---
title: 'Device Engineer at Vertical Semiconductor'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/device-engineer-vertical-semiconductor-somerville-wv821yqf9yb3'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-12'
---

# Device Engineer at Vertical Semiconductor

- **Company:** Vertical Semiconductor
- **Location:** Somerville
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** onsite
- **Posted:** 2026-07-20
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-12
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/verticalsemi/714a9cf1-0e47-4add-abab-98ac0b9630db

## Job description

Company Description Vertical Semiconductor, a venture-backed MIT spin-out, is leading the development of vertical gallium nitride (GaN) power electronics to build the foundational power layer for the next generation of compute and AI.

## Role Overview

Vertical Semi's engineering team works across the full lifecycle of our vertical GaN power devices, from architecture and process integration through modeling, characterization, and reliability. This posting is for engineers with a background in wide-bandgap (WBG) power semiconductors, including GaN, SiC, or related technologies, at any career stage. Where you spend most of your time will depend on your background and where the team needs help most. This could mean device modeling and simulation, on-wafer characterization, process integration, or failure analysis and reliability work. If you have hands-on experience with wide-bandgap power devices and want to build a new device technology from the ground up, we want to hear from you. Potential Responsibilities

- Support device architecture, process integration, and technology development for our vertical GaN power devices
- Run device modeling and simulation to inform design and process decisions
- Perform on-wafer and discrete device characterization, including DC, CV, and dynamic testing
- Support failure analysis and reliability investigations for wide-bandgap power devices
- Develop and review GDS layouts and test structures to support device learning and validation
- Collaborate with epitaxy, process, packaging, and reliability teams on cross-functional device work
- Build and run application evaluation boards to connect device behavior to system-level performance
- Keep clear records of experiments, test data, and process learnings

Required Qualifications

- B.S., M.S., or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Materials Science, or a related field
- Experience with GaN, SiC, or other wide-bandgap semiconductors, ideally in power device applications
- Hands-on experience in at least one of: device characterization, process integration, or device modeling and simulation
- Comfortable working with data analysis tools such as Python or MATLAB
- Strong communication skills and the ability to work across disciplines

Location, Schedule & Working Conditions Vertical Semiconductor's team is based on-site at our office at Greentown Labs in Somerville, MA. Values & Culture Fit Vertical Semiconductor is seeking an engineer who is not only capable of accelerating the technical vision of the company but is also willing to get involved in the day-to-day execution of a startup. The ideal candidate is someone who enjoys tackling complex engineering challenges, is comfortable with a hands-on approach in a collaborative arena, and thrives in a startup environment where they can make an immediate impact. We value integrity, initiative, problem-solving, creativity, and a passion for creating transformative technology that can change industries and improve the world. Title and Compensation We offer a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package with participation in our stock option program that is commensurate with candidates' experience and impact. Titles will also reflect candidates' experience.

## About Vertical Semiconductor

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Vertical Semiconductor is an MIT spin-out developing next-generation vertical gallium nitride (GaN) power semiconductors to serve as the foundational power layer for data centers, AI compute, and grid infrastructure.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Venture-backed; Seed stage)
- **Headquarters**: Somerville, Massachusetts, United States (also listed as Cambridge, MA)
- **Founded**: 2024
- **Founders**: Cynthia Liao (CEO & Co-founder), Dr. Joshua Perozek (CTO & Co-founder), Prof. Tomas Palacios (Advisor & Co-founder)

## Core Business
- **Primary Industry**: Semiconductor Manufacturing / Power Electronics
- **Target Customers**: B2B; Data center operators, grid infrastructure providers, and power system OEMs.
- **Mission/Purpose**: To build the foundational power layer for the next era of compute and AI by bringing the superiority of vertical GaN to a scalable manufacturing platform, enabling higher density and efficiency from 40 V to over 2 kV.

## Products & Services
- **Vertical GaN Power Transistors**: A family of high-voltage, high-density vertical gallium nitride (GaN) power devices designed for applications ranging from 40 V to 2.3 kV. These devices offer higher efficiency, higher switching frequency, increased power density, and lower total cost of ownership (TCO) compared to lateral GaN HEMTs and legacy silicon. The technology targets grid infrastructure and data center power systems, enabling a shift to more compact and reliable solid-state power converters.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not publicly available (private company).
- **Key Metric (Funding)**: Total funding of **$18.45 million** across two rounds (Seed as of Oct 2025: $11.0M; Venture round as of Mar 2025: $7.4M) [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/verticalsemiconductor).
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Not publicly named in available sources, but is a venture-backed MIT spin-out leveraging technology developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
- **Growth Signals**: The company is actively scaling, with 8 total employees and 3 active job postings (Principal Applications Engineer, Principal Semiconductor Device Engineer, Semiconductor Process Engineer) as of mid-2025. LinkedIn shows a substantial yearly follower growth of +494.6% [builtin.com](https://builtin.com/company/vertical-semiconductor). The company is commercializing a differentiated technology with applications in high-growth markets (AI data centers, renewable energy grid infrastructure).

## Competitive Advantages
- **Vertical GaN Architecture**: Unlike conventional lateral GaN HEMTs that struggle to scale past 700V, Vertical Semiconductor’s vertical design inherently supports higher voltages (up to 2.3 kV) and higher current, unlocking new applications in grid and high-power compute.
- **MIT-Born IP**: Founders and technology originate from MIT, with the CTO (Dr. Joshua Perozek) earning his Ph.D. there developing novel vertical GaN transistor technologies, and Prof. Tomas Palacios serving as an advisor [verticalsemi.com](https://verticalsemi.com/).
- **Scalable Manufacturing**: The company emphasizes a "breakthrough manufacturing approach" that brings vertical GaN to a scalable platform, ready to meet the demands of modern power systems.
- **System-Level Benefits**: Their devices promise a lower total cost of ownership (TCO) through reduced system complexity, smaller footprints, and cooler operation, directly addressing key pain points in data center and grid infrastructure.

## Strategic Focus
- **Commercialization**: The company is in a critical phase of transitioning from R&D to commercial product, hiring senior applications and device engineers to drive customer technical engagement and product definition.
- **Target Markets**: Focused on two primary verticals: **Data Centers** (power converters for AI and compute) and **Grid Infrastructure** (solid-state power systems for HVDC and renewable energy).
- **Product Scaling**: Developing a family of devices from 40 V to 2.3 kV to cover a broad range of power applications.

## Why Work Here
- **High-Impact Startup**: Join an early-stage, venture-backed MIT spin-out working on foundational technology for the next era of compute and energy. Employees have significant ownership and direct impact on the product and company trajectory.
- **Hands-On Technical Work**: Roles emphasize deep, practical skills—from cleanroom fabrication to bench characterization of fast-switching wide bandgap devices. The company values building deep technical expertise.
- **Culture**: Described as valuing innovation, collaboration, and impact. The team is small (6-8 people), offering a tight-knit, fast-paced environment.
- **Work Policy**: Hybrid workspace based in Somerville, MA. Employees engage in a combination of remote and on-site work, with some roles requiring on-site presence (especially fabrication roles) [builtin.com](https://builtin.com/company/vertical-semiconductor).
- **Growth Potential**: As the company scales, senior hires have the potential to evolve into team leadership roles. The company offers a chance to build a career in a cutting-edge semiconductor technology.

## Sources
1. [verticalsemi.com](https://verticalsemi.com/)
2. [verticalsemi.com/careers](https://verticalsemi.com/careers)
3. [builtin.com](https://builtin.com/company/vertical-semiconductor)
4. [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/verticalsemiconductor)
5. [jobs.ashbyhq.com](https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/verticalsemi)

## Other roles at Vertical Semiconductor

- [Fall Commercial and Strategy MBA Intern/Co-Op](https://feeny.ai/job/fall-commercial-and-strategy-mba-intern-co-op-vertical-semiconductor-somerville-0ggbnfd40b9y) — Somerville
- [Senior Characterization & Reliability Engineer for Power Semiconductors](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-characterization-reliability-engineer-for-power-semiconductors-vertical-w1m7t6pc0wty) — Somerville
- [Principal Applications Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/principal-applications-engineer-vertical-semiconductor-somerville-6wdc8d4d3n68) — Somerville
- [Principal Semiconductor Device Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/principal-semiconductor-device-engineer-vertical-semiconductor-somerville-6jkmbmhhxa8a) — Somerville