Semiconductor Deposition & Etch Team Lead

Darwin Recruitment; Ipswich; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Darwin Recruitment is seeking an experienced Deposition & Etch Team Leader to drive process development and ensure stable, high-quality semiconductor deposition and etch operations in a demanding cleanroom.

You will lead a multidisciplinary team of engineers and technicians, apply DoE/ SPC, and collaborate across manufacturing, process integration and quality to deliver yield improvements and technology advancement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s, Master’s or PhD in Materials Science, Physics, Semiconductor Technology, Engineering or a related discipline.
• At least 5 years of semiconductor process engineering experience in a high-specification cleanroom.
• At least 3 years of technical leadership or team mentoring experience, including KPI management and skills development.
• Strong knowledge of III-V semiconductor materials, particularly InP, GaAs and/or GaN.
• Hands-on experience with semiconductor etch and deposition processes, including RIE, ICP-RIE, PECVD and ALD.
• Experience using SEM and FIB-SEM for process characterisation and failure analysis.
• Proven track record in process development, optimisation, transfer and equipment qualification or commissioning.
• Knowledge of DoE, SPC, MSA/Gauge R&R and quality methodologies, including 8D, FMEA, QCP and OCAP.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor and develop a team of process engineers, technicians and cleanroom associates.
• Establish and monitor KPIs, project milestones and performance objectives.
• Manage technical training, skills development and team capability planning.
• Foster a collaborative, quality-focused and safety-conscious working environment.
• Oversee process development, optimisation and baseline stability for semiconductor deposition and etch modules.
• Direct process recipe development, troubleshooting and failure analysis.
• Work with technologies including RIE, ICP-RIE, PECVD and ALD.
• Support the installation, commissioning, qualification and integration of new equipment and process technologies.
• Develop and maintain process documentation, standard operating procedures and best practices.
• Collaborate with process integration, module engineering, manufacturing and quality teams.
• Align cell capabilities with production targets, customer requirements and technology roadmaps.
• Support the reliable transfer, scaling and standardisation of semiconductor processes.

Skills

Team leadership

Process engineering

DoE

SPC

RIE

ICP-RIE

PECVD

ALD

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s/Master’s/PhD in Materials Science, Physics, Semiconductor Technology or related

Tools

SEM

FIB-SEM

Job description

Darwin Recruitment is seeking an experienced Deposition & Etch Team Leader to drive process development and ensure stable, high-quality semiconductor deposition and etch operations in a demanding cleanroom.

You will lead a multidisciplinary team of engineers and technicians, apply DoE/ SPC, and collaborate across manufacturing, process integration and quality to deliver yield improvements and technology advancement.