Equipment Technician (Continental Shift)

Lumentum Operations LLC; Towcester; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Lumentum Operations LLC in Caswell, UK, seeks an Equipment Technician to support wafer fabrication and epitaxy equipment on a continental shift. You will diagnose faults, repair, and optimise complex electro‑mechanical systems with hazardous gases and chemicals in a cleanroom environment.

You will collaborate with process and maintenance teams, manage spares, and contribute to continuous improvements while training on SCBA and forklift operations.

Qualifications

• Apprenticeship, HNC, HND or Degree in an Electrical or Mechanical Engineering discipline (or equivalent).
• Alternatively, a minimum of 5 years’ directly relevant experience in complex electro‑mechanical system maintenance.
• Experience in high‑reliability environments preferred (aerospace, defence, automotive, pharma, oil & gas, power generation, UK Armed Forces).

Responsibilities

• Provide rapid first‑line engineering response to minimise tool downtime and production impact.
• Conduct repairs, fault diagnosis and preventative maintenance on semiconductor processing equipment including lithography, etch, PVD, PECVD and MOVPE reactor systems.
• Manage chemical and specialty gas supply systems in compliance with statutory, site safety and environmental standards.
• Support maintenance of gas delivery, exhaust and abatement systems associated with epitaxy and PECVD tools.
• Manage spare parts inventory to ensure availability of critical components and minimise downtime.
• Implement and support preventative maintenance strategies to maximise OEE and uptime.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives (Kaizen, 6S, 8D) and maintain accurate documentation of actions and outcomes.
• Participate in production and planning meetings to represent equipment engineering performance.
• Support the site emergency response function including participation in the Site Emergency Response Team.
• Fork‑lift truck operation will be required (training will be provided).

Skills

Fault-finding

Electro-mechanical

Hazardous gas handling

Documentation

Time management

MS Office

Safety in manufacturing

Reading technical docs

Education

Degree in Electrical/Mechanical Engineering

Apprenticeship/HNC/HND

5 years directly relevant experience

Tools

PROMIS MES

Gas and maintenance tooling

Job description

It's fun to work in a company where people truly BELIEVE in what they're doing! We're committed to bringing passion and customer focus to the business. If you like wild growth and working with happy, enthusiastic over-achievers, you'll enjoy your career with us!

Job Description: Equipment Technician Wafer Fab and Epitaxy (Continental Shift) Location: Caswell, Northamptonshire Reports to: Equipment Engineering Shift Manager

About Lumentum Lumentum (NASDAQ: LITE) is a global leader in innovative optical and photonic products enabling optical networking and commercial laser customers worldwide. Our technologies are integral to virtually every type of telecom, enterprise, and data centre network, and support advanced manufacturing and next generation sensing applications. Lumentum’s UK wafer fabrication facility in Caswell is a centre of excellence for high‑performance optoelectronic devices used in telecommunications and industrial systems.

Role Summary

As an Equipment Technician, you will provide technical support for the operation and maintenance of wafer fabrication and epitaxy equipment on a continental shift pattern. This role offers the opportunity to work on advanced III‑V semiconductor technologies within a highly specialised UK fabrication facility, supporting products deployed globally in next‑generation communications networks. Your primary focus will be the fault diagnosis, repair, and optimisation of advanced semiconductor process tools including vacuum, pneumatic, mechanical, electrical, and RF systems, as well as equipment handling hazardous process gases and chemicals. This is a hands‑on, high‑precision engineering role ideal for those with experience maintaining complex electro‑mechanical systems in critical environments including high‑tech manufacturing, aerospace, defence, or UK Armed Forces technical trades.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide rapid first‑line engineering response to minimise tool downtime and production impact.
• Conduct repairs, fault diagnosis and preventative maintenance on semiconductor processing equipment including, but not limited to lithography, etch, PVD, PECVD and MOVPE reactor systems.
• Manage chemical and specialty gas supply systems in compliance with statutory, site safety and environmental standards.
• Support maintenance of gas delivery, exhaust and abatement systems associated with epitaxy and PECVD tools.
• Manage spare parts inventory to ensure availability of critical components and minimise downtime.
• Implement and support preventative maintenance strategies to maximise OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness) and uptime.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives (Kaizen, 6S, 8D) and maintain accurate documentation of actions and outcomes.
• Participate in production and planning meetings to represent equipment engineering performance.
• Support the site emergency response function including participation in the Site Emergency Response Team.
• Fork‑lift truck operation will be required (training will be provided).

Key Relationships

• Process and Equipment Engineering Teams
• Facilities and Maintenance Teams
• Manufacturing Operations Team
• MES (PROMIS) and IT Teams

Qualifications

Apprenticeship, HNC, HND or Degree in an Electrical or Mechanical Engineering discipline (or equivalent). Alternatively, a minimum of 5 years’ directly relevant experience in complex electro‑mechanical system maintenance.

Preferred Backgrounds and Transferable Skills

We actively welcome applications from engineers with experience in high‑reliability environments such as aerospace, defence, automotive manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, oil & gas, power generation, or UK Armed Forces technical trades.

Direct semiconductor experience is advantageous but not essential.

Skills Essential:

• Proven experience in a high‑tech, precision‑engineering environment.
• Strong fault‑finding and diagnostic ability across electrical, electronic and mechanical systems.
• Ability to work safely with hazardous gases and chemicals.
• Ability to follow detailed documented procedures with minimal supervision.
• Competence in documenting procedures, risk assessments, and method statements.
• Effective time management and organisational skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
• Team‑oriented approach with excellent communication skills.
• Ability to read and interpret technical documentation and communicate effectively within a safety‑critical manufacturing environment.

Desirable:

• Previous experience within a semiconductor or cleanroom manufacturing environment.

Other Requirements

• 40.3 hours per week on a continental shift pattern (2 days, 2 nights, 4 off), 12‑hour shifts including weekends and bank holidays as part of the continental rotation.
• Work is performed within a cleanroom environment (cleanroom garments provided).
• Role requires use of Self‑Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA). Candidates must be able to meet the medical and respiratory protective equipment (RPE) face‑fit requirements associated with SCBA use in accordance with site safety standards.
• Must be eligible to work in the UK.
• The Caswell site is located in a rural setting in Northamptonshire.
• A full UK driving licence and access to own transport are essential.

Equal Opportunities

Lumentum is committed to equal opportunities and actively seeks applications from all sections of the community regardless of sex, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, dependents, age, religion, or belief. We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

Lumentum is illuminating the networks of tomorrow with advanced photonic technologies that enable AI, data centres, telecom, industrial, and sensing applications. As AI accelerates the global demand for bandwidth and energy efficiency, we deliver the building blocks that keep data moving reliably, efficiently, and at massive scale. Our optical products support AI and compute infrastructure, cloud and DCI environments, metro and long‑haul networks, while our lasers drive breakthroughs in precision manufacturing and sensing. For nearly five decades, Lumentum has been at the intersection of light and innovation. What began as a vision with JDS Uniphase to harness the power of photonics has evolved into a global force driving the communication infrastructure of tomorrow. At Lumentum, we’re building more than a business—we’re building a team of passionate innovators whose drive to collaborate, create, and connect the world fuels everything we do. We are part of the AI technology revolution and we are illuminating the path forward. Headquartered in San Jose, California, we operate worldwide through a network of R&D, manufacturing, and sales locations.