Careers

READY FOR SOMETHING NEW?

Starfire Industries hires energetic people from a variety of backgrounds with interest in nuclear engineering, plasma systems, electrical engineering, vacuum science, materials science, semiconductor fabrication, computer modeling, mechanical engineering and component fabrication.

As a small company, Starfire gives the opportunity to every team member to have an influence and work in a dynamic environment on a selection of projects in different stages of development.

Interested? Click here.

IMMEDIATE OPENINGS:

Electronics Assembly Technician
Starfire Industries has an immediate opening for a full-time Electronics Assembly Technician as part of our IMPULSE® pulsed power supply division. This person will work alongside existing technicians and engineers as production demand increases. The successful candidate will possess good communication skills, be detail oriented, enjoy working with their hands, be able to exercise their professional judgment, take pride in their work, and be willing to assist others as needed.
Starfire is a leading manufacturer of IMPULSE® pulsed power modules and RADION™ plasma sources for thin-film deposition systems, and nGen® portable neutron generators and Centurion® compact particle accelerators for industrial, medical, and diagnostic imaging. We are a fast-paced, small-company offering an opportunity to work with an incredible team, to contribute to multiple products in development & production, and to make an impact.
Job Description

Pull parts and deduct from inventory
Stage parts for batch production workflow
Document work performed per sub-assembly or finished product
Frequent use of small hand tools required for assembly, e.g., crimpers, screw drivers, soldering iron, etc.
Manufacturing of custom cables per either verbal or documented work instructions
Hand soldering of surface-mount and through-hole components onto printed circuit boards
Final assembly of boards, cables, etc., into chassis and prepare for testing
Assist with preparation and packaging of finished goods for shipment to customers, e.g., cleaning, boxing, labeling, etc.
Assist with receiving, unpacking, and preliminary assessment of any returned units
Assist with regular inventory inspections and updates to inventory system to help ensure no lapse of production necessary BOM (bill of materials) items
Frequent and upbeat communication with all members of the team, e.g., engineers, production techs, and management
Have a safety-first attitude while realizing the importance of getting the job done in a timely fashion
Assist in the creation and maintenance of work instructions, procedures, and other documentation
Assist with other production related activities as needed
Promotes safety, cleanliness, and organization in the workplace
Reports to the Director of Products and Operations

Required

Good written and verbal communication skills
Electronics soldering experience
Excellent attention to detail
Ability to distinguish color and occasionally lift/move up to 40 lbs.
Familiarity with Microsoft Office
Comfortable working in a low-volume and high-value manufacturing environment
Pass a comprehensive background check and drug screening

Desired

Fine pitch soldering experience
AS degree or higher in electronics field of study or related experience

Applicant must be a U.S. Person and eligible work on restricted U.S. Government projects or obtain security clearance. To apply visit starfireindustries.com/careers or email your resume to hr@starfireindustries.com.

Senior Applied Research Engineer or Scientist
Starfire Industries LLC has an immediate opening for a Senior PhD-level research engineer/scientist to lead critical applied R&D projects or systems development related to our advanced IMPULSE® next-generation HiPIMS thin-film deposition/etch hardware and advanced ICM and Radial Magnetron™ coating technologies, RADION™ microwave cold-plasma sources for PECVD, PEALD and etching, nGen® portable sealed neutron generators for downhole well logging, agricultural soil characterization, homeland security and industrial inspection, and Centurion® ultra-compact RFQ linear accelerators for proton cancer therapy, medical radioisotope production and advanced neutron imaging and materials analysis.
The successful candidate will demonstrate leadership of development teams for applied research or industrial product development, ability to work under pressure, effectively communicate results, meet deadlines and manage a diverse team across many disciplines and resource areas. Hands-on testing experience with microelectronics, power electronics, digital/analog communications plasma sources, materials testing, and data analysis & visualization. Experience with COMSOL, HFSS, CST Studio or other electromagnetic codes is a plus.
Starfire is a leading manufacturer of IMPULSE® pulsed power modules and RADION™ plasma sources for thin-film deposition systems, and nGen® portable neutron generators and Centurion® compact particle accelerators for industrial, medical and diagnostic imaging. We are a fast-paced, small-company atmosphere with an opportunity to work with an incredible team, contribute to multiple products in development/production and make an impact. Starfire is currently located in Champaign, IL on the Research Park at the University of Illinois in a 20,000 sq. ft. facility.
This position is eligible to earn an “on-the-job” Masters of Engineering (M.Eng.) Degree through a professional program between Starfire and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Plasma Engineering or Electrical Engineering. If eligible and meeting requirements, Starfire will reimburse tuition costs for the M.Eng. while working 75% full time over a two-year period. The M.Eng. capstone project will be directly relevant to work at Starfire. In certain circumstances there is the potential to directly pursue a Doctoral Degree through a thesis Master’s program—please inquire for additional details.
Job Description

Lead key R&D efforts to support product and system development in ultra-compact particle accelerator and pulsed power systems
Provide guidance and technical management to an applied engineering team across concurrent projects at different stages of development from early R&D through late-stage prototyping
Develop research strategies, actively engage in both the laboratory and prototype design and production environment, and support testing and data analysis
Support the management team with technical reporting, resource allocation and communicating with our customers, suppliers and development partners
Engage with customers and end-users to better understand their requirements to enable our products to be safer, more effective and add long-term value
Communicate effectively (oral, written, electronic) including technical mentorship
Bring positive energy and enthusiasm to every challenge and inspire people to excel and build trust in each other

Required

Electrical Engineering, Plasma Engineering, Material Science, or related field with education level commensurate with industrial work experience, e.g.:
- Ph.D. with 5+ year’s industrial work
- M.S. with 10+ years’ industrial work
- B.S. with 15+ year’s industrial work
Solid background in at least one of:
- RF/Microwave Electromagnetic Simulation, Antenna Design & Fabrication
- High-Voltage Electronics & Switched-Mode Power Supply Design
- Plasma Sources & Ion Beams, RF Accelerators
- Thin-Film Material Deposition/Etch and Micro/Nanomaterials Analysis
Proven ability to multitask (e.g. handle projects in both R&D prototyping environment and production facility)

Desired

Experience with DC/DC and AC/DC power electronics and circuit design at kV levels, IGBT power conversion techniques, drivers, PWM control and power circuit modeling
RF/microwave circuit and antenna design experience and/or 3D electromagnetic simulation experience using COMSOL, CST Studio or HFSS
Experience with high power tube amplifiers and pulsed RF/microwave circuits
MCAD design experience to compliment ECAD background
Prior design or testing experience to meet UL, CAS, SEMI, IEC or CE standards
Enjoy working in fast-paced “Agile Manufacturing” environment

Prepare, package, and ship final assemblies to customers after final test, e.g., cleaning, boxing, labeling, unit tracking, notifications to accounts receivable, etc.
Receiving, unpacking, and preliminary assessment of any returned units as part of the RMA (returned material authorization) process
Prepare unit job traveler paperwork for the purpose of WIP (work in progress) documentation and filing of hard copies after completion of work
Data entry for electronic record keeping and planning purposes, e.g., customer purchase orders, return material authorizations, etc.
Perform regular inventory inspections and updates to inventory system to help ensure no lapse of production necessary BOM (bill of materials) items
Perform purchasing of approved BOM items and production related materials. Final approval to purchase will be granted by manufacturing engineering followed by management
Communicate with vendors/suppliers for tracking of shipment delays, any non-conforming material, vendor returns, etc.
Responsible for the upkeep, organization, identification, and tracking of inventory, e.g., parts bins, stock locations, inventory software, wayfinding, etc.
Frequent and upbeat communication with all members of the Impulse team, e.g., engineers, production techs, and management
Have a safety-first attitude while realizing the importance of getting the job done in a timely fashion
Assist in the creation and maintenance of work instructions, procedures, and other documentation
Assist with other production related activities as needed
Promotes safety, cleanliness, and organization in the workplace
Tracking and presentation to management of assigned KPI metrics, e.g., production throughput, unit material/labor costs, department goals, etc.
Reports to the Director of Products and Operations

Required

Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Experienced with Microsoft Office, e.g., Outlook, Excel, Teams
Comfortable working in a low-volume and high-value manufacturing environment
Pass a comprehensive background check and drug screening

Desired

Management or supervisory experience
Manufacturing purchasing experience

Salary commensurate with experience. Immediate start date. To apply, send resume and cover letter to hr@starfireindustries.com. This position is restricted to U.S. Persons only.

Electrical Engineer - Switched-Mode Pulsed Power Microelectronics
Starfire Industries, LLC is adding to our technical team to support applied R&D and production activities. We seek a person with experience with high-voltage SiC power electronics, >kHz passive component selection, and circuit design using Altium/KiCAD to apply knowledge company-wide. Building on your base skill set in design, layout, fabrication, test and measurement, we will provide job-specific training unique to our products and technologies. You will enjoy “hands-on” work and being part of an applied engineering team.
This position is eligible to earn an “on-the-job” Masters of Engineering (M.Eng.) Degree through a professional program between Starfire and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Electrical Engineering. If eligible and meeting requirements, Starfire will reimburse tuition costs for the M.Eng. while working 75% full time over a two-year period. The M.Eng. capstone project will be directly relevant to work at Starfire.
Job Summary:
Responsible for component selection, circuit layout, assembly, testing, debugging, and validation for high-voltage switching subsystems working closely with R&D for system-level prototype integration. Primary role is supporting IMPULSE® product development and its associated systems. Support production teams as needed.
Primary Responsibilities:

Develop HV SiC power electronics subsystems from conceptual design through electronics test/debug into prototype and production assembly deliverables.
Support overall system design, simulation, and testing with the R&D team.
Communicate consistently and openly with engineers, technicians, and managers.

Required Qualifications:

Relevant Electrical Engineering or Microelectronics degree
Strong desire to learn and appreciates hands-on (re)work.
Proficient with high-voltage test equipment, electrical schematics, and mechanical drawings and use of Altium or KiCAD
Experience with high-power SiC electronics, LCR design, noise immunity and simulations through LT SPICE (or equivalent)
Ability to take initiative, assume responsibility and work independently.

Desired

Minimum 3+ years’ work experiences
CNC mill, PCB layout, proven ability to multitask (e.g., handle projects in both R&D prototyping environment and production facility)
Experience with >MW-class pulsed power and circuit design constraints.
Analog/digital communications and controls
High-voltage design experience (>2.5kVdc)

Salary commensurate with experience. Immediate start date. To apply, send resume and cover letter to hr@starfireindustries.com. This position is restricted to U.S. Persons only.

Electrical Engineer – Microwave/RF Power Electronics
Starfire Industries, LLC is adding to our technical team to support applied R&D and production activities. We seek a person with RF/microwave power electronics and electrical hardware systems experience eager to apply knowledge company-wide. Building on your base skill set with solid-state LDMOS/GaN or tube amplifiers and electronics aptitude building RF drivetrains, we will provide job-specific training unique to our products and technologies. You will enjoy “hands-on” work and being part of an applied science team.
This position is eligible to earn an “on-the-job” Masters of Engineering (M.Eng.) Degree through a professional program between Starfire and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Electrical Engineering. If eligible and meeting requirements, Starfire will reimburse tuition costs for the M.Eng. while working 75% full time over a two-year period. The M.Eng. capstone project will be directly relevant to work at Starfire.
Job Summary:
Responsible for component selection, circuit layout, assembly, testing, debugging, and validation for RF/MW subsystems working closely with R&D for system-level prototype integration. Primary role Centurion® and support for nGen® and RADION™ product lines. Support production teams as needed.
Primary Responsibilities:

Develop RF/MW power electronics subsystems from conceptual design through electronics test/debug into prototype and production assembly deliverables.
Support RF/MW electromagnetics design, simulation, and testing for R&D teams.
Communicate consistently and openly with engineers, technicians, and managers.

Required Qualifications:

Relevant Electrical Engineering or Microelectronics degree
Strong desire to learn and appreciates hands-on (re)work.
Proficient with RF/MW test equipment, electrical schematics, and mechanical drawings
Experience with solid-state and electron-tube power amplifiers and circuit design
Ability to take initiative, assume responsibility and work independently.

Desired

Minimum 3+ years’ work experiences
CNC mill, PCB layout, proven ability to multitask (e.g., handle projects in both R&D prototyping environment and production facility)
RF/microwave circuit, cavity and antenna design experience and/or 3D electromagnetic simulation experience using Sonnet, COMSOL, CST Microwave Studio or Ansys HFSS
Experience with high-power staged GaN or LDMOS solid-state, or high-power tube amplifiers
Analog/digital communications and controls
High-voltage design experience (>1kVdc)

Salary commensurate with experience. Immediate start date. To apply, send resume and cover letter to hr@starfireindustries.com. This position is restricted to U.S. Persons only.