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Senior Process Development / Manufacturing Engineer

ElveDavis, CAL5 SeniorApril 12th, 2026
Who is Elve?Elve, Inc is a deep-tech startup in Davis, CA, specializing in the design and manufacturing of high-efficiency lightweight millimeter-wave and near-THz RF power amplifiers. Our groundbreaking technology enables 100x faster wireless internet access in urban settings and remote locations, revolutionizing the future of wireless connectivity well beyond 5G. We are looking for process development engineers to join our team and contribute to the advancement of our technology. If you are passionate about RF electronics, microfabrication, precision assembly, and working on cutting-edge technology, then we want to hear from you!Job DescriptionA process development engineer at Elve will be responsible for developing and optimizing manufacturing processes. You will work closely with the design and production teams to streamline workflows, improve yields, and reduce lead times. Your responsibilities will include designing and conducting experiments, analyzing data, performing failure analysis, designing and implementing tooling, and reviewing and recommending equipment and services. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure successful transfer of new products and processes into production. In addition, you will also support process validation, troubleshooting, and training activities. This is a full-time salaried position that offers exciting opportunities for growth and learning.Work Environment5 days per week onsite in Davis, CA. Work environment may include the following:Manufacturing facilityISO 5 - ISO 7 CleanroomLaboratoryOfficeRequirementsMust have:Bachelor's degree in mechanical, materials, chemistry, or manufacturing engineering, or relevant experience10+ years of work experience in a commercial environmentFamiliarity with a range of manufacturing processes (how stuff is made)Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including experience with SPC, data analysis, design of experiments/Taguchi, 6 sigma, etc. for characterizing and optimizing manufacturing processesBasic hands-on tools experienceHands-on experience with precision assembly and materials processing/fabrication within a discrete electromechanical hardware manufacturing environmentImpeccable communication and eagerness to collaborateSelf-motivation and deep curiosityTo conform to U.S. Government technology export regulations, including Export Administration Regulations (EAR), to work in this role you must be one of the following: a U.S. citizen, a lawful permanent resident of the U.S., a protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about export control hereGood to have:Experience with one or more of the following: RF electronicsRobotics / process automationCoding for statistics and data analysis (python, R, etc)Manufacturing process validation and qualificationMaterials manufacturing techniques such as additive manufacturing, brazing, vacuum processing, heat treating, thin film deposition, semiconductor processing, etcWorking in a cleanroom environmentManufacturing standards and quality management systems (ISO e.g.)Failure analysis, cross-sectioning, and metallographyUltra-high vacuum systemsHard tech startup companyBenefitsBenefits Include:The salary range for this position is $85,000 to $200,000 annuallyCompetitive salaryHealth benefits (medical, dental, vision)Vacation timeA taste of the start-up lifeExposure to cutting-edge technology in vacuum electronics, materials science, and additive manufacturing. What It's Like To Work At ElveWe are a small team (for now!) on a mission to bring the next generation of high-speed wireless connectivity to a billion people worldwide. That kind of impact is not going to be achieved with incremental improvements- we are gunning for orders of magnitude advances in production capability, cost, size, and power in the mm-wave RF amplifier market. We ask "dumb" questions all the time because we always have something to learn. We work really hard, make sure to get good sleep, handle conflict intentionally, and expect great things from each other.