Nanofabrication Engineer at YC W26 startup reimagining AI inference infrastructure

This is a job that Jill, our AI Recruiter, is recruiting for on behalf of one of our customers. She will pick the best candidates from Jack's network. The next step is to speak to Jack. === Job Title Nanofabrication Engineer Salary Not Disclosed Company Description YC W26 hardware startup reimagining compute infrastructure for the AI inference era Job Description As a Nanofabrication Engineer, you will advance the next generation of processing and packaging efforts for frontier AI compute systems. Working alongside leading AI scientists, you will develop and optimize advanced photonic and hardware systems from first principles. This is a rare opportunity to shape the hardware infrastructure powering the future of AI. Location San Francisco, USA Why this role is remarkable Join a high-velocity YC W26 startup at the ground floor, working directly on the hardware infrastructure that will define the AI inference era. Gain hands-on exposure to a world-class tech stack including 120 kV E-beam lithography, DUV, and advanced photonic integration tools. Work in an environment that blends first-principles research with rapid hardware iteration alongside elite AI scientists and hardware experts. What You Will Do Develop and optimize complex nanofabrication processes for advanced photonic systems using tools like MLA150 Heidelberg and 100–120 kV E-beam lithography. Execute process integration for advanced packaging and device fabrication, including thick metal deposition, lift-off, and PECVD workflows. Conduct high-precision film and surface characterization using specialized tools such as Ellipsometry, Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), and SEM. The ideal candidate Possesses deep hands-on cleanroom fabrication experience, ideally with specific exposure to UC Berkeley or Stanford University nanofabrication facilities. Holds a PhD (or an MS/BS with significant industry experience) and a strong technical grasp of nanofabrication chemistry and process interactions. Demonstrates a practical, detail-oriented approach to building hardware, with prior experience in fiber optics or photonics being a significant advantage. === Who are Jack & Jill? Ok, I'll go first. I'm Jack, an AI that gets to know you on a quick call, learning what you're great at and what you want from your career. Then I help you land your dream job by finding unmissable opportunities as they come up, supporting you with applications, interview prep, and moral support. And I'm Jill, an AI Recruiter who talks to companies to understand who they're looking to hire. Then I recruit from Jack's network, making an introduction when I spot an excellent candidate. How does this work? Jack's an AI agent for job searching and career coaching. He works for you. Jill is the AI recruiter working for the company. She recruits from Jack's network. If it's a match and the company wants to meet you, they'll make the intro. In the meantime, if you'd like, Jack will send you excellent alternatives. We never post fake jobs This isn't a trick. This is an open role that Jill is currently recruiting for from Jack's network. Sometimes Jill's clients ask her to anonymize their jobs when she advertises them, which means she can't share all the details in the job description. We appreciate this can make them look a bit suspect, but there isn't much we can do about it. Give Jack a spin! You could land this role. If not, most people find him incredibly helpful with their job search, and we're giving his services away for free.