Process Engineer 3

Lam Research; City of Albany (NY); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Lam Research in the United States is seeking a Process Engineer to drive deposition process development for sub‑2nm CMOS nodes. The role involves defining equipment requirements, evaluating data, and coordinating design needs to ensure process compatibility and optimal performance.

The successful candidate will contribute to advanced thin‑film deposition (CVD, ALD, plating), work with customers, and lead teams to deliver innovative semiconductor solutions within a hybrid work model.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree with 6+ years of experience or PhD with 3+ years in a related field.
• Experience with semiconductor process development and deposition/etch processes is preferred.
• Proven ability to analyze data and drive design of experiments (DOE).

Responsibilities

• Conduct process engineering research, development, and evaluation for Lam’s equipment and systems.
• Review and improve processing techniques used in fabrication of products.
• Develop and sustain new processes and improvements to reduce costs and increase yields.
• Analyze test data to define next steps and set process specifications.
• Collaborate cross-functionally to plan data collection, results, and customer demos.
• Present results to engineers, executives, and customers.

Skills

SPC/DOE

MATLAB

Python

Statistical analysis

Team collaboration

Problem solving

Education

Master’s degree in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry or Physics

PhD in related field

Tools

ALD

CVD

PECVD

PVD

RIE

ALE

ICP

CCP

Job description

The group you’ll be a part of

The Office of the CTO is where innovation takes center stage. We inspire our global technical community to take on grand challenges, understand emerging trends, identify the critical inflections, and drive our sustainability, Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices that will define the next generation of semiconductors and continued impact.

The impact you’ll make

As a Process Engineer at Lam, you will operate on cutting‑edge technology, harnessing atomic precision, material science, and surface engineering to push technical boundaries. Your role involves developing new and advanced process formulations, defining equipment hardware to meet processing requirements, evaluating test data, and coordinating design requirements to ensure compatibility of processing methods. Your expertise and knowledge play a crucial role our customers success, making an impact on the next generation of semiconductor breakthroughs.

In this role, you will directly contribute to deposition process development for sub 2nm CMOS logic nodes.

What You’ll Do

• Conduct process engineering research, development, and evaluation in support of Lam’s cutting‑edge semiconductor equipment and systems.
• Review and enhance processing techniques and methods applied in the manufacture and fabrication of products.
• Develop and sustain new processes and process improvements to reduce production costs and increase yields.
• Compile and analyze test data to establish next steps in process development and determine appropriate limits and variables for process specifications.
• Collaborate internally to plan, collect data, analyze results, and report on customer demos for existing process applications.
• Partner cross‑functionally and with customers to understand roadmaps, process flow, inflection points, requirements, and business challenges.
• Contribute to next generation product development and release activities supporting the semiconductor roadmap.
• Provide leadership, clear direction, and guidance to process technicians to support execution activities.
• Be responsible for thin film deposition (CVD, ALD, plating) process development projects in support of LAM JDAs with IBM.
• Collaborate with customer process engineers to develop solutions.
• Collaborate with customer process and hardware engineers to troubleshoot hardware/process problems/interactions.
• Be flexible to be cross trained into dry etch, wets/clean and process integration.
• Deliver creative solutions in process design and its applications.
• Present results, both internally and externally, to engineers, executives, customers, etc.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry or Physics or related field with 6+ years of experience; or a PhD with 3+ years’ experience; or equivalent experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with working in a laboratory and on semiconductor equipment with experience in surface preparation and analytical techniques.
• In‑depth understanding of Statistical Process Control (SPC) and/or Design of Experiments (DOE).
• Highly proficient in MATLAB, Python, or other similar scientific computing language.
• Working knowledge of statistical analysis and problem‑solving methodologies.
• Experience with statistical tools (JMP, Minitab, etc.).
• Background in Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD), Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD), Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (PECVD), or Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD).
• Background in Plasma Physics, Reactive Ion Etching (RIE), Atomic Layer Etching (ALE), Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP), Capacitively Coupled Plasma (CCP).
• Knowledge of Material synthesis and material characterization.
• Experience working in a collaborative and matrixed environment with diverse teams, semiconductor customers, and/or partners.
• Experience in semiconductor, process design, deposition, etch dielectrics or conductor, metal films, etc.

Our commitment

We believe it is important for every person to feel valued, included, and empowered to achieve their full potential. By bringing unique individuals and viewpoints together, we achieve extraordinary results.

Lam Research ("Lam" or the "Company") is an equal opportunity employer. Lam is committed to and reaffirms support of equal opportunity in employment and non‑discrimination in employment policies, practices and procedures on the basis of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions), gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, or military and veteran status or any other category protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. It is the Company’s intention to comply with all applicable laws and regulations. Company policy prohibits unlawful discrimination against applicants or employees.

Work Location Models

Lam offers a variety of work location models based on the needs of each role. Our hybrid roles combine the benefits of on‑site collaboration with colleagues and the flexibility to work remotely and fall into two categories – On-site Flex and Virtual Flex. ‘On‑site Flex’ you’ll work 3+ days per week on‑site at a Lam or customer/supplier location, with the opportunity to work remotely for the balance of the week. ‘Virtual Flex’ you’ll work 1-2 days per week on‑site at a Lam or customer/supplier location, and remotely the rest of the time.

Our Perks And Benefits

At Lam, our people make amazing things possible. That’s why we invest in you throughout the phases of your life with a comprehensive set of outstanding benefits.