Zenithon is an applied frontier lab for extreme physics. We build foundation models that simulate plasmas, so engineers can explore far more of the design space before they build anything.
THE ROLE
Semiconductor plasma etch is a core part of Zenithon's business, and this role helps shape it. We're hiring a computational plasma physicist to own the physics behind our etch reactor models. You'll decide how our simulations are set up, which physics matters and where, and where the work goes next. You'll work with our ML researchers to make sure the models get it right. When engineers at the companies we work with ask whether to trust a result, you'll be the person who can answer.
WHAT YOU'LL DO
- Own how we set up reactor-scale etch simulations: geometries, chemistry, boundary conditions and the operating ranges that matter.
- Set the direction of our simulation work: where fidelity matters, from sheaths to surface chemistry, and which campaigns we run next.
- Run simulation campaigns across wide ranges of reactor geometry, chemistry and operating conditions.
- Check model outputs against physics and measurements, and show clearly where the errors sit.
- Work with ML researchers on model inputs, outputs and tests.
- Talk with engineers at partner companies about their reactors, and turn what they need into what we build next.
WHAT YOU'LL BRING
- A PhD in plasma physics, applied physics, or electrical, chemical or mechanical engineering, or a related field.
- Hands-on experience with HPEM, VizGlow, COMSOL or a similar reactor-scale plasma code. You've built geometries, set up chemistry and boundary conditions, and fixed runs that wouldn't converge.
- Strong grounding in low-temperature plasma physics: sheaths, electron energy distributions, ion energy and angle distributions, and plasma chemistry.
- Python and scientific computing.
- Clear communication with engineers who don't model.
This role suits someone early in their career or a few years past their PhD.
BONUS POINTS
- Experience at a semiconductor equipment maker or a fab.
- Etch chemistries, surface reactions or feature-scale profile models.
- PIC/MCC codes, or HPC and GPU experience.
- Comparing simulations with experiments.
- You've written or extended a solver, shipped open-source code, or worked at a startup.
HOW WE WORK
We're a small, in-person team in London and San Francisco that works hard, moves fast and holds a high bar. Two principles guide everything we do: intellectual ambition in what we attempt, and empirical precision in how we measure it. You'll own real problems from your first week, and your work will shape what the company becomes.
WHAT WE OFFER
Competitive salary and meaningful equity, set by location, plus relocation support. You can be based in San Francisco or London, on site with the team. You must be authorized to work in the US or the UK, depending on where you're based.
Zenithon is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applicants of every background
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