About Syenta Syenta is pioneering a new era in semiconductor manufacturing with our groundbreaking Localised Electrochemical Manufacturing (LEM) technology. Our platform enables advanced packaging by combining patterning and metallisation into a single tool. We achieve high-speed, high-resolution metallisation at lower costs and energy use, while minimizing emissions and waste.

Founded in Australia, we are building a world-class team of engineers and scientists tackling some of the toughest challenges in semiconductor manufacturing. Our collaborative, people-first culture empowers individuals to take ownership, innovate, and deliver breakthrough results.

About The Role We are seeking a Senior Plating Chemist to work on the development of Syenta’s core Localized Electrochemical Metallization (LEM) technology. This is a hands-on laboratory role focused on solving some of the most challenging electrochemical deposition problems in advanced manufacturing.

You will be working directly on Syenta’s prototype semiconductor manufacturing hardware, developing novel electroplating chemistries and processes, and driving deep technical understanding of deposition behaviour, metal quality, and defect mechanisms. This role sits at the heart of Syenta’s technology development and has a direct impact on performance, scalability, and differentiation.

In this role, you will provide senior technical input through hands-on work, supporting team members where needed and shaping electrochemistry development priorities through data-driven insight. Your experience will help identify technical risks, knowledge gaps, and opportunities for innovation within the LEM chemistry stack.

About You You have strong electrodeposition experience and a deep intuition for how chemistry, hardware, and process conditions interact. You learn quickly, think across domains, and are comfortable applying fundamental electrochemistry, materials science, and process knowledge to novel systems.

You are confident designing experiments, interpreting complex data, and forming clear, defensible conclusions. When results are unexpected, you are systematic in identifying root causes — whether they lie in chemistry, materials, hardware, or interfaces between them. You enjoy working hands-on in the lab and are comfortable spending most of your time running experiments, formulating electrolytes, and analysing data.

You value good documentation, clear communication, and rigorous experimental practice, and you are able to explain complex technical findings clearly to a multidisciplinary audience. You are collaborative by nature, comfortable working closely with engineers, technicians, and scientists, and you enjoy mentoring others through technical challenges without needing formal management responsibility.

Roles And Responsibilities Electrochemistry & Process Development

• Develop, formulate, and refine electroplating electrolytes for Syenta’s LEM process
• Design and evaluate novel additive systems (suppressors, accelerators, levellers, etc.)
• Define and optimise electrochemical deposition parameters
• Investigate and resolve plating defects such as voiding, roughness, non-uniformity, stress, adhesion issues, and reliability concerns

Experimental Design & Analysis

• Design structured experiments and DOEs to explore complex, multi-variable systems
• Analyse plating behaviour, metal microstructure, and film properties using appropriate analytical techniques
• Interpret electrochemical and materials data to build mechanistic understanding
• Present results, conclusions, and recommendations clearly to internal stakeholders

Collaboration & Documentation

• Work closely with hardware, microfabrication, and systems engineers to align chemistry with tool design
• Maintain high-quality experimental records, reports, and internal documentation
• Support internal knowledge transfer and development of best practices

Requirements Required

• PhD in Chemistry, Electrochemistry, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or a related field or equivalent senior industry experience
• Strong hands-on experience in electroplating or electrochemical deposition
• Demonstrated ability to solve complex chemistry and process problems
• Experience designing experiments and analysing multi-variable data sets
• Experience using or interpreting materials and process metrology data to assess deposited metal quality and defects
• Clear technical communication skills, both written and verbal

Desirable

• Semiconductor or advanced packaging electroplating experience
• Experience with copper or other metal deposition for fine-feature applications
• Familiarity with defect analysis, reliability considerations, and metal microstructure control
• Experience with semiconductor-relevant metrology techniques such as SEM, AFM, FIB, profilometry, and optical microscopy
• Experience working with prototype or R&D-grade manufacturing equipment
• Background in related industries such as PCB, MEMS, or surface finishing, with demonstrated ability to translate skills across domains

Why Choose Syenta? We’re passionate about building a diverse, people-first company. Our culture of collaboration and mutual respect fuels innovation capable of redefining an industry. At Syenta, you’ll have the opportunity to take ownership, lead high-impact teams, and shape the future of semiconductor manufacturing.

What We Offer Salary Range: $110-150k (negotiable)

• Early-stage equity opportunities
• 12% superannuation contributions
• Flexible leave policies and a strong work-life balance
• Professional growth in a high-impact, fast-growing deep-tech startup
• Team events and collaborative culture, including company-wide gatherings in Australia