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Sr. Engineer, Mask, Terafab

Tesla · Austin, TXtoday

BS-level Process Engineering roles on Crosslinked list a median of $110k (505 that show pay). This posting does not list pay.

Develop and qualify photomask write, etch, resist, and pellicle processes for EUV/optical reticles at Tesla's Terafab.

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Worth knowing

Why it is interesting. Greenfield mask shop at Tesla's vertically integrated Terafab — own e-beam write, etch, and pellicle from the ground up.

Might not be for you. Requires 24/7 on-call rotations and 5+ years of photomask-specific experience — narrow senior specialty.

Mostly at the benchDeep specialist Senior hires only Realistic requirements

Adjacent materials roleOwn resist processing, etch, pellicle integration, and phase-shift mask fabrication for advanced node reticles

H-1B filings

Tesla filed 1,327 H-1B labor applications for scientist and engineer roles from Jan to Dec 2025.

Most common titles: Sr Manufacturing Engineer, Sr Process Engineer, Sr Mechanical Design Engineer. Median filed pay: $138K a year.

From U.S. Department of Labor disclosure data. A filing is a record of past hiring, not a promise about this role, so confirm sponsorship with the employer. Titles and filed pay ·Every employer's filings

Seniority
Senior
Work
On-site
Type
Full-time
Degree
BS
Experience
5+ yrs
Industry
Semiconductor
Role
Process Engineering
Materials
photoresist13 rolesphase-shift mask materialspellicle
Techniques

Role details

What to Expect

We are building Terafab, a vertically integrated semiconductor factory at an unprecedented scale. The facility houses logic, memory, packaging, test, and photomask production under one roof, optimized for rapid iteration and maximum compute density per square foot.

Terafab technology gets built, atom by atom, and mask engineering defines the foundation of every pattern we print. You will benefit from photomask experience: write, etch, inspect, repair, metrology, and pellicle. You also need enough fluency in optical proximity correction, inverse lithography, source-mask optimization, mask process correction, and mask rule checks to co-specify processes that computational lithography can actually use, including curvilinear patterns and full-chip ILT - and that we can inspect, repair, and match to the scanner. This is a hands-on process role while the mask shop is being stood up.

What You'll Do

  • Develop and qualify mask writing processes (e-beam and laser), including dose optimization, pattern fidelity, and critical dimension control for EUV and optical reticles
  • Own resist processing, etch, pellicle integration, and phase-shift mask fabrication for advanced node reticles
  • Establish mask inspection, defect disposition, and repair strategies using die-to-die, die-to-database, and actinic inspection methodologies
  • Drive registration and CD uniformity control to meet tightening lithography error budgets
  • Analyze processes from a first-principles, physics-based approach to understand and manipulate mechanisms, not just recipes
  • Lead root cause analysis, establish inline metrology and SPC control strategies, and drive systematic improvement in mask production
  • Support 24/7 manufacturing operations through rotations, on-call availability, and rapid response to critical production issues

What You'll Bring

  • Degree in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or related technical field, or equivalent experience
  • 5+ years of hands-on photomask process engineering experience in a mask shop or semiconductor fab, especially supporting advanced logic, memory, or foundry reticle production
  • Deep experience with mask writing, etch, inspection, repair, and process of record (POR) establishment for advanced node reticles
  • Proficiency with mask metrology tools, CD-SEM, registration metrology, defect inspection platforms, and pellicle qualification
  • Strong Design of Experiments skills and statistical analysis capability
  • Ability to work closely and proactively across mask, lithography, etch, thin films, integration, and equipment engineering teams

Tesla is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer committed to diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, gender identity or any other factor protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.

Tesla is also committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. Please let your recruiter know if you need an accommodation at any point during the interview process.

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Common questions

Does Tesla sponsor H-1B visas?

Tesla has filed H-1B petitions with the US Department of Labor in past years, but this specific posting does not explicitly mention sponsorship for the Sr. Engineer, Mask, Terafab role. Confirm with the employer before applying if visa support is required.

Where is the Sr. Engineer, Mask, Terafab role at Tesla based?

This role is based in Austin, TX.

What degree is required for the Sr. Engineer, Mask, Terafab role at Tesla?

This role requires a BS.

How many years of experience does this Sr. Engineer, Mask, Terafab role require?

The posting calls for at least 5 years of relevant experience.

What polymers or materials does this Sr. Engineer, Mask, Terafab role work with?

photoresist, phase-shift mask materials, pellicle.

What techniques or methods are required for this Sr. Engineer, Mask, Terafab role?

CD-SEM, registration metrology, defect inspection, actinic inspection, Design of Experiments.