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Senior Simulation Engineer - Plasma Specialist

New York, United States

About us

PhysicsX is a deep-tech company with roots in numerical physics and Formula One, dedicated to accelerating hardware innovation at the speed of software.
We are building an AI-driven simulation software stack for engineering and manufacturing across advanced industries. By enabling high-fidelity, multi-physics simulation through AI inference across the entire engineering lifecycle, PhysicsX unlocks new levels of optimization and automation in design, manufacturing, and operations — empowering engineers to push the boundaries of possibility. Our customers include leading innovators in Aerospace & Defense, Materials, Energy, Semiconductors, and Automotive.

Who We’re Looking For

As a Senior Simulation Engineer – Plasma Specialist (Delivery), you are a problem solver passionate about creating practical solutions that help customers make better engineering decisions. You bring deep expertise in plasma physics and excel at working directly with customers, often on-site to build high-fidelity computational models integrated into AI tools that are both useful and used.

We are seeking a skilled Senior Simulation Engineer with expertise in plasma physics applied to semiconductor manufacturing, including plasma etching, deposition, and surface processing. We are particularly interested in candidates with a strong background in computational plasma modeling, covering areas such as plasma chemistry, sheath dynamics, ion energy distribution, and plasma-surface interactions. Awareness of machine learning in physics-based simulation workflows is a plus.

You are independent, adaptable, and experienced, able to engage rapidly with semiconductor customer teams and tackle highly niche engineering challenges without needing to learn the industry from scratch. Strong communication skills are critical, as you'll work closely with clients to define challenges, present results clearly, and co-develop solutions.

 

This Role

In this role, you will work closely with our Data Scientists, Machine Learning Engineers, and customers to understand and define the plasma-related engineering challenges we are solving.

You will play a crucial role in delivering high-fidelity simulations by:

  • Strong expertise in computational plasma modeling for semiconductor applications, with a clear understanding of the fundamental physical and chemical processes involved in plasma etching, CVD/ALD deposition, and ion-driven surface processes.
  • Proven experience with plasma simulation tools relevant to semiconductor manufacturing (e.g., COMSOL Multiphysics, CFD-ACE+, HPEM, VizGlow, or equivalent), and the ability to identify and apply the right approach for each problem.
  • Ability to bridge the gap between computational and experimental plasma work, choosing the right level of fidelity for engineering decision-making — with a strong lean toward the computational side.
  • Practical experience in model validation against experimental or industrial data, and the ability to correlate simulations with real-world semiconductor process outcomes.
  • Interest in and awareness of the use of machine learning in plasma and semiconductor simulation, and ideally experience integrating ML into simulation workflows.
  • Independence and adaptability — you can rapidly scope a new problem, design and execute a modeling strategy, and deliver results with minimal oversight.
  • Strong problem-solving mindset, capable of tackling open-ended, highly specialized questions and proposing physics-grounded solutions under real engineering constraints.
  • Excellent collaboration and communication skills, with proven experience working directly with industrial or semiconductor customers to define problems, present results, and recommend actionable next steps.
  • 3–5 years of industry or applied research experience (post-PhD), ideally within or directly supporting the semiconductor manufacturing industry.
  • Proficiency in Python (or similar) for workflow automation, data handling, and integration with simulation tools.
  • Combining project leadership with a strong commitment to mentoring junior colleagues, contributing to a culture of collaboration, growth, and shared success.
  • Traveling globally (North America, Europe, Asia, Oceania), on average 3-4 weeks per quarter, to work side-by-side with customers in building solutions on-site.
As the role evolves, there are opportunities for growth as an individual contributor or technical lead, especially if you want to own increasingly complex semiconductor plasma projects and help guide the direction of future solutions. Please note, this role is based in New York, working 2–3 days per week in our Manhattan office.
 

Our delivery teams drive innovation to turn AI models into practical solutions - read our blog to learn more about how you'll contribute to this exciting journey!

 

What We Offer

  • Equity options – share in our success and growth.
  • 5% 401(k) contribution – invest in your future.
  • Flexible working – balance your work and life in a way that works for you.
  • Hybrid setup – enjoy our Manhattan office while keeping remote flexibility.
  • Enhanced parental leave – support for life’s biggest milestones.
  • Private healthcare – comprehensive coverage for you and your family.
  • Personal development – access learning and training to help you grow.
  • Work from anywhere – extend your remote setup to enjoy the sun or reconnect with loved ones.

Salary: $120,000 - $240,000

 
 
We value diversity and are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of sex, race, religion, ethnicity, nationality, disability, age, sexual orientation or gender identity. We strongly encourage individuals from groups traditionally underrepresented in tech to apply. To help make a change, we sponsor bright women from disadvantaged backgrounds through their university degrees in science and mathematics. 
 
We collect diversity and inclusion data solely for the purpose of monitoring the effectiveness of our equal opportunities policies and ensuring compliance with UK employment and equality legislation. This information is confidential, used only in aggregate form, and will not influence the outcome of your application. 
 

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