Sr. Process Engineer, Plating, Terafab

We are building Terafab, a vertically integrated semiconductor factory at an unprecedented scale. The facility houses logic, memory, packaging, test, and lithography mask production under one roof, optimized for rapid iteration and maximum compute density per square foot.

Process engineering is where Terafab technology gets built, atom by atom, and plating fills the structures that connect the chip. You will develop and own electrochemical deposition processes across three distinct chip families: edge-inference processors, space-hardened chips for orbital satellites, and high-bandwidth memory. You'll control void-free fill, thickness uniformity, and grain structure while managing bath chemistry, current distribution, and seed layer interactions across extreme aspect ratios and feature sizes.

You should have deep expertise in electrochemical deposition, but be ready to work across core process domains such as seed layer deposition, metrology, and barrier integration as integration evolves. This is a highly hands-on role at one of the most ambitious fab programs in the world.

• Develop and qualify electrochemical deposition (ECD) processes for copper damascene interconnect and through-silicon via (TSV) fill across all metal levels including metrology monitoring and defect inspection for bath health and process control
• Optimize plating bath chemistry, current density profiles, additive formulations, and annealing conditions for void-free, low-stress copper fill at aggressive aspect ratios
• Develop and qualify electroless plating processes for capping layers and barrier-free interconnect schemes (Co, Ru) as applicable to advanced node requirements
• Qualify plating tools from installation through production readiness, including bath conditioning, anode management, and process window qualification
• Analyze processes from a first-principles, physics-based approach to understand and manipulate mechanisms, not just recipes
• Lead root cause analysis, establish inline metrology and SPC control strategies, and drive systematic yield improvement
• Support 24/7 manufacturing operations through rotations, on-call availability, and rapid response to critical production issues
• Drive next-generation plating chemistry and process development

• Degree in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Electrical Engineering, Chemistry, or related technical field, or equivalent experience
• 5+ years of hands-on plating process engineering experience in a semiconductor fab, especially <7nm in a logic, memory, or foundry environment
• Deep experience with ECD tool qualification (Applied Materials, Lam, or equivalent), copper plating process development, and process of record (POR) establishment at advanced nodes
• Proficiency with plating metrology tools: film thickness measurement, defect inspection, TEM, XRF, resistivity measurement, and electrochemical analysis
• Strong DOE skills and statistical analysis capability (JMP, Python, or R)
• Ability to work closely and proactively across lithography, etch, thin films, integration, and equipment engineering teams

Along with competitive pay, as a full-time Tesla employee, you are eligible for the following benefits at day 1 of hire:

• Medical plans > plan options with $0 payroll deduction
• Family-building, fertility, adoption and surrogacy benefits
• Dental (including orthodontic coverage) and vision plans, both have options with a $0 paycheck contribution
• Company Paid (Health Savings Accounts) HSA Contribution when enrolled in the High-Deductible medical plan with HSA
• Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• 401(k) with employer match, Employee Stock Purchase Plans, and other financial benefits
• Company paid Basic Life, AD&D
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance (90 day waiting period)
• Employee Assistance Program
• Sick and Vacation time (Flex time for salary positions, Accrued hours for Hourly positions), and Paid Holidays
• Back-up childcare and parenting support resources
• Voluntary benefits to include: critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident insurance, theft & legal services, and pet insurance
• Weight Loss and Tobacco Cessation Programs
• Tesla Babies program
• Commuter benefits
• Employee discounts and perks program