Head of Epitaxy Program

Job Description

Job Description

Antora Energy delivers affordable, reliable energy to industry, data centers, and the grid. Our thermal batteries turn low-cost electricity into always-on heat and power, without supply-constrained critical minerals or multi-year construction timelines.

We are growing our company with people who put team and mission first, value connection through laughter and joy, and work with humility and openness. We are committed to building a diverse, passionate, and creative team dedicated to a future powered by abundant, clean, low-cost energy.

Antora is seeking a well-rounded, high-initiative leader with deep subject-area expertise in III-V MOCVD epitaxial growth on InP substrates to lead the thermophotovoltaic (TPV) epitaxy program end-to-end. The role involves designing epitaxy development campaigns and managing the external suppliers who execute them. This requires deep knowledge of epitaxy and materials, designs of experiment, characterization techniques, data analysis, and investigative skills. The role also requires exceptional soft skills to manage supplier relationships, provide clear instructions, negotiate timelines, pricing, and deliverables, and to work through technical and commercial issues with suppliers that arise in the course of the work. Lastly, this individual will drive the epitaxy development strategy to maximize learning speed while controlling cost. This includes driving the make-vs-buy decision on vertically integrating epitaxy R&D.

This is a unique role with the ability to shape the success of the entire TPV program, the technology at the heart of Antora's differentiating heat-to-power conversion approach. The role reports to Antora's Head of Heat-to-Power.

• Lead multijunction TPV epitaxy development. Drive the design and development of multijunction III-V TPV device epitaxy to meet electrical, optical, and cost targets. This especially includes tunnel junctions, quaternary absorbers, quantum wells, fast growth rates, etc.
• Own technical and commercial epitaxy supplier management. Design and communicate experimental epitaxy campaigns; establish consistent calibration routines and repeatable processes; maintain data-driven specifications; negotiate timelines and pricing with suppliers; submit RFQs and POs; and manage campaign learning cycles in coordination with the device fabrication team, including data analysis and coordination of supplementary characterization (SIMS, SEM, TEM, etc.).
• Drive the make-vs-buy decision for in-house epitaxy capability. Lead this decision to a leadership-ready recommendation. 
  • If "make," lead facility requirements and leasing, own reactor selection and acquisition, coordinate with facilities and supply chain teams on execution, lead technical staffing, and maintain CapEx/Opex models. 
  • If "buy," demonstrate the viability of scaling learning-cycle rate through external partners.
• Qualify new epitaxy suppliers. Identify, engage, and qualify new epitaxy suppliers to access new capabilities, reduce supply chain risk, and increase the pace of development.
• Manage the InP substrate supply chain. Own supplier relationships and negotiate specifications and pricing to ensure substrate supply does not bottleneck epitaxial development.

• Ph.D. or Master's in materials science, electrical engineering, applied physics, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• 8+ years of hands-on epitaxy (esp. MOCVD) experience with arsenide/phosphide III-V materials grown on InP substrates. Fluent in epi characterization and interpretation (e.g. XRD, PL, morphology analysis, ECV, SIMS).
• Demonstrated development of tunnel junctions in As/P material systems.
• Strong device physics knowledge, especially for III-V optoelectronic devices (e.g. photovoltaics, laser diodes, LEDs, detectors). Comfort with device physics modeling tools.
• Understanding of commercial MOCVD reactor platforms and how their features impact growth science and device outcomes. 
• Familiarity with the facilities and safety requirements of MOCVD installation and operation.
• Demonstrated ability to manage external contract manufacturers to deliver on quality, speed, and cost.
• Exceptional soft skills including emotional intelligence, strong and clear written and verbal communication, relationship building, negotiation and conflict management skills.
• Willingness to exercise initiative across a wide scope, tackle unfamiliar domains, find resources, and progress through uncertainty.

• Prior experience with establishing or expanding epitaxy facilities, including e.g. facility selection, reactor selection and installation, facilitization, and permitting.
• Experience building or managing epitaxy teams including e.g. scientists/engineers, technicians, EH&S, and maintenance staff.
• Experience with epitaxy equipment maintenance. 
• Technoeconomic modeling of epitaxy costs, capacity planning, etc.
• Experience negotiating long-term supply agreements in the compound semiconductor industry.

Work Location:  Onsite - San Jose, CA

Salary Range:  $261,000 USD - $315,000 USD

Salary Basis:  Annual

Please note that the salary range listed above reflects Antora Energy's estimated pay for this position. The actual salary offered will be within the posted range and determined based on several factors including but not limited to a candidate's experiences, credentials and expertise, as they pertain to the position's requirements.

In addition to a competitive base salary, Antora Energy's Total Rewards program includes equity compensation in the form of stock options, a premium health benefits package with life and disability insurance, a 401K plan with employer contributions, flexible spending accounts, and an industry leading paid-time-off policy that features flexible and inclusive holiday observance, as well as paid volunteer time off.

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