Job Purpose

The Wet Etch Process Development Engineer is responsible to help support the development of manufacturable, repeatable, and high yielding processes for state-of-the-art highly specialized devices in the fields of Aerospace, Defense, Bioelectronics, and High-Speed Communications.

Essential Responsibilities

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential responsibilities.

• Develop Wet Etch and cleaning processes for various dielectric, metal and metal oxide/nitride films, as well as different III-V materials.  
• Sustain existing processes in the areas wet etching, resist stripping, and wafer cleaning. Familiar with toolsets from DNS, FSI, MEI, Semitool, SEZ, Vertex, and other wet benches.  
• Create, own, and manage process etch recipes and specifications.
• Develop suitable process control schemes leveraging visual inspections, automated defect inspections, and standard Wet Etch related metrology such as surface defects scans, or profilometry. Set up and own SPC charts.
• Develop and perform etches on manual wet benches tailored to specific product needs.
• Drive problem-solving within the area as relates to yield and/or quality issues.
• Monitor and improve defectivity.
• Support equipment availability improvements
• Guide, assist, and mentor process technicians and manufacturing technicians. 
• Define Out-of-Control Action Plans enabling the on-shift sustaining team to resolve issues.
• Provide effective pass-downs to support uninterrupted operation for Wet Etch activities.
• Partner with Integration Engineers, Customers, and Other Development Engineers to execute experiments, provide input on optimal recipes or toolsets, and adjust or optimize processes for Fab Operation.
• Partner with Product Engineering and Integration to help ensure effective new products and process introductions as well as consistent device performance and quality.
• Analyze metrology results and disposition lots based on data and pass/fail criteria.
• Report and summarize results from the metrology analysis and provide guidance to Integration Engineering Team and Process Development Engineering Team.
• Partner with equipment engineering, operations, and management to improve cycle time, tool availability, quality and product yields.
• Using Document Control, Process Work Instructions, and Manufacturing Execution Systems, preserve working knowledge of all codes and standards applicable to assigned production equipment.
• Assure that the manufactured products conform to specifications and application requirements.
• Partner with Senior Development Engineering team and Integration teams to resolve deviations or technical issues by establishing a list of hypotheses, defining the experiment to validate or invalidate hypothesis, identify root-causes, implement corrective actions, document improved process, and train operations.

Competencies

• Hands-on mindset
• Excellent Communication skills
• Collaboration
• Quick Learner
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Self-starter
• Prioritization
• Accountability
• Innovative

Supervisory Responsibilities

None 

Work Environment

80%+ of work is performed in the Fab, which a temperature-controlled cleanroom environment that requires the use of a full-body gown, over-boots, over-hood, safety glasses, and other PPE. The use of personal protective equipment to prevent exposure to hazardous materials can be expected. Frequent gowning and de-gowning is required. Frequent interruptions, static noise, and alarms (auditory and flashing lights) can be expected.

Physical Demands

• Frequently in a stationary position, often sitting and/or standing for prolonged periods (3 hours)
• Frequently viewing a computer monitor for prolonged periods (3 hours)
• Frequently walking around the Fab for prolonged periods (3 hours)
• Occasionally required to push and/or pull 50+ lbs objects, such as tool components
• Occasionally required to lift 50+ lbs and occasionally carry that amount short distances (# ft)
• Occasionally required reach, bend, twist, squat, kneel, and stoop to access and work on tools in the Fab
• May often require repetitive motions involving the wrists, hands, and/or fingers
• May require different positions and motions in tight and confined spaces
• Occasionally required to handle items using small ranges of motion (e.g. fingers and hands) and large ranges of motion (e.g., full-arms and shoulders) for carrying cassettes and lot boxes
• Constantly required to wear PPE 

Required Education and Experience

• BS, MS, PhD in Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, or other technical discipline
• 5 - 10+ years of experience in processes
• Previous fab experience as process sustaining or process development engineer.
• Ability to operate processing tools, write and run Etch process recipes, perform, and interpret basic characterization related to Wet Etch processing with particles/defects metrology, sheet resistance, and thickness/uniformity metrology, and inspect wafers under the microscope.
• Experience with Statistical Process Control (SPC)
• Data extraction, analysis, and reporting experience
• Ability to plan and prioritize activities, perform and monitor multiple overlapping tasks/operations to meet goals and timelines.

Travel Requirements

Less than 25% anticipated