Senior MEMS / Semiconductor Processing Specialist

The Fourth Law; Eindhoven; Hybrid; EUR 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The Fourth Law, in partnership with Odd Systems, seeks a Senior MEMS / Semiconductor Processing Specialist to lead the end-to-end cleanroom process flow for microbolometer fabrication at our Eindhoven R&D lab.

You will own photolithography, thin-film deposition and sacrificial-layer etching, ensuring reliable release of suspended structures while collaborating with an international, partly Ukrainian team and reporting to the CTO.

Qualifications

• Hands-on cleanroom process experience in MEMS/semiconductor fabrication.
• Direct photolithography, thin-film deposition (PECVD, sputtering) and etching experience.
• Familiar with sacrificial-layer release and MEMS failure modes (stiction, curling).

Responsibilities

• Develop end-to-end cleanroom process flow for microbolometer fabrication.
• Own photolithography steps: mask design, exposure, development and CD control.
• Develop and optimize thin-film deposition for sacrificial and structural layers.
• Tune sacrificial-layer etch processes for reliable release of suspended structures.
• Troubleshoot yield and process excursions using wafer data.
• Support procurement and commissioning of equipment for new R&D lab.

Skills

Cleanroom process experience

Photolithography

Thin-film deposition

Sacrificial-layer etching

MEMS/semiconductor fabrication

Wafer inspection & test data analysis

Troubleshooting

English communication

Cross-functional teamwork

Education

Bachelor's degree in materials science, microelectronics, physics, or related field

Tools

Photolithography equipment

PECVD system

Sputtering system

Etching equipment

Job description

Senior MEMS / Semiconductor Processing Specialist

Eindhoven, the Netherlands

Project Foundation launched byThe Fourth Law and Odd Systems isasemiconductor initiative tomass-produce thermal imaging sensors for Ukraine, the rest ofEurope and the United States.

The initiative covers the development ofLWIR sensors and the deployment ofanetwork ofpartner-operated and in-house manufacturing facilities. Itwill create anew industrial base for defense and civilian needs and supply affordable sensors tomanufacturers ofdrones, vehicles, and robotics.

The first sensors under the initiative are expected asearly as2027.

The Fourth Law isaleading Ukrainian manufacturer ofautonomy technologies for drones. Our solutions are codified according toNATO standards and are currently utilized byover 50units ofthe Security and Defense Forces ofUkraine, aswell as20+drone manufacturers.

Odd Systems isadefense technology company specializing inthe development and manufacturing ofthermal imaging cameras. Itwas founded byagroup ofentrepreneurs, engineers, managers, and tech enthusiasts with prior experience atanumber ofinternational technology companies.

Purpose of the Role

The MEMS/ Semiconductor Processing Specialist develops and owns the step-by-step cleanroom process flow that takes the microbolometer from deposited films toareleased, suspended structure. This isahands-on process engineering role covering photolithography, thin-film deposition, and sacrificial layer etching— both isotropic and anisotropic— with direct responsibility for releasing delicate suspended structures without damage orcollapse. The role works inthe Eindhoven R&D lab alongside the IC/MEMS Integration and Simulation Engineer and the wider technical cohort, and reports tothe CTO.

Office location

Eindhoven, the Netherlands

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and document the end-to-end cleanroom process flow for microbolometer fabrication, from film deposition through structure release.
• Own photolithography process steps: mask design coordination, exposure and develop parameters, and critical-dimension control.
• Own thin-film deposition steps for sacrificial and structural layers, optimizing for uniformity, stress and compatibility with downstream process steps.
• Develop and tune sacrificial-layer etch processes, both isotropic and anisotropic, toreliably release suspended microbolometer structures without stiction ormembrane damage.
• Troubleshoot yield and process excursions, working from wafer inspection and test data back toroot cause.
• Support equipment procurement, installation and commissioning inthe new R&Dlab, incoordination with the Technical Programme Manager.

Experience and skills weare looking for

• Adegree inmaterials science, microelectronics, physics, orarelated field, with hands-on cleanroom process experience.
• Direct experience with photolithography, thin-film deposition (e.g. PECVD, sputtering) and wet/dry etching inaMEMS orsemiconductor cleanroom.
• Working knowledge ofsacrificial-layer release processes and common MEMS failure modes, including stiction and stress-induced curling.
• Comfortable developing new process flow from first principles, not just running anestablished recipe.
• Fluent English, with the communication maturity towork with aninternational, partly Ukrainian team.

It’s aplus ifyou have

• Prior work specifically onmicrobolometers, uncooledIR detectors, orother suspended-membrane MEMS devices.
• Experience commissioning cleanroom process equipment aspart ofanew lab orfab standup.
• Familiarity with ISO Class 7or better cleanroom operating discipline.
• Basedin, orwilling torelocateto, Eindhoven for the Odd Factory One R&Dlab.

Weare not just looking for employees, but for like-minded individuals who share our values and are ready tobuild the future ofUkrainian MilTech.