Equipment Engineer

University of California - Santa Barbara; Santa Barbara (CA); On-site; USD 108,000 - 146,000; Full time

Job summary

University of California - Santa Barbara’s Nanofabrication Facility (Electrical & Computer Engineering) seeks a highly skilled Nanofab Systems Specialist to advance equipment capabilities and support a 400-user lab.

The role emphasizes vacuum deposition/etch, thermal and wet processing, photolithography, metrology, and safety compliance. Strong collaboration with engineers, technicians, postdocs, and students is required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training.
• 4-6 years' experience utilizing a broad spectrum of engineering disciplines (vacuum deposition & etch, thermal processing, wet processing, photolithography).
• 4-6 years' experience independently performing design and implementation of novel equipment modifications to enhance capabilities.

Responsibilities

• 70% Nanofab Systems Specialist: vacuum deposition/etch, thermal/wet processing, metrology, and lithography systems; designs/modifies equipment; provides technical guidance to users.
• 25% Laboratory Supervision: oversee day-to-day operations for a 400-user nanofabrication lab; ensure safety and training.
• 5% After hours support: on-call for lab issues, rotate with staff engineers.

Skills

Vacuum deposition

Etch processes

Thermal processing

Wet processing

Photolithography

Metrology

Analytical skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Laboratory equipment

Job description

Job ID: 88866

Location: UCSB Campus

Full/Part Time: Full Time

Position Number: 40032114

Payroll Title: RSCH AND DEV ENGR 3 TX (004758)

Job Code: 88866

Job Open Date: 9/21/26

Application Review Begins: 10/6/26

Department Code (Name): ELEG (ELECTRICAL & COMPUTER ENGINEER)

Percentage of Time: 100

Union Code (Name): TX-Technical Professionals

Employee Class (Appointment Type): Staff: Career

FLSA Status: Exempt

Classified Indicator (Personnel Program): PSS

Salary Grade: STEPS

Work Location: Engineering Science - 1109

Working Days and Hours: Monday thru Friday 8 - 5 with potential night and weekend support

Benefits Eligibility: Full Benefits

Type of Remote or Hybrid Work Arrangement, if applicable: N/A

Hiring/Budgeted Salary Range: $108,419.40/yr. - $145,899/yr.

Full Salary Range: $89,679.60/yr. - $164,638.80/yr. Salary offers are determined based upon final candidate qualifications and experience; the budget for the position; and the application of fair, equitable, and consistent pay practices at the University.

Special Instructions: For full consideration, please include a resume and a cover letter as part of your application.

Department Profile (Specific Information about Department/Program): The UCSB Nanofabrication Facility within the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department is a world class cleanroom consisting of class 100 and class 1000 cleanroom space. The 12000+ sq ft facility supports a wide spectrum of disciplines with optics, electronics, materials, MEMS, and physics making up the majority of the users. The 500+ user cleanroom serves UCSB faculty, grad students, and researchers as well as a vast number of external companies, universities, and government institutions across the nation. The NanoFab is continually updating, installing and qualifying new fabrication tools & processes to stay at the cutting edge of wafer fabrication techniques.

Brief Summary of Job Duties: Under direction of the Equipment Engineer Manager, ensures the continuing development of equipment and process resources of the 400-user nanofabrication research cleanroom for the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Additionally, supervises the day-to-day laboratory operation of the cleanroom.

Required Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training

Preferred Qualifications: 4-6 years' Experience utilizing a broad spectrum of engineering disciplines. Thorough knowledge and experience as a professional specialist with vacuum deposition and etch, thermal processing, wet processing, and photolithography systems to complete assignments.

Preferred Qualifications: 4-6 years' Experience independently performing the full range of design and implementation of novel equipment modifications to enhance equipment capabilities.

Preferred Qualifications: Thorough knowledge and experience as a professional specialist with vacuum deposition and etch, thermal processing, wet processing, and photollithography systems to complete assignments.

Preferred Qualifications: Effective communication skills to provide technical advice and guidance to users.

Preferred Qualifications: Strong analytical skills to interface with equipment vendors technical staff to develop engineering solutions to equipment and process problems or requirements.

Preferred Qualifications: Ability to work in a collaborative manner with engineers, technicians, postdocs, visiting scholars, and graduate students.

Special Conditions of Employment: Satisfactory criminal background check

Special Conditions of Employment: UCSB is a Tobacco-Free environment

Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts an offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of substantiated misconduct with a previous employer.

Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: \"Misconduct\" means any violation of the policies governing employee conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, or discrimination, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC's policies addressing some forms of misconduct:

Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy

Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: UC Anti-Discrimination Policy

Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: Abusive Conduct in the Workplace

Job Functions/Percentage of Time/Duties:

• 70% Nanofab Systems Specialist - Vacuum deposition and etch, thermal processing, wet processing, metrology, and photolithography systems specialist. Utilizes a broad spectrum of engineering disciplines to provide these process capabilities to users of the Nanofabrication Facility. Designs and implements novel equipment modifications to enhance equipment capabilities in new and unique ways. Provides technical advice and guidance to users. Develops appropriate safety measures and lab policy. Interfaces with equipment vendors technical staff to develop engineering solutions to equipment and process problems or requirements, and implements those solutions.
• 25% Laboratory Supervision - Supervises the day-to-day laboratory operations of a 400-user Nanofabrication research cleanroom for the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at UCSB consisting of numerous engineers, technicians, postdocs, visiting scholars, graduate students, and other UCSB staff. Responsible for user lab safety and necessary trainings during the operation of their specific equipment and the associated processes.
• 5% After Hour Support - Includes answering phone calls/text questions at reasonable times to help users during off hours with lab issues. Rotate on a shared schedule with the other staff engineers to be on-call by carrying the Nanofab supplied cell phone for after hour emergencies.

UC Vaccination Programs Policy: As a condition of employment, you will be required to comply with the University of California Policy on Vaccinations Programs.

As a condition of Physical Presence at a Location or in a University Program, all Covered Individuals* must participate in any applicable Vaccination Program by providing proof that they are Up-to-Date with any required Vaccines or submitting a request for Exception in a Mandate Program or properly declining vaccination in an Opt-Out Program no later than the Compliance Date (Capitalized terms in this paragraph are defined in the policy.). Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.

For more information, please visit University of California Policy on Vaccinations - https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/5000695/VaccinationProgramsPolicy

*Covered Individuals: A Covered Individual includes anyone designated as Personnel or Students under this Policy who physically access a University Facility or Program in connection with their employment, appointment, or education/training. A person accessing a Healthcare Location as a patient, or an art, athletics, entertainment, or other publicly accessible venue at a Location as a member of the public, is not a Covered Individual.

Equal Employment Opportunity: The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.

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