AFM Scanning Probe Scientist

Charlottesville, VA
Full Time
Experienced

Charlottesville, VA

Who we are
Laser Thermal is a rapidly expanding company dedicated to bringing innovative thermal measurement solutions to industry and government partners. We believe that the next generation of devices and products will benefit from a proactive approach to understanding thermal properties, and represents a paradigm shift from the decades old traditional approach to understanding thermal failures.


Laser Thermal is dedicated to providing accessible thermal measurements of materials, focusing on thin-film thermal conductivity. By utilizing optical technologies, we provide simple, accurate, and rapid measurements of thermal properties, leading to increased customer knowledge of material properties.

Our employees enjoy a work culture that promotes diversity, collaboration, creativity, and innovation, while keeping solutions to our customer's needs at the core of what we do. 

Visit our website to learn more about our solutions.


Your role and responsibilities
The ideal candidate will be responsible for advancing the development of the Nanoprobe Thermoreflectance Microscope (NTM) platform.  Areas of focus include hardware engineering and system integration to optimize operation of the thermal metrology modes, as well as implementation of artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) algorithms related to automated/smart-experimentation, data denoising and correlative discovery of multiphysics phenomena.

Key Responsibilities:
  • Contributing to the continual development of the NTM platform for thermal metrology applications, including thermophysical property measurements as absolute temperature of devices in-operando.
  • Leading the application of AI/ML algorithms on the NTM platform in foci areas related to automated “smart” experimentation, advanced signal processing approaches for high data-throughput and correlative discovery of Multiphysics phenomena.
  • Acquiring, processing and utilizing large training data sets to develop deployable machine learning algorithms/models
  • Deploying developed machine learning algorithms/models on embedded hardware platforms (so called ‘Embedded Intelligence, EI’) to facilitate automated experimentation at the edge and in-loop during scanning probe image/data acquisition.
  • Developing new operational modes to probe various electrical, mechanical, optical and chemical phenomena using the NTM hardware platform
Preferred Qualifications:
  • Professional degree in engineering (mechanical, electrical, etc.) and/or  a scientific (materials, physics, etc.) discipline combined with work/research experience:
    • Bachelor’s degree with > 7 years work experience
    • Master’s degree with 3-7+ years work experience
    • Doctoral degree with 0-3+ years work experience
  • Prior professional and/or academic experience in one or more of the following areas is desired:
    • Scanning probe microscopy
    • Nanoscale thermal transport
    • AI/ML for automated/smart metrology and experimentation
    • AI/ML deployments on embedded hardware platforms
    • Hardware/instrumentation development for metrology
    • Materials science and advanced metrology methods
    • Semiconductor physics, electronic devices, and advanced packaging
  • Proficiency with:
    • Optical, electrical, and mechanical systems and signals
    • Advanced signal manipulation, conditioning, and processing
    • Descriptive and inferential statistical methods to assess and reliably predict system performance
    • Hardware/software integration with Matlab and/or Python programming syntax/environments
    • Software suites for embedded AI/ML algorithm deployment such as Tensor Flow Lite or similar
  • Exceptional communication skills and ability to utilize Office software tools
  • Collaborative approach to problem solving, team-centric, peer support perspective, positive attitude and persistence in the face of adversity, innate determination to succeed

What we can offer you
Respect, Kindness, Competence, and Passion. This is what we expect to bring every day.
 

At Laser Thermal you will have the opportunity to:

  • Build something that has never been done before.
  • Grow your career as part of a dynamic startup.
  • Express your professional goals and our team will help you achieve it.
  • Learn about cutting-edge optical metrology technologies.
  • Facilitate a supportive, collaborative, and science-loving culture.

Laser Thermal benefits include:

  • Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental, and Vision) with FSA and HSA options
  • Retirement Plan with Company Contribution (401K)
  • Basic Life Insurance
  • Long-Term Disability
  • Company Stock Option Plan
  • Paid Time Off Policy (vacation, sick)
  • 13 Paid Holidays
  • Parental Leave
  • Subsidized Fitness Center Membership


 

Laser Thermal Analysis, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, and or local laws.

This policy applies to all employment practices including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

As a federal contractor, Laser Thermal Analysis, Inc. is required to participate in the federal government's E-Verify program. The E-Verify process is completed in conjunction with a new hire's completion of the Form I-9 in order to confirm identity and work authorization in the United States.

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