Senior Equipment Engineer

Plessey Semiconductors Ltd; Plymouth; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Plessey Semiconductors Ltd in Plymouth is seeking a Dayshift Equipment Engineer within the Epitaxy module. You will support stability and CI across engineering and manufacturing to enhance capability as a leading R&D organisation.

The role requires mechanical, electrical and electronic engineering skills, plus analytical and continuous improvement techniques to optimise tool performance and maximise tool availability.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years' experience in high-tech maintenance.
• Ability to read electrical drawings and circuit diagrams.
• HNC in Electrical, Electronic or Mechanical Engineering preferred.

Responsibilities

• Closely monitoring tool owner equipment performance against specified targets.
• Monitoring spend on their tool and keep to a minimum whilst maintaining required performance levels.
• Ensuring relevant maintenance documentation and spares are available to meet required Module performance.
• Operating a continuous improvement strategy to bring tools to the best possible condition.
• Liaising with tool vendor to stay up to date with and identify equipment enhancements which may improve process quality or equipment reliability.
• Ensuring that quality and safety standards and procedures are implemented on the defined equipment set.
• Providing technical support and training to module engineers on tool owner tools.
• Providing maintenance support to shift engineers when resource levels are low.
• Working closely with the process tool owner to ensure tool process performance remains as expected.
• Covering or assisting other dayshift tool owners when required which may include working on unfamiliar tools.

Skills

Reading schematics

Troubleshooting

Multi-discipline engineering

Education

HNC in Electrical or Electronic or Mechanical Engineering

Job description

We’re building the hardware foundation for next-era computing.

Plessey is a world-leading technology company driving the next generation of photonic devices and systems. With over 70 years of innovation, we combine research, materials science, process engineering, and manufacturing under one roof. We’re recognised as a global authority in microLED displays and optical interconnects.

Join us to work on breakthrough technologies shaping the future of light-based technology and computing

Location

Based in Plymouth

Our Values

Lead

We don’t follow industry trends; we create them, pushing boundaries and setting standards others aspire to. Every team member has the power to make decisions, drive change, and deliver excellence. We support each other, challenge one another for the best solutions, and lead by example. Together, we build industries and technologies that shape the future and scale toward our vision of the next era of computing.

Grow

We expand our capabilities every day — deepening our expertise, improving how we work, and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. Curiosity fuels us: we question assumptions, explore new ideas, and innovate with light-based technologies. By investing in and empowering our people, we strengthen Plessey’s impact and help shape the future of optical technology.

Trust

We operate like a family—honest, reliable, and supportive. We have each other’s backs, own our actions, and uphold the highest standards of integrity and safety. We trust each other to deliver, our customers to challenge us, and our expertise to guide the way. Together, trust enables the collaboration essential for breakthrough innovation and lasting impact.

About the Role

We are seeking a Dayshift Equipment Engineer within Equipment Engineering in our Epitaxy module. This is a key role reporting to the Module Manager and will involve working in close collaboration with both Engineering and Manufacturing personnel to support stability and CI to further enhance our capability as a leading R&D organisation.

The role responsibilities focus on ensuring optimum performance on a varied high-tech equipment toolset within the department. The position requires a multi discipline skilled Engineer with mechanical, electrical and electronic Engineering skills and requires the use of analytical and continuous improvement techniques to optimise equipment performance and maximise tool availability.

Key Responsibilities

• Closely monitoring tool owner equipment performance against specified targets, ensuring any issues are addressed in a timely manner.
• Monitoring spend on their tool and keep to a minimum whilst maintaining required performance levels.
• Ensuring relevant maintenance documentation and spares are available to meet required Module performance.
• Operating a continuous improvement strategy to bring tools to the best possible condition.
• Liaising with tool vendor to stay up to date with and identify equipment enhancements which may improve process quality or equipment reliability.
• Ensuring the tool performance meets the procurement specification level.
• Monitoring tools for part obsolescence issues and ensuring plans to cope with part failure exist.
• Participating in new tool selection, installation and implementation into the fab/process.
• Ensuring that quality and safety standards and procedures are implemented on the defined equipment set.
• Providing technical support and training to module engineers on tool owner tools.
• Providing maintenance support to shift engineers when resource levels are low.
• Working closely with the process tool owner to ensure tool process performance remains as expected.
• Covering or assisting other dayshift tool owners when required which may include working on unfamiliar tools.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• A minimum HNC in Electrical or Electronic or Mechanical Engineering is preferred or suitable experience.
• An understanding of all 3 disciplines (must be able to follow electrical drawings and circuit diagrams to facilitate tool trouble shooting).
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in high tech maintenance environment.

Advantage

• Semiconductor equipment engineering experience would be an advantage.
• MOCVD equipment tool ownership experience.