Process Engineer, Plasma Etch

Tower Semiconductor; San Antonio (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Tower Semiconductor, a leading analog semiconductor foundry, seeks a senior engineer to lead process development and transfers at the San Antonio fab. You will work hands-on with plasma tools, drive improvements, and mentor engineers while collaborating across process, integration, yields, and equipment teams to deliver high-quality devices for diverse applications.

The role emphasizes hands-on experimentation, cross-team communication, and delivering cost-effective, scalable manufacturing

Qualifications

• MS/PhD or B.S. with 5+ years experience
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Strong skills in statistics, SPC, DOE, and data analysis
• Hands-on experience with plasma tools and processes
• Willingness to work in the fab with equipment engineers and technicians
• Eligible to work in the U.S. without visa sponsorship

Responsibilities

• Lead the area by setting direction for improvements and sustaining operations
• Mentor junior engineers and technicians
• Collaborate with process, integration, and yield engineers to improve metrics
• Drive first-pass success for technology transfers
• Identify and define projects for process development and improvement
• Work with a team of process technicians on projects and daily sustaining activities
• Ensure equipment meets requirements to support production ramp
• Partner with equipment engineering to improve uptime and tool utilization
• Implement advanced process control to improve Cpk
• Identify cost-saving opportunities and lead cost-reduction projects
• Develop and optimize processes to support new product introduction
• Perform hands-on fab work and run designed experiments
• Multitask effectively and respond to changing conditions
• Make decisions with significant technical implications
• Communicate effectively across teams

Skills

Written & verbal communication

Statistics

SPC

DOE

Data analysis

Experiment design

Cross-team collaboration

Fabrication troubleshooting

Plasma tools

LAM tools

Vacuum technology

Device physics

Education

Master's or PhD or B.S. with 5+ years experience

Tools

LAM tools

Plasma tools

Plasma reactors

Vacuum systems

Job description

About Tower Semiconductor

Looking for a career path in the high-tech industry? Become part of a team focused on delivering the most exciting semiconductor technology in the world! If you enjoy working with others in a dynamic, fast-paced environment and are looking for an opportunity to grow your career in this exciting industry, then Tower Semiconductor is the place to be!

Tower Semiconductor, the leading foundry of high-value analog semiconductor solutions, provides technology, development, and process platforms for analog integrated circuits to more than 300 customers worldwide across growing markets such as communications, mobile, infrastructure, consumer, industrial, automotive, medical, and aerospace and defense, among others.

Join Tower and become part of a dynamic organization with exceptionally talented and dedicated team members who work collaboratively to provide best-in-class technological solutions to our clients.

Job Description

{\"job_description\":\"In this role, you will lead process development, process transfer, and process improvement initiatives within our high-volume manufacturing facility located in San Antonio, TX. Our Tower Fab in San Antonio is a growing manufacturing site dedicated to delivering specialty electronic devices across diverse applications, all while upholding exceptional quality standards, competitive costs, and efficient cycle times.
The ideal candidate will bring strong hands-on experience with both processes and equipment, along with excellent experimental skills. Prior experience working with plasmas and a solid understanding of plasma physics is preferred. Manufacturing or industrial experience is considered a significant advantage.\"}

This Job Is For You If:

• - Lead the area by setting direction for improvements, sustaining efforts, and overall operations
• - Mentor junior engineers and technicians
• - Collaborate closely with process, integration, and yield enhancement engineers to improve metrics such as SPC, yield, parametrics, and defects
• - Drive first-pass success for technology transfers
• - Identify and define projects for process development and improvement
• - Work alongside a team of process technicians on projects and daily sustaining activities
• - Ensure newly installed equipment meets requirements to support production ramp
• - Partner with equipment engineering to improve uptime and tool utilization
• - Implement advanced process control to improve Cpk at critical levels
• - Identify cost-saving opportunities and lead projects to reduce overall costs
• - Define and execute projects to completion, improving cost, quality, and productivity
• - Develop and optimize processes to support new product introduction and demonstrate manufacturability
• - Enjoy hands-on fab work, including running carefully designed experiments
• - Multitask effectively and respond quickly to changing conditions while identifying problems, limitations, and opportunities
• - Make decisions with significant technical implications
• - Communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, given extensive cross-team collaboration

Job Requirements

Must Have:

• MS or PhD degree or B.S with 5+ years experience

• 3+ years of industry experience in silicon, dielectric or conductor etch

• Major in chemical engineering, electrical engineering, physics, mechanical engineering, materials science, or chemistry

• Excellent written and oral communication skills

• Able to work closely and cordially with others as part of a team to solve difficult problems

• Proven strong skills in statistics, SPC, DOE, and data analysis techniques

• Hands-on experience with plasma tools and processes, experience with LAM tools is a plus.

• Good understanding of vacuum technology, plasma reactors, and plasma physics

• Some knowledge of device physics and device architecture

• High degree of discipline and organization with the ability to multi-task and successfully drive multiple projects simultaneously

• Understand cycle time, process flows, and material management

• Analyze problems and develop effective solutions

• Willingness to seek out information and advice from all members of the org. chart to get unstuck from challenging problems

• Willingness to design, execute, and analyze difficult experiments.

• This position requires an engineer who is willing to spend time in the fab working with equipment engineers and technicians to troubleshoot and solve difficult problems.

• Must be eligible to work in the U.S without requiring visa sponsorship now or in the future.

• #IND100