Staff Materials Scientist – Thin Film Coatings

Company Overview

Vital Materials is a global technology organization with operations in over 20 countries, providing advanced materials, products, and solutions across markets including semiconductors, optics, consumer electronics, aerospace, automotive, and energy-related applications. The company is committed to enabling next-generation technologies through materials science, thin‑film innovation, and scalable manufacturing solutions.

Job Summary

The Staff Materials Scientist – Thin Film Coatings is a staff technical role responsible for the development, optimization, and characterization of advanced thin‑film coatings for functional applications, including optical, scratch‑resistant, magnetic, and semiconductor coatings. This position requires deep hands‑on experience with thin‑film deposition processes and materials characterization, as well as the ability to develop coating solutions from concept through pilot and manufacturing scale.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and development of advanced thin‑film coating solutions for optical, mechanical, magnetic, and electronic applications.
• Develop and optimize thin‑film materials and multilayer stacks.
• Perform hands‑on thin‑film deposition using PVD, PECVD, and related vacuum‑based methods.
• Design and execute thin‑film characterization and correlate structure with performance.
• Collaborate with equipment, process, and product teams. Provide inputs on equipment designs and process development. Coaching junior engineers.
• Troubleshoot coating issues such as adhesion, stress, and defectivity.
• Document coating architectures and process windows.

Qualifications

• Master degree or above in Materials Science, Physics, Chemistry, or related field; advanced degree preferred.
• Extensive hands‑on experience with thin‑film deposition and coating development.
• Deep understanding of optical, scratch‑resistant, magnetic, or semiconductor coatings.
• Strong experience with thin‑film characterization techniques.
• Ability to develop coating solutions meeting functional and reliability requirements.
• Excellent analytical and cross‑functional collaboration skills.