MEMS Lithography Technician

Tyndall National Institute; Coolmore Cross; On-site; EUR 50,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Access to UCC pension

Long-term illness benefit

Life assurance

Generous leave

Job summary

The Lithography Technician role at Tyndall National Institute involves working in the Silicon MEMS cleanroom to perform lithography operations and support the process engineering team. The position is a short-term cover, up to six months, contributing to established recipes and maintaining quality in a research-grade semiconductor environment.

The successful candidate will handle resist coating, exposure, development, and metrology, while collaborating with engineers to ensure timely wafer

Qualifications

• Third-level qualification in science or engineering or equivalent lab experience.
• Hands-on wafer processing experience in a controlled lab/manufacturing environment.
• Experience operating lithography equipment and following SOPs accurately.

Responsibilities

• Perform day-to-day lithography operations including resist coating, soft bake, exposure, development.
• Operate and monitor lithography equipment to ensure processes are completed accurately and on time.
• Support surrounding process steps as needed to keep wafers moving through the lithography flow.
• Follow SOPs precisely and report deviations to the process engineer.
• Maintain records of wafer lots including logs and recipe versions.
• Carry out in-process metrology and inspection and report results.
• Assist in troubleshooting lithography issues under guidance of process engineers.
• Contribute to DOE experiments and data capture as directed.

Skills

Semiconductor processing

SOP compliance

Equipment operation

Documentation

Team coordination

Metrology/Inspection

Problem solving

Education

Science/Engineering degree

Tools

Spin coaters

Mask aligners

Direct writers

Resist developers

Job description

MEMS Lithography Technician

About Tyndall

Tyndall National Institute is an international leader in semiconductors, photonics and deep-tech research and innovation. As a leading collaborative European research institute, Tyndall is a key actor and hosting partner in the delivery of the ‘Chips for Europe Initiative’ (EU Chips Act).

Tyndall is Ireland’s leading research and innovation organisation and it is the national focal point for excellence in deep-tech research, development and graduate training at the convergence of nanotechnology, microelectronics, photonics, electronics and AI. Tyndall is recognised as an international research leader in semiconductor, chip and digital technologies, particularly as applied to the fields of Information & Communications, Health & Life Sciences, Agritech & Food Security, Energy and Climate Mitigation, emerging fields such as quantum, and novel computing paradigms.

The Institute’s key objective is to see frontier research activities having a significant impact on economic development and societal challenges in Ireland, Europe and beyond. Central to Tyndall’s mission is delivering economic impact through research excellence in partnership with industry and academia. With an annual turnover of more than €50m, the Institute has a community of over 600 researchers, engineers, support staff, postgraduate students, interns and industry researchers-in-residence.

With significant committed Irish government support, Tyndall will grow to be 1,000 people by 2030, with approximately 750 researchers, including 250 PhD students. A new 17,000 m2 research building is under development adjacent to the Cork headquarters and there are developing plans to expand Tyndall’s existing Dublin research labs and to establish other research sites within Ireland.

Tyndall’s expansion is also supported by recent national and EU funding wins for significant (M€10’s) additional research equipment across a range of areas such as semiconductor processing, microscopy, quantum technologies, heterogeneous integration, ultra-high speed optical communications and RF through THz characterisation.

About the Team

The Silicon MEMS team works in Tyndall’s semiconductor fabrication facility to develop and maintain a range of advanced thin-film, lithography, and device fabrication processes in support of research and industry-facing projects.

About the Role

Applications are invited for a Lithography Technician to work in the Silicon MEMS cleanroom. Lithography is a core enabling step across nearly all process flows in the facility, underpinning pattern definition for devices ranging from research prototypes to pilot-scale demonstrators. This position is to provide short term cover, up to 6 months, for a team member that is currently on leave.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

The successful candidate will work closely with the process engineering team, supporting the execution of established recipes (coating, baking, development, descum, and related metrology), contributing to experimental runs and DOEs, and helping to maintain the quality, documentation, and equipment standards expected of a research-grade semiconductor fabrication environment.

The role is focused primarily on the reliable execution of established lithography processes and day-to-day operational support. Process development, recipe ownership and complex troubleshooting will remain the responsibility of the process engineering team.

• Perform day-to-day lithography operations including resist coating, soft bake, exposure, post-exposure bake and development, to assist with process engineers' technical requirements
• Operate and monitor lithography-related equipment (spin coaters, direct writers/mask aligners, hot plates, developers) to ensure processes are completed accurately and within required timelines
• Support surrounding process steps as needed (e.g. descum, plasma ashing, metrology/inspection) to keep wafers moving through the lithography flow without delay
• Follow established process recipes and standard operating procedures (SOPs) precisely, flagging any deviations or anomalies to the relevant process engineer
• Organise assigned processing activities in consultation with process engineers
• Coordinate with process engineers and other operators to manage tool loading, batch scheduling and turnaround times, minimizing bottlenecks in the litho bay
• Maintain accurate, timely records of wafer lots processed, including run logs, recipe versions used and any process deviations
• Carry out in-process metrology and visual/optical inspection (e.g. critical dimension checks, overlay, film thickness, defect inspection) and report results to process engineers
• Assist with troubleshooting of lithography issues (e.g. resist adhesion, sidewall profile, exposure/focus issues) under the guidance of process engineers
• Assist in the execution of process experiments and DOEs (Design of Experiments) as directed by process engineers, ensuring accurate execution and data capture
• Perform routine equipment checks, minor maintenance and cleanliness tasks on lithography and associated tools to keep them in good working order
• Report equipment faults or performance drift promptly to process/equipment engineering teams
• Maintain cleanroom protocol and gowning discipline at all times
• Ensure compliance with Tyndall’s Quality Management Systems, Health and Safety standards, and other regulations.
• To carry out any additional duties that may reasonably be required within the general scope and level of the post.

Essential Criteria

• A third-level qualification in science, engineering or a related technical discipline, or equivalent relevant industrial or laboratory experience.
• Hands-on experience in semiconductor wafer processing, microfabrication or a comparable controlled technical laboratory or manufacturing environment.
• Experience operating computer-controlled processing, manufacturing or scientific equipment and following defined operating procedures.
• Demonstrated ability to follow detailed process recipes, SOPs and safety requirements accurately and consistently.
• Proven ability to handle samples, substrates or other delicate materials with a high level of care, accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to learn new equipment and processes quickly and to recognise and promptly report process deviations, equipment faults or unexpected results.
• Experience maintaining accurate process, production or laboratory records, with a knowledge of traceability and data integrity.
• Ability to organise and prioritise day-to-day work, both independently and as part of a technical team, to meet processing timelines.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience operating lithography equipment such as spin coaters, mask aligners, direct-write systems or resist developers.
• Experience with photolithography processes such as resist coating, baking, exposure, development or descum.
• Experience with wafer inspection or process metrology, such as optical microscopy, film-thickness measurement, critical-dimension measurement or overlay assessment.
• Experience carrying out routine equipment checks, basic troubleshooting or minor maintenance in a laboratory or manufacturing environment.
• Experience with low-CD measurement tools such as AFM and SEM.

What We Offer

Apart from offering a position in a very successful and positive research environment, with a collaborative ethos full of diverse competencies to boost your career, we offer the following:

• Impactful Work: Opportunities to contribute to ground-breaking research and innovation that shape Ireland’s economy and society at large.
• Continuous Learning: Strong support for formal training, further study and professional development.
• Interdisciplinary Environment: Where academia, industry, and innovation intersect - supported by cutting-edge infrastructure and expert knowledge.
• Blended Working: Flexibility to work remotely and on-site, where the role allows.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Access to UCC pension, long-term illness benefit, life assurance, and more.
• Generous Leave: Competitive annual leave entitlements.
• Equity & Inclusion: Athena Swan Bronze award holder, with ongoing initiatives led by a dedicated People and Culture team to ensure equity for all.
• Core Values: A culture grounded in Ambition, Collaboration, Diversity, Excellence, and Integrity.
• Entrepreneurial Spirit: A proactive, innovation-driven environment that welcomes entrepreneurial and creative thinkers, including those with start-up experience.
• Supportive Onboarding: Structured induction and mentoring to help new hires integrate and thrive.
• Vibrant Culture: A collaborative, people-first workplace with a strong sense of community.

Terms of Employment

Contract Category: Full-Time

Contract Type: Specified Purpose

Appointment may be made on the Technical Officer Scale (new entrants) salary €49,917- €68,295 per annum. Salary placement on appointment will be in accordance with the public sector pay policy.

Informal enquiries can be made in confidence to Iurii Efimenkov

Closing date for applications for this position is 1pm, 22nd September 2026.

Please note that Garda vetting and/or an international police clearance check may form part of the selection process. Please note that an appointment to posts advertised will be dependent on university approval, together with the terms of the employment control framework for the higher education sector. Tyndall National Institute does not require the assistance of recruitment agencies. Tyndall National Institute at University College, Cork is an Equal Opportunities Employer.