide complete validation reports and data packages to internal teams and customers as needed.
• Lead technical discussions during Factory Acceptance reviews, explaining how validated tool performance aligns with customer specifications.
• Provide training to customers who are using the tool for the first time.
• Operate deposition and etch tools and associated metrology and characterization equipment.
• Perform calibration and preventive maintenance on Veeco metrology systems supporting validation activities.
• Utilize tool operation and data analysis software to execute validation plans efficiently.
• Assist technicians during mechanical and electrical troubleshooting that may impact process qualification.
• Adhere to all Veeco safety policies, procedures, and documentation standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Materials Science, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience, with at least 3 years of hands-on process engineering experience supporting thin-film etch and deposition processes in a semiconductor manufacturing environment.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong expertise in vacuum-based thin-film deposition and etch technologies.
• Experience using thin-film characterization and metrology tools (e.g., four-point probe, stress measurement, ellipsometry, profilometry, XRF, Nanospec) to support process validation and tool qualification.
• Experience validating processes for customer fab environments with emphasis on repeatability, variability, and sustained run-rate stability.
• Familiarity with magnetic or piezoelectric thin films preferred; ion-source technologies (IBE, IBD, PVD) a plus.
• Strong data analysis, technical documentation, and presentation skills.
• Ability to clearly communicate technical results to cross-functional teams, leadership, and customers.
• Highly organized, self-motivated, and detail-oriented.
• Limited domestic and international travel. Occasional travel to Veeco’s Plainview, NY facility may be required to support customer-specific validation activities.

Salary and Benefits

The expected salary range for this position is $90,309 — $114,391, plus a bonus opportunity. We will consider your location, experience, and other job-related factors when determining your pay. If your salary requirements exceed the advertised range and you remain interested in Veeco, we encourage you to apply or email your resume to recruiting@veeco.com.

Other benefits include:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)
• 401(k) with Company Match
• Holiday, Vacation, and Sick Time
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Commuter Benefits
• Life and Accident Insurance
• Disability Insurance
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Identity Theft Remediation
• Emergency Travel Assistance

Veeco is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, and other legally protected characteristics. Veeco is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities.

Notice to Applicants: All communication about open positions and hiring will come from someone with a @veeco.com email address. You will always have multiple interviews and meet several team members (in-person or virtually) before we present an offer. We may also check references or conduct a background investigation as part of the offer process. We will never ask you for money for any reason, especially to send equipment or for pre-employment training. If you have any questions or concerns, or if someone has reached out to you and you think it might be a scam, please get in touch with us at recruiting@veeco.com.