Sustaining Engineer

National Research Council Canada / Conseil national de recherches Canada; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 84,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension plan

Health and dental coverage

Disability and life insurance

Office closure during holidays

Job summary

National Research Council Canada (NRC) in Ottawa seeks an early to mid‑career Sustaining Engineer to support night‑shift and weekend operations at the Canadian Photonics Fabrication Centre (CPFC).

You will sustain and optimize III‑V semiconductor fabrication processes within a production cleanroom, ensuring process stability, documentation integrity, and operational continuity. Collaboration with engineering and operations teams is essential.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience in semiconductor device fabrication within an industrial production cleanroom environment.
• Experience sustaining and optimizing III-V semiconductor fabrication processes, including troubleshooting, process stability, and yield improvement.
• Experience integrating multiple fabrication steps within a semiconductor device flow, with understanding of cross-process interactions and their impact on yield and performance.
• Experience using MES and DOE data to support process monitoring, variation control, and decision-making.
• Hands-on experience in dielectric deposition/etch, metallization, lithography (including E-beam) and metrology.

Responsibilities

• Sustain and optimize III-V semiconductor fabrication processes, ensuring stability and yield.
• Provide technical guidance and support to operators in a production cleanroom.
• Contribute to process robustness and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Adhere to cleanroom and health and safety standards.

Skills

Semiconductor fabrication

Production cleanroom

Troubleshooting

Data-driven methods

SPC/DoE/MES

Education

Bachelor's degree in Physical Sciences or related

Master’s or PhD asset

Tools

MES

DOE data analysis

Job description

Employment equity

Priority may be given to the following designated employment equity groups: women, Indigenous Peoples* (First Nations, Inuit and Métis), persons with disabilities and racialized persons*.

Employment Equity Act

• The Employment Equity Act , which is under review, uses the terminology Aboriginal peoples and visible minorities.

Candidates are asked to self-declare when applying to this hiring process.

City: Ottawa

Organizational Unit: Canadian Photonics Fabrication Centre

Classification: RCO

Tenure: Two (2) term positions - one (1) night shift and one (1) week-end shift

Duration: 1 year

Language Requirements: English

Work arrangements: Due to the nature of the work and operational requirements, this position will require full-time physical presence at the NRC work location identified.

The role

We are looking for an early to mid-career Sustaining Engineer Research Council Officers (RCO) to support the night-shift and weekend shift operations at the Canadian Photonics Fabrication Centre (CPFC). The Research Council Officer would be someone who shares our core values of Integrity, Excellence, Respect and Creativity.

The incumbent will sustain and optimize III‑V semiconductor fabrication processes within a production cleanroom environment, supporting client‑driven projects and ensuring process stability, documentation integrity, and operational continuity.

This role requires strong technical troubleshooting capability, collaboration with engineering and operations teams, and the ability to provide technical guidance and support to operators. The successful candidate will contribute to process robustness, continuous improvement initiatives, and adherence to cleanroom and occupational health and safety standards.

The Government of Canada has decided to undertake a spin‑off of the NRC's Canadian Photonics Fabrication Centre (CPFC) into a commercial entity with firmly Canadian foundations and with Canadian industrial development at its core.

For more information, visit Canadian Photonics Fabrication Centre.

Screening criteria

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Physical Sciences, Materials Science, Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Physics, or a related engineering or applied science discipline.

A PhD or Master’s degree in one of these disciplines may be considered an asset.

For information on certificates and diplomas issued abroad, please see Degree equivalency.

Experience

• Hands‑on experience in semiconductor device fabrication within an industrial production cleanroom environment.
• Experience sustaining and optimizing III‑V semiconductor fabrication processes, including troubleshooting, process stability, and yield improvement.
• Experience integrating multiple fabrication steps within a semiconductor device flow, with demonstrated understanding of cross‑process interactions and their impact on yield and performance.
• Experience using MES and DOE data to support process monitoring, variation control, and decision‑making.
• Hands‑on experience in at least one of the following core process areas is required:
• Dielectric deposition and etch (including III‑V etch);
• Metallization;
• Lithography (including E‑beam) and metrology.

Condition of employment

Reliability Status

For a Reliability Status, verification of background information over a period of 5 years is required.

Language requirements

English

Information on language requirements and self-assessment tests

Assessment criteria

Technical competencies

• Demonstrated hands‑on knowledge of on III‑V semiconductor fabrication processes (dielectric deposition/etch, metallization, and/or lithography/metrology).
• Demonstrated ability to sustain and optimize semiconductor fabrication processes, ensuring process stability, repeatability, and yield through effective execution and application of data‑driven methodologies such as SPC, DoE, and MES.
• Solid knowledge of troubleshooting methodologies, including investigation of process deviations or tool instability, root cause analysis, and implementation of corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
• Demonstrated knowledge of III‑V semiconductor process integration, including the impact of process variations on downstream steps, device performance, and yield.
• Solid knowledge of cleanroom safety practices, including safe handling of chemicals, compressed gases, and fabrication equipment, in accordance with established operational and health and safety procedures.

Behavioural competencies

• Research - Communication (Level 2)
• Research - Creative thinking (Level 2)
• Research - Partnering (Level 1)
• Research - Results orientation (Level 2)
• Research - Teamwork (Level 2)
• Research - Self-knowing and self-development (Level 2)

Competency Profile(s)

For this position, the NRC will evaluate candidates using the following competency profile: Research.

Compensation

The intent of this hiring action is to staff this position at the RCO-2/RCO-3 level, which is an early to mid‑career level position with a salary range of $83,985 to $139,608.

NOTE: Please note that the full RO/RCO salary scale has five levels. Salary determination will be based on a review of the candidate’s expertise, outcomes and impacts of their previous work experience relative to the requirements of the level. As such, the initial salary could be within another level of the RO/RCO salary scale (i.e. above or below the intended level for this position).

• NRC employees enjoy a wide‑range of competitive benefits including a robust pension plan, comprehensive health and dental coverage, disability and life insurance, office closure at the end of December, and additional supports to enhance your well‑being throughout your career and beyond.

Discover the possible

Anything is possible at the NRC, named in 2026 one of Canada’s Top Employers for Young People, Top Employer in the National Capital Region and Forbes Canada’s Best Employers!

As Canada’s largest research and innovation organization, our world‑renowned research pushes the boundaries of science and engineering to make the impossible, possible. Every day we explore new ideas through innovative research and help companies discover possibilities that impact Canada’s future and the world.

At the NRC, you’ll also discover new possibilities. Our supportive workplace fosters a culture of creativity, welcoming fresh perspectives and innovation at all levels. We value teamwork. You’ll collaborate across multiple fields and with the brightest minds to find creative solutions. Most importantly, you’ll discover what’s possible within you as you grow, make valuable contributions and progress in your professional journey. From ground‑breaking discoveries to a life‑changing career, discover your possible at the NRC.

Notes

• Relocation assistance will be determined in accordance with the NRC's directives.
• A pre‑qualified list may be established for similar positions for a one‑year period.
• Preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada. Please include citizenship information in your application.
• The incumbent must adhere to safe workplace practices at all times.
• We thank all those who apply, however only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

Closing Date: 12 November 2026 - 23:59 Eastern Time

Career tools and resources

• For more information on career tools and other resources, check out Career tools and resources.