Process Engineer, Photomask Inspection

Micron Technology, Inc.; United States; On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical plan

Dental plan

Vision plan

Paid time off

Paid holidays

Family leave

Job summary

Micron Technology Center in the United States is seeking a Photomask Inspection Engineer / Process Engineer to start up, develop, optimize, and sustain reticle inspection and related processes, focusing on EUV pattern inspection, ADC, and defect avoidance to ensure zero printing defects and high reliability.

You will collaborate with R&D, FEOL, HVM, and manufacturing teams to drive data‑driven decisions, monitor tool health, and lead continuous yield and cost‑reduction initiatives while

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Physics, Optics, or Mathematics.
• 2+ years experience in reticle pattern inspection or wafer inspection (RDA).
• Experience optimizing inspection sensitivities to detect defects and avoid printing defects.
• Experience developing, tuning, and optimizing ADC systems and algorithms.
• Strong systematic problem-solving skills (MBPS, RCA) with good communication.

Responsibilities

• Start up, develop, optimize, and sustain photomask inspection processes (reticle/EUV), ADC, and defect avoidance.
• Identify, diagnose, and resolve process issues using Failure Analysis, FMEA, 8D, RCA, SPC/FDC and data analysis.
• Lead yield, cost, and productivity initiatives to improve KPIs like First Time Success Rate and tool availability.
• Monitor tool health, SPC results, inspection outcomes, and respond to trends or OOS conditions.
• Collaborate with R&D, FEOL, HVM, sustaining eng, and manufacturing to support defect analysis and data-driven decisions.

Skills

Reticle inspection

Wafer inspection

ADC systems

MBPS/RCA

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Physics/Optics/Math

Tools

ADC algorithms

EUV inspection tools

Quality inspection equipment

Job description

Our vision is to transform how the world uses information to enrich life for all.

Micron Technology is a world leader in innovating memory and storage solutions that accelerate the transformation of information into intelligence, inspiring the world to learn, communicate and advance faster than ever.

As a Photomask Inspection Engineer / Process Engineer at Micron Technology Center (MTC), you will be responsible for starting up, developing, optimizing, and sustaining reticle inspection and inspection-related processes to ensure the highest levels of product quality, reliability, yield, cost efficiency, and risk management. This role focuses on EUV reticle pattern inspection, Automatic Defect Classification (ADC), defect avoidance, continuous improvement, and advanced data analysis in support of Micron's reticle and lithography roadmaps.

Responsibilities

• Start up, develop, optimize, and sustain photomask inspection processes including reticle pattern inspection, EUV inspection, ADC, defect avoidance, and inspection sensitivity tuning to ensure zero printing defects and shipment errors
• Identify, diagnose, and resolve process-related manufacturing issues using systematic problem-solving methodologies such as Failure Analysis, FMEA, 8D, MBPS, RCA, SPC/FDC, and statistical data analysis
• Lead and participate in continuous yield improvement, cost reduction, productivity improvement, automation, and efficiency initiatives to improve KPIs such as First Time Success Rate, nuisance/false alarm reduction, equipment availability, and RPT
• Monitor tool health, SPC performance, inspection results, and respond to trends or out-of-spec (OOS) process and equipment conditions
• Research, develop, implement, and qualify new inspection processes, techniques, sensitivities, models, and baselines to support Micron's reticle, EUV, pellicle, and High-NA lithography roadmaps
• Collaborate closely with R&D, FEOL, HVM, sustaining engineering, manufacturing, and inspection process/equipment engineering teams to support defect analysis, printability assessment (including Actinic images and WPC), and data-driven decision making
• Engage with inspection tool, software, equipment, and material suppliers to evaluate, qualify, audit, and improve current and next-generation capital equipment, ADC algorithms, materials, and inspection capabilities while meeting quality, cost, ROI, and risk objectives
• Provide technical leadership by mentoring and training manufacturing personnel and engineers. Offer authoritative insight into tool and process capabilities and appropriate data collection techniques. Use AI tools to improve efficiency.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Engineering, Physics, Optics, or Mathematics
• Minimum of 2+ years of experience in reticle pattern inspection or wafer inspection (RDA)
• Experience optimizing inspection sensitivities to ensure defect detection and zero printing defects
• Experience developing, tuning, and optimizing ADC (Automatic Defect Classification) systems and algorithms
• Strong competency in systematic problem-solving techniques (e.g., MBPS, RCA) with excellent written and verbal communication skills and ability to work with limited guidance

Preferred Qualifications

• EUV reticle inspection experience
• Experience qualifying new capital equipment and next-generation inspection tools
• Experience applying AI or advanced analytics to improve inspection efficiency and effectiveness

Micron benefits are designed to help you stay well, provide peace of mind and help you prepare for the future. We offer a choice of medical, dental and vision plans in all locations enabling team members to select the plans that best meet their family healthcare needs and budget. Micron also provides benefit programs that help protect your income if you are unable to work due to illness or injury, and paid family leave. Additionally, Micron benefits include a robust paid time-off program and paid holidays. For additional information regarding the Benefit programs available, please see the Benefits Guide posted on micron.com/careers/benefits .

Micron is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, citizenship status, disability, protected veteran status, gender identity or any other factor protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.

To learn more about Micron, please visit micron.com/careers