Also called: Thin Film Process Engineer
Develops the ultra-pure materials and atom-thin layers that make computer chips work.
In a chip company's lab, you test new materials that could make transistors smaller and faster, using machines that deposit one layer of atoms at a time.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Doctorate (PhD), about 9 years after high school. PhD or master's in materials science, physics, or chemical engineering.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Materials Science & Engineering, Physics, Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering.
Growing faster than average (about 5% over 10 years). Chip-industry growth from new US fabs.
Medium risk for 10 years. AI helps screen materials, but chip demand is strong and atomic-layer experiments in the fab stay human.
Classes: AP Chemistry, AP Physics C, AP Calculus BC.
Official data: O*NET occupation 19-2032.
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