Quantum Systems Accelerator Project Scientist

LBL • $117K — $142K *
San Francisco, CA 94112In-Person
Technical Services
Less than 5 years of experience
Today
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Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Ph.D. in physics, chemistry, materials science, or a related discipline; equivalent work experience also considered.
  • Experience with cleanroom fabrication including nanolithography and various deposition techniques such as e-beam evaporation and sputtering.
  • Demonstrated ability in fabricating superconducting devices like qubits or SQUIDS.
  • Proficient in analyzing material structure through X-ray and TEM techniques.
  • Strong communication skills and a collaborative mindset across diverse research teams.
  • Commitment to safety and creating a culture of safety in laboratory environments.
  • Onsite work expectation of 4+ days per week.

Responsibilities

  • Combine data from material characterization and device performance to identify key properties and processes.
  • Develop Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) and Atomic Layer Etching (ALE) recipes for enhancing material interfaces.
  • Collaborate with Foundry scientists and contribute to wider research efforts beyond individual projects.
  • Prepare research findings for publication and present at scientific events.
  • Foster a safe working environment and promote health, safety, and environmental protection practices.
  • Mentor students in experimental design and best practices in nanofabrication.
  • Provide technical direction to students and collaborators.

Benefits

  • Collaborative research environment with access to cutting-edge facilities.
  • Opportunities for academic publishing and presenting at conferences.
  • Support for graduate and undergraduate mentorship.
  • Focus on safety and environmental protection in research practices.
  • Potential for career advancement in a prestigious scientific community.
Full Job Description
The Molecular Foundry Division at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) seeks a Quantum Systems AcceleratorProject Scientist to advance the materials and fabrication science behind higher-performing superconducting qubits. Working at the intersection of superconducting materials, quantum-device fabrication, interface engineering, and advanced materials characterization, you will develop and study thin-film processes using the Molecular Foundry's QIS cluster tool, with particular emphasis on Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) and Atomic Layer Etching (ALE). You will investigate how material composition, purity, interfaces, and fabrication conditions influence superconducting-device performance, turning those insights into improved processes, publishable research, and collaborative advances for the Quantum Systems Accelerator and Molecular Foundry scientific community.

You will:
  • Combine the in-process data, room temperature materials characterization, and low temperature material and device performance into fundamental datasets characterizing the key materials properties and process parameters that lead to highly performant superconducting materials and device designs.
  • Develop ALD and ALE recipes for material interface improvement on the QIS cluster tool at the Molecular Foundry.
  • Collaborate with other Foundry scientific staff members to provide scientific support for users and create and participate in collaborative research efforts beyond the single laboratory effort.
  • Prepare scientific data for publication in refereed journals; and present findings at seminars and conferences.
  • Maintain a safe working environment and demonstrate respect for environmental protection, health and safety, and help instill those aspects in all staff and users of the Nanofabrication Facility.
  • Provide technical direction to graduate students and undergraduate students as appropriate.
  • Mentor students and collaborators in rigorous experimental design, reproducible nanofabrication practices, and safe use of laboratory and cleanroom equipment.


We are looking for:
  • Ph.D. in physics, chemistry, materials science and engineering, or another discipline relevant to nanofabrication, nanotechnology and nanoscience, or equivalent work experience in any of or a combination of these disciplines.
  • Fabrication and cleanroom experience, nanolithography, photolithography, plasma etching, physical deposition, sputtering with a specific focus on e-beam evaporation, magnetron sputtering, plasma etching, ALD, and ALE.
  • Experience fabricating at least one of the many types of superconducting devices, e.g. qubits, SQUIDS, superconducting resonators, Josephson junctions, kinetic inductors.
  • Experience interpreting X-ray and TEM characterization of material structure and composition.
  • Good oral and written communications skills, open-mindedness, and the desire to collaborate with multiple research groups across disciplines.
  • Strong understanding of and commitment to safety protocols and a positive safety culture within a laboratory setting.
  • The candidate is expected to work onsite 4+ days per week, with exceptions for conference travel or travel for measurements at other institutions.


Desired skills/knowledge:
  • Experience with atomic layer deposition.
  • Ability to interact with a wide and diverse range of scientists from all over the world.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills.
  • Demonstrated leadership in safety culture.
  • Demonstrated experience investigating relationships among thin-film microstructure, interfaces, fabrication conditions, and superconducting-device performance.
  • Experience developing, optimizing, or transferring thin-film deposition, etching, or surface-treatment processes in a research or advanced-development environment.
  • Experience with cryogenic electrical characterization of superconducting devices is desirable.
  • Demonstrated ability to design controlled experiments and analyze multivariable process-structure-property relationships.
  • Experience operating in a collaborative user facility, multi-investigator research program, or similarly shared scientific environment is desirable.


Additional information:
  • Application date: Priority consideration will be given to candidates who apply by October 01, 2026. Applications will be accepted until the job posting is removed.
  • Appointment type: This is a full-time 4-year, term appointment that may be renewed to a maximum of five years.
  • Salary range: This position is represented by a union for collective bargaining purposes. The expected salary for this position is $117,300 - $142,800, which fits into the full salary of $101,400 - $231,000 depending upon the candidate's skills, knowledge, and abilities. This includes education, certifications, and years of experience.
  • Background check: This position is subject to a background check. Any convictions will be evaluated to determine if they directly relate to the responsibilities and requirements of the position. Having a conviction history will not automatically disqualify an applicant from being considered for employment.
  • Work modality: Work will be primarily performed at:Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA. A REAL ID or other acceptable form of identification is required to access Berkeley Lab sites (for more information click here).


Want to learn more about working at Berkeley Lab? Please visit: careers.lbl.gov

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