Dry Etch Engineer

smartphotonics.nl; Eindhoven; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary and benefits

Job summary

SMART Photonics in the Netherlands is seeking a proactive Dry Etch Engineer to advance dry etch processes for high‑quality photonic devices. You will optimize manufacturing performance, monitor process metrics, and drive improvements across yield, quality, and cost while collaborating with cross‑functional teams.

The role requires a Master’s degree in a relevant field and 3+ years in semiconductor fabrication, preferably in dry etch or plasma processing, with a strong focus on data‑driven

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Applied Physics, Electrical Engineering, or related field.
• 3+ years of semiconductor manufacturing experience, preferably in dry etch or plasma processing.
• Understanding of semiconductor fabrication and its impact on device performance and yield.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and optimize dry etch processes to ensure stable, reliable, and reproducible manufacturing performance.
• Monitor process performance and drive improvements in yield, quality, capacity, and cost.
• Troubleshoot process deviations, perform root cause analysis, and implement corrective and preventive actions.
• Support the development, qualification, and introduction of new processes, equipment, and products.
• Analyze process data and apply improvement tools such as SPC, DoE, and FMEA to reduce variation and improve process stability.
• Collaborate with Equipment, Operations, Process Integration, Quality, and R&D to meet targets and specifications.
• Maintain accurate process documentation and support future InP photonics technologies.
• Take ownership of tasks, work proactively, communicate effectively, and contribute to continuous improvement.

Skills

Attention to detail

Problem-solving

Team collaboration

Root cause analysis

Process optimization

Education

Master’s degree in Materials Science or Chemical Engineering or Applied Physics or Electrical Engineering

Tools

SPC

DoE

FMEA

Job description

Are you ready to take the next step in your career in high-tech manufacturing? Do you want to contribute to innovative chip technology and make a real impact in a growing company?

We are looking for a proactive and detail-oriented Dry Etch Engineer to strengthen our team and contribute to the development and optimization of advanced photonic components.

Your tasks:

As a Dry Etch Engineer, you will:

• Maintain and optimize dry etch processes to ensure stable, reliable, and reproducible manufacturing performance.

• Monitor process performance, identify improvement opportunities, and drive improvements in yield, quality, capacity, and cost.

• Troubleshoot process deviations, perform root cause analysis, and implement corrective and preventive actions.

• Support the development, qualification, and introduction of new processes, equipment, and products.

• Analyze process data and apply improvement tools such as SPC, DoE, and FMEA to reduce variation and improve process stability.

• Collaborate with Equipment, Operations, Process Integration, Quality, and R&D to achieve manufacturing targets and meet product specifications.

• Maintain accurate process documentation and support the development of future InP photonics technologies.

• Take ownership of tasks, work proactively, pay close attention to detail, and contribute to continuous improvement and team knowledge sharing.

• Has a Master’s degree in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Applied Physics, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field.

• Has 3+ years of industry experience in semiconductor manufacturing, preferably in dry etch or plasma processing.

• Understands semiconductor fabrication processes and their impact on device performance, process quality, and manufacturing yield.

• Has experience with process optimization, troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and statistical process improvement tools.

• Works accurately and systematically, with a strong eye for detail and a proactive approach to problem-solving.

• Takes responsibility, communicates effectively, and enjoys collaborating with multidisciplinary teams.

Experience in photonics and/or InP technology is an advantage. Above all, we are looking for someone who is commited and eager to develop their technical expertise and contribute to a high-performing manufacturing environment!

What we offer:

• An essential key position within our organisation.

• To develop with us SMART Photonics into a market leader in an entrepreneurial, dynamic environment.

• A challenging position with plenty of room for own initiatives and professional development and personal growth.

• A talented group of passionate people working in an open, informal culture in multidisciplinary teams.

• Competitive salary and benefits.

How we create a safe work environment together.

Security is a shared responsibility. At SMART Photonics, we are committed to providing a safe, inclusive, and respectful workplace, where everyone is treated fairly. Together, we protect our people, information, technology, and operations. Every employee is expected to work responsibly by following approved procedures, using our systems and information with care, and speak up when something doesn't seem right. By applying, you agree to uphold our security principles and Code of Conduct.