Job Title: Senior Research Scientist
Oak Ridge, TN, US, 37831
The Senior Research Scientist leads research and development activities related to semiconductor radiation detector technology used in ORTEC gamma-ray spectroscopy and radiation measurement products. This role is responsible for advancing detector performance, semiconductor fabrication processes, and future technology capabilities while working closely with engineering, manufacturing, quality, customers, suppliers, universities, and national laboratories.
Key Responsibilities
Technical Leadership & Research:
- Lead experimental programs focused on detector materials evaluation, device optimization, fabrication process improvement, and advanced detector concepts.
- Develop and improve semiconductor fabrication methods, including: ion implantation, diffusion, wet chemical processing, etching, surface preparation, metallization, contact formation, passivation
- Evaluate emerging detector materials, architectures, external research opportunities, and strategic partnerships that support ORTEC product strategy.
- Represent ORTEC in technical reviews, scientific conferences, customer discussions, internal leadership reviews, and technology roadmap planning.
Process Development & Manufacturing Support:
- Partner with manufacturing teams to improve detector yield, repeatability, reliability, throughput, process control, and final performance testing.
- Collaborate with electronics, mechanical, cryogenic, software, systems, manufacturing, and quality teams to optimize complete detector systems.
- Balance scientific innovation with manufacturability, quality, reliability, schedule, cost, and customer application requirements.
Scientific Analysis & Continuous Improvement:
- Apply strong experimental design, data analysis, root-cause investigation, and evidence-based decision-making practices.
- Maintain disciplined documentation, intellectual property protection, safety, quality, and continuous improvement standards.
- Manage multiple research, process development, and product-support priorities simultaneously.
AI and Technology Enablement:
- Demonstrate the ability and willingness to use AI tools to improve productivity, decision-making, work quality, and cost efficiency.
- Identify appropriate AI use cases and critically evaluate AI-generated outputs.
Requirements
Education & Experience:
- PhD required in Physics, Chemistry, Materials Science, Applied Physics, Electrical Engineering, or a closely related scientific discipline.
- Minimum 8 years of relevant experience in:
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- Semiconductor detector development
- Semiconductor fabrication
- Detector materials research
- Radiation detection technology
- Advanced semiconductor process development
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- Demonstrated experience with semiconductor fabrication and process techniques, including ion implantation, diffusion, wet chemical processing, etching, surface preparation, passivation, metallization, and contact formation.
- Record of technical accomplishment through commercial product impact, patents, publications, conference presentations, funded research, or recognized scientific contributions preferred.
Technical Qualifications:
Detector Physics & Radiation Detection Expertise
- Deep understanding of:
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- Semiconductor physics
- HPGe and other semiconductor detector technologies
- Gamma-ray interactions
- Charge transport and trapping
- Leakage mechanisms
- Charge collection
- Cryogenic operation
- Detector performance characterization
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- Experience working with detector performance metrics, including: energy resolution, efficiency, capacitance, noise, long-term stability
Technical Leadership & Collaboration:
- Strong communication and technical leadership skills with the ability to influence across R&D, manufacturing, quality, product management, sales, customer organizations, and external research partners.
- Ability to mentor scientists, engineers, and technical staff in detector physics, semiconductor process development, experimental methods, and performance analysis.
- Strong scientific judgment, technical curiosity, ownership mentality, and commitment to high-quality technical execution.
Preferred Experience:
- Direct HPGe detector development.
- Gamma-ray spectroscopy instrumentation.
- Crystal growth or impurity control.
- Detector modeling.
- Regulated product development environments.
- Collaboration with national laboratories, universities, or government agencies.
Working Environment
- Work closely with engineering, manufacturing, quality, product management, customers, suppliers, universities, and national laboratories.
- Represent ORTEC externally through customer engagements, research collaborations, technical reviews, and scientific conferences.
- Willingness to travel domestically and internationally as required for customer, supplier, research, and conference activities.
About the Business Unit
Headquartered in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, ORTEC is part of Advanced Measurement Technology (AMT) within the Materials Analysis Division of AMETEK, Inc. ORTEC is a global leader in the design and manufacture of precision radiation detectors, nuclear instrumentation, analysis software, and integrated measurement systems. Founded in 1960 by scientists from Oak Ridge National Laboratory, ORTEC has built a long-standing reputation for technical excellence, reliability, and innovation in nuclear measurement solutions.
ORTEC’s product portfolio includes high purity germanium (HPGe) radiation detectors, scintillation detectors, digital spectrometers, analysis software, and turnkey spectroscopy systems used across homeland security, nuclear safeguards, health physics, waste assay, radiopharmaceuticals, and scientific research applications. ORTEC solutions are trusted by government agencies, nuclear facilities, research laboratories, universities, and industrial customers worldwide.
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Nearest Major Market: Knoxville