Electrical Engineer I

Columbus Technologies and Services; Greenbelt (MD); On-site; USD 41,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Full benefits

Job summary

Columbus Technologies & Services seeks a detail-oriented Semiconductor/MEMS Fabrication Technician to support microfabrication operations in a cleanroom environment. You will operate a wide range of processing and metrology equipment, execute critical steps, assist engineers with testing, and help maintain flow and quality of MEMS device manufacturing.

Ideal candidates have at least 1 year of semiconductor or MEMS cleanroom experience, strong documentation skills, and a commitment to safety and

Qualifications

• Minimum 1 year hands-on experience in semiconductor or MEMS fabrication cleanroom.
• Associate degree in electronics, mechanical tech, semiconductor manufacturing, materials science, or related field; bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Hands-on experience with photolithography, spin coaters, exposure tools, and development benches.
• Experience with thin film deposition including PVD/PECVD/ALD and related furnaces.
• Experience with wet/dry etching including RIE/DRIE and vapor phase etchers.
• Proficiency in wafer metrology and inspection tools.

Responsibilities

• Execute defined microfabrication process steps for MEMS devices accurately and safely.
• Monitor tool performance, troubleshoot basic issues, escalate complex problems to fabrication lead.
• Perform routine equipment calibrations and preventive maintenance.
• Document processing results and tool data in logs according to standards.
• Collaborate with process engineers, equipment maintenance, and design teams to support integration.
• Participate in continuous improvement and safety initiatives.
• Full-time onsite attendance Monday–Friday in clean room.

Skills

Photolithography

Thin film deposition

Etching

Metrology

Cleanroom

Documentation

Problem solving

Communication

Collaboration

Troubleshooting

Education

Associate degree in electronics or related field

Bachelor’s degree preferred

Job description

OVERVIEW

Must be a US Citizen or Green Card holder
Estimated Duration: Ongoing
W2 Position with full benefits

The US base salary range for this full-time position is $30-45/hr + benefits. Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for the position across all US locations. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job‑related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Columbus Technologies & Services is seeking a detail‑oriented and experienced Semiconductor/MEMS Fabrication Technician to support our microfabrication operations. In this role, the candidate will work inside a cleanroom environment, operating a wide variety of semiconductor processing and metrology equipment. In addition, candidate will execute critical process steps, assist engineers with testing and troubleshooting, and help maintain the flow and quality of our MEMS device manufacturing.

• Execute defined microfabrication process steps (lot travelers) for MEMS devices accurately, safely, and consistently.
• Monitor tool performance, perform basic equipment troubleshooting, and elevate complex process or hardware issues to the fabrication lead.
• Perform routine equipment calibrations, basic preventative maintenance, and tool qualifications.
• Accurately document all processing results, measurements, and tool data in logs or tracking spreadsheet according to strict industry standards.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams, including process engineers, equipment maintenance, and design teams, to support process integration and test runs.
• Actively participate in continuous improvement and safety.
• This is a full time position which requires onsite attendance Monday through Friday with significant amount of time spent in the clean room.

REQUIRED SKILLS

• Associate's degree in electronics, mechanical technology, semiconductor manufacturing, materials science, or a related field (or High School diploma/GED with equivalent hands‑on industry experience); bachelor's degree is a plus.
• Minimum of 1 year of hands‑on experience operating equipment in a semiconductor or MEMS fabrication cleanroom environment.
• Photolithography: Hands‑on experience operating spin coaters, exposure tools (mask aligners, steppers, or E‑beam), and automated/manual development benches.
• Thin Film Deposition: Experience loading, operating, and monitoring tools for: physical vapor deposition (thermal/e‑beam evaporation and sputtering), chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), thermal oxidation furnaces, and atomic layer deposition (ALD).
• Etching Operations: Ability to safely handle hazardous chemicals for wet chemical etching, and experience operating plasma‑based dry etching (RIE, DRIE) and specialty vapor phase etching (vapor HF and XeF2) tools.
• Metrology & Inspection: Proficiency in inspecting wafers and measuring films using optical/electron microscopy, ellipsometry, stress measurement tools, profilometers, and electrical probing stations.

DESIRED SKILLS

• Strict adherence to cleanroom protocols and gowning procedures in Class 10 to 1000 environments.
• A basic understanding of MEMS structures, fabrication flows, handling fragile wafers, and semiconductor tools.
• Strong mechanical aptitude, analytical problem‑solving skills, record keeping, and a high level of attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication abilities.

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action

Columbus is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, marital status, age, national origin, veteran status, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. As a federal contractor, Columbus participates in the E-Verify Program to confirm eligibility to work in the United States.