Semiconductor Characterization Intern

Graduate Intern (Master’s or PhD) – Semiconductor Characterization & Materials Science Engineering with options for future full time employment

Department:  R&D – Wafer Characterization and Process Control
Reports To:   Senior Scientist, Semiconductor Characterization 
Location:        San Francisco Bay Area, CA 
Travel:           Up to 20% (for tool installation, customer support, or collaboration)
Start Date:     ASAP

We are a technology investment group purchasing the assets of Four Dimentions Incorporated. We do not own the 4dimensions.com domain yet but when the deal is completed, all emails and current domain of 4d.co will point to the current website. The new company will be Four Dimensions Corporation. The intern will work part-time in training under the mentorship of our current senior scientist. We are looking for someone to train to take over the role on a full time basis.

💡 Position Summary

We are seeking a highly motivated graduate student, slated for Spring 2026 graduation, with a strong foundation in Semiconductor Physics and Materials Science.

The Graduate Intern will join our R&D Wafer Characterization team to contribute to the development and refinement of advanced metrology techniques. This position offers a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience operating state-of-the-art metrology systems for semiconductor wafers.

The intern will work directly with a Senior Scientist to perform crucial wafer characterization, analyze complex measurement data, and contribute to the continuous improvement of R&D process control workflows. 

Presentation and customer interaction skills are a must as this position will be creating detailed evaluation reports and performing demonstrations on the equipment for existing and potential customers.

This structured internship emphasizes deep technical mentorship and detailed process documentation, serving as an ideal pipeline for a full-time role after graduation.

🔬 Key Responsibilities

Wafer Characterization & Electrical Metrology

• System Operation: Configure and operate advanced metrology systems to execute precise sample characterization.
• Measurement Execution: Perform detailed measurements to evaluate wafer behavior, layer performance, and material integrity.
• Sample Setup: Review customer specifications (structure, layer composition, and goals) and select appropriate system options and configuration to best suit customer’s needs.
• Defect Analysis: Conduct statistical defect analysis using area ratio statistics, leveraging data to assess intrinsic material properties and detect and quantify process defects.
• Reporting: Generate comprehensive and meticulous technical reports detailing system configuration, measurement methodologies, graphical results, data tables, and technical recommendations.

Process Control & R&D Support

• Equipment Validation: Participate actively in tool qualification, process documentation, and equipment validation for both internal R&D and external customer-facing systems.
• Workflow Improvement: Contribute directly to policy and workflow improvements to optimize wafer characterization throughput, consistency, and repeatability.
• Data Interpretation: Coordinate with the Customer Support team to review measurement results, troubleshoot data anomalies, and provide expert technical interpretation.

Documentation & Collaboration

• Mentorship: Work under direct mentorship from our industry leading Senior Scientist, participating in knowledge transfer and focused skill development.
• Documentation: Assist in creating and maintaining detailed R&D process manuals and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), including documentation for automated operations.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate with interdisciplinary team members specializing in hardware, board design, and mechanical engineering to ensure full system readiness and capability.

Safety, Ethics, and Compliance

• Adhere strictly to all cleanroom and chemical safety protocols and standards.
• Ensure full safety compliance and proper chemical waste management practices during all experimental procedures.
• We hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards regarding our employees and customers and the ideal candidate would share these traits and thrive in this environment.
•  

🛠️ Qualifications

Required

• Currently enrolled in a PhD or Master's program in Physics, Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, or a closely related field, with expected graduation in Spring 2026.
• Strong theoretical foundation in semiconductor and solid-state physics.
• Commitment to adherence to cleanroom safety and chemical handling standards.
• Excellent documentation, analytical, and professional communication skills.
• Proficiency in PowerPoint and Excel for customer report generation.
• Be prepared to work full time after graduation in summer or fall of 2026.

Preferred

• Direct hands-on experience with semiconductor material characterization and metrology techniques.
• Familiarity with metrology operation or equivalent experience in a semiconductor R&D laboratory or production environment.
• Proficiency in data analysis tools (e.g., Python, MATLAB, or JMP) for technical data processing and reporting.
• Demonstrated interest in knowledge sharing, technical mentoring, and process improvement methodologies.

📈 What We Offer

• Impactful R&D Exposure: Direct access to advanced laboratory tools and cleanroom facilities, contributing to proprietary R&D projects.
• Technical Deep Dive: Intensive training in advanced wafer characterization, electrical metrology, data interpretation, and statistical defect analysis.
• Mentorship: Dedicated, one-on-one mentorship from a Senior Scientist, facilitating rapid professional growth and knowledge transfer.
• Career Path: Competitive internship compensation with the potential for a full-time employment offer upon graduation and successful completion of the internship.

💼 Job Details & Benefits

• Location: On-site role initially in Hayward, CA, transitioning to the new facility in San Jose within a few months.
• Schedule before Graduation: Flexible, 20hrs per week minimum 
• Schedule after Graduation: Full-time, Monday–Friday.
• Training:  Full training on our metrology systems from our lead scientist and others as well as further structured and unstructured training available
• Intern Salary Range: 
• Salary Range:  (commensurate with experience).
• Benefits Package after graduation Includes:
  • Health Coverage: Company covers 80% of family health care premiums.
  • Retirement: 401K plan with company match and profit-sharing eligibility.
  • Time Off: 15 days of Paid Time Off (PTO) to start.
  • Work Environment: Flexible work schedules and a collaborative team culture.

📜 Our Ethical Commitment

1. Transparency and Honesty

We commit to providing clear, accurate, and truthful information about the role, the company, and the hiring process.

• Accurate Role Representation: Every job posting accurately reflects the essential duties, required qualifications, reporting structure, and actual scope of the position. We will not use "bait-and-switch" tactics or advertise roles that are not genuinely open and actively being recruited for.
• Compensation Clarity: We strive to provide transparent information regarding compensation. Where legally required or feasible, the salary range or a statement on compensation philosophy will be included to allow candidates to make informed decisions.
• Process Disclosure: We will clearly communicate the stages of the hiring process (e.g., application, screening, interviews, assessments) and endeavor to provide timely updates regarding application status.

2. Fairness and Equal Opportunity

We are dedicated to providing a fair and equitable process for all candidates, free from bias and discrimination.

• Non-Discrimination: We adhere to all local, state, and federal Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) laws. We will not discriminate based on protected characteristics, including but not limited to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status.
• Job-Related Criteria: All qualifications and selection criteria outlined in the posting are objective and directly related to the successful performance of the job duties. We avoid subjective criteria that may introduce unconscious bias.
• Inclusivity: We actively work to promote diversity and encourage applications from all qualified individuals, recognizing that diverse perspectives strengthen our organization.

3. Respect for the Candidate

We recognize the effort and time candidates invest in our application process and commit to treating them with dignity and respect.

• Timely Communication: We will communicate decisions, feedback (where possible and appropriate), and process changes in a timely and professional manner.
• Confidentiality and Privacy: All candidate information, including personal data, resumes, and interview notes, will be treated with the utmost confidentiality and used solely for the purpose of recruitment and hiring, in compliance with all data protection regulations.
• Professional Conduct: Our recruiters and interviewers will conduct themselves with professionalism and courtesy in all interactions.

4. Accountability

We take full responsibility for upholding these ethical standards.

• Internal Oversight: We have internal policies and training to ensure our recruitment team understands and applies these ethical principles consistently.
• Commitment to the Offer: Any formal offer of employment will be made in good faith, detailing all promised terms and benefits. Should the need arise to modify or rescind an offer, we commit to communicating promptly, transparently, and professionally.

We believe that an ethical and transparent recruitment process is fundamental to building a strong, diverse, and high-performing team. We look forward to engaging with candidates who share these values.