Staff MEMS Engineer

AEye builds software-defined LiDAR around a pair of MEMS scanning mirrors. The Staff MEMS Engineer is the technical authority for those mirrors: how they are designed, how they perform, and how they are manufactured and qualified for volume production through external foundries. The role works across AEye's systems, hardware, quality and operations teams and with our foundry and component partners and contributes to the long-term MEMS roadmap for the product line.

This is a hands-on individual contributor position with technical ownership. The engineer works with a small MEMS team on characterization, screening and integration, and represents AEye's technical position with suppliers.

Responsibilities

Own the MEMS mirror technical baseline: device design, process stack and material specification, performance model, and configuration control across suppliers.

Serve as the in-house expert on MEMS mirror physics: electrostatic actuation, piezoresistive position sensing, dynamics and high-voltage behavior.

Define acceptance criteria and test conditions for MEMS devices, aligned with system requirements and with suppliers.

Review and evaluate supplier process data, root cause analyses and design proposals, and provide technical direction.

Develop the MEMS supply and technology roadmap: design evolution, qualification of additional supply sources, and assessment of commercially available devices against system requirements.

Lead electrical and optical characterization in the laboratory and drive the development of automated screening and test.

Work with Systems Engineering on scan pattern, control loop and optical constraints related to the mirror.

Work with Quality on reliability and root cause analysis, and with Operations on the handoff of screened devices into scanner assembly.

Manage the technical interface with foundry partners: development plans, data exchange, technical reviews, and on-site engagement as needed.

Provide clear written status, analysis and recommendations to engineering management.

Required qualifications

MS or PhD in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, applied physics or a related discipline.

Eight or more years in MEMS device engineering, including direct experience with MEMS scanning mirrors or comparable electrostatic or piezoelectric actuators.

Deep understanding of MEMS device design, simulation and behavior, sufficient to evaluate designs and process changes and predict their effect on performance and reliability.

Experience bringing a MEMS device from design through an external foundry to production, including SOI-based process flows and wafer bonding.

Experience assessing design alternatives, second-source options or commercial components against system requirements.

Hands-on electrical and optical characterization of MEMS devices: actuation, position feedback, leakage and breakdown, optical angle measurement.

Experience defining acceptance criteria and test methods for externally supplied components.

Strong written and verbal communication, with the ability to document technical positions for management, suppliers and peers.

Preferred qualifications

Optical MEMS or LiDAR scanning experience.

Piezoresistive sensing and closed-loop control of MEMS devices.

Reliability qualification for automotive, aerospace or space applications.

Photonics background: lasers, free-space beam steering, Gaussian optics.

Experience managing the technical side of a foundry or supplier relationship.

Experience in a small, fast-moving engineering organization.

Working environment

Minimum of 3 days onsite at AEye's Pleasanton facility, with regular laboratory work.

Ability to lift up to 40lbs

Periodic travel to supplier and partner sites.

Base Salary Range $175,000-$200,000