{"id":749961,"url":"https://alion.io/job/verticalsemi-principal-semiconductor-device-engineer","title":"Principal Semiconductor Device Engineer","company":{"id":686229,"name":"Vertical Semiconductor","domain":"verticalsemi.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/verticalsemi","size_band":"51-200","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Ashby","truth_index":{"grade":"B","score":75,"open_postings":3,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":1,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":null,"computed_at":"2026-10-15T05:46:00Z"}},"role":"Industrial Engineering","role_family":"Industrial Engineering","seniority":"lead","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Somerville, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":{"min_usd":113000,"max_usd":231000,"period":"year","method":"role_seniority_country_remote_cell","sample_n":1695},"experience_years_min":15,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":true,"technologies":[{"name":"MATLAB","optional":false},{"name":"Python","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2025-12-22T22:45:07Z","employer_posted_date":"2025-12-22","last_verified_at":"2026-10-15T23:25:10Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":297,"trust":{"level":"stale","repost_count":0,"flags":["stale"],"days_open":296},"description":"Company Description\nVertical Semiconductor, a venture-backed MIT spin-out, is leading the development of vertical gallium nitride (GaN) power electronics to build the foundational power layer for the next generation of compute and AI.\nRole Description\nVertical Semiconductor is seeking a Principal Semiconductor Device Engineer to serve as a senior technical contributor in the development and commercialization of our vertical GaN power device technology. This is a hands-on role is intended for an engineer with around 10-20 years of semiconductor R&D experience who can operate at the intersection of device physics, process integration, and manufacturability.\nIn this role, you will provide deep technical leadership across device architecture, process development, modeling, and characterization, while working closely with cross-functional partners in epitaxy, process engineering, packaging, reliability, and systems. You will play a critical role in defining device roadmaps, de-risking technology transitions, and guiding decisions that directly impact product performance and scalability.\nThis position offers the opportunity to help shape a world-changing power electronics platform at a pivotal stage, with direct influence on the company’s technical direction and long-term success. We prefer candidates who can work from our office at Greentown Labs (Somerville, MA).\nKey Responsibilities\nServe as a technical subject-matter expert for vertical GaN and wide-bandgap power devices across the full R&D lifecycle, from concept through early production readiness\n\nLead the definition and evolution of device architectures, performance targets, and design trade-offs for next-generation vertical GaN power devices\n\nDrive device modeling, simulation, and analytical understanding to guide design optimization, scaling strategies, and reliability improvements\n\nPlan and execute device development programs in shared fabs and external foundries, including technology transfer and process co-development\n\nPartner closely with internal and external teams on CMOS-compatible GaN process integration, yield learning, and manufacturability\n\nProvide technical leadership in failure analysis, reliability physics, and root-cause investigations for wide-bandgap power devices\n\nOversee and interpret on-wafer and discrete device characterization, including DC, CV, dynamic, and high-power testing\n\nDevelop and review GDS layouts, test structures, and evaluation vehicles to support device learning and validation\n\nSupport system-level understanding through application evaluation boards, measurements, and correlation to device behavior\n\nMentor junior engineers and influence technical best practices through informal technical leadership, design reviews, and knowledge sharing\n\nContribute to IP development, publications, and external technical engagements as appropriate\n\nQualifications\nPhD or equivalent industry experience in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Materials Science, or Device Engineering\n\nApproximately 15-25 years of professional R&D experience in semiconductor device development\n\nDeep expertise in GaN or other wide-bandgap semiconductors (e.g., SiC), with a strong preference for power device experience\n\nDemonstrated track record of technical impact and innovation in advanced device development programs\n\nRequired Technical Skills & Experience\nExtensive experience with power device design in GaN and/or SiC, including vertical device concepts\n\nIn-depth understanding of semiconductor manufacturing processes, integration challenges, and yield considerations\n\nProven experience working in shared fab and foundry environments, including external technology transfers\n\nStrong proficiency in TCAD simulation for device physics, scaling, and optimization\n\nAdvanced data analysis skills using Python, MATLAB, or equivalent tools\n\nHands-on experience with GDS layout and test structure design\n\nExpertise in wide-bandgap power device failure analysis and reliability physics\n\nExperience with on-wafer automated DC/CV/dynamic testing and discrete component characterization\n\nAbility to perform analytical calculations, simulations, design, build, and measure application evaluation boards as needed\n\nExcellent communication skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across disciplines and with external partners\n\nValues & Culture Fit\nVertical Semiconductor is seeking an engineer who is not only capable of accelerating the technical vision of the company but is also willing to get involved in the day-to-day execution of a startup. The ideal candidate is someone who enjoys tackling complex engineering challenges, is comfortable with a hands-on approach in a collaborative arena and thrives in a startup environment where they can make an immediate impact. We value integrity, initiative, problem-solving, creativity and a passion for creating transformative technology that can change industries and improve the world.\nCompensation\nWe offer a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package with participation in our stock option program that is commensurable with candidates’ experience and impact.","description_format":"text","description_chars":5129,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":15,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"phd","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":[],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Electrical & Electronic Engineering","Power Supplies & Power Electronics","Analog & Power Semiconductors"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-09-11T15:26:39Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":7,"band":"cold","label":"Long shot","p_open":1,"p_active":0.252,"p_room":0.28,"age_days":296,"expected_fill_days":30,"reasons":["conf:1","win:tail","crowd:"],"computed_at":"2026-10-15T05:46:00Z"},"pay":null,"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/verticalsemi-principal-semiconductor-device-engineer","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/verticalsemi-principal-semiconductor-device-engineer.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-16T01:31:43Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":2370,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-17T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":686229},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=686229"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fverticalsemi-principal-semiconductor-device-engineer"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fverticalsemi-principal-semiconductor-device-engineer"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fverticalsemi-principal-semiconductor-device-engineer"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/verticalsemi-principal-semiconductor-device-engineer\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fverticalsemi-principal-semiconductor-device-engineer"}]}