Senior Equipment Technician

EMD Electronics; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 56,000 - 91,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

PTO

Retirement contributions

Job summary

EMD Electronics in San Jose, CA, is seeking a Senior Equipment Technician to maintain and optimize semiconductor process equipment in a cleanroom environment. You will collaborate with Equipment Engineers, Process Engineers, and Operations to ensure uptime, safety, and process stability.

Responsibilities include preventive and corrective maintenance on ALD, PVD, vacuum, and related systems, hands-on troubleshooting, thorough documentation, and adherence to EHS requirements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electronics, Mechanical, or Industrial Engineering or equivalent.
• 5+ years of semiconductor equipment maintenance and troubleshooting experience.

Responsibilities

• Perform preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance on semiconductor equipment.
• Troubleshoot and repair mechanical, electrical, vacuum, gas delivery, robotic, thermal, and control systems.
• Support ALD and PVD equipment upgrades and upgrades.
• Maintain detailed maintenance records and write shift pass-downs.
• Ensure safety and environmental compliance in cleanroom operations.

Skills

Vacuum systems

Pumps

Gas delivery

Robotics

Thermal systems

Process controls

Optical equipment

Electrical systems

Mechanical systems

PLCs

Motion control

Industrial networking

Engineering drawings

Documentation

Communication

Teamwork

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electronics/Mechanical/Industrial Engineering

Tools

CMMS (eMaint)

Job description

Work Your Magic with us! Start your next chapter and join EMD Electronics. Ready to explore, break barriers, and discover more? We know you’ve got big plans – so do we! Our colleagues across the globe love innovating with science and technology to enrich people’s lives with our solutions in Healthcare, Life Science, and Electronics. Together, we dream big and are passionate about caring for our rich mix of people, customers, patients, and planet. That's why we are always looking for curious minds that see themselves imagining the unimaginable with us.

Everything we do in EMD Electronics is to help us deliver on our purpose of being the company behind the companies, advancing digital living. We are dedicated to being the trusted supplier of high‑tech materials, services and specialty chemicals for the electronics, automotive and cosmetics industries. We foster a global collaborative organization made up of individuals who have the passion to win, obsess about the customer, are relentlessly curious and act with urgency. Together, we push the boundaries of science to make more possible for our customers.

This role does not offer sponsorship for work authorization. External applicants must be eligible to work in the US.

Your Role

The Senior Equipment Technician works closely with Equipment Engineers, Process Engineers, Operations, Facilities, and external equipment vendors in a semiconductor wafer fabrication cleanroom environment. This position is responsible for maintaining, troubleshooting, repairing, upgrading, and optimizing semiconductor process equipment to ensure safe, reliable, and efficient operation.

The Senior Equipment Technician provides technical expertise for ALD, PVD, vacuum, gas delivery, robotic, thermal, and control systems while supporting equipment uptime, process stability, and continuous improvement initiatives. This role requires strong hands‑on troubleshooting skills, disciplined documentation practices, and the ability to execute maintenance activities with minimal supervision.

Location: onsite position in San Jose, CA (Wednesday to Saturday -10 hour day shift)

Job Responsibilities

Equipment Maintenance and Reliability

• Perform preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance on semiconductor manufacturing equipment.
• Troubleshoot and repair mechanical, electrical, vacuum, gas delivery, robotic, thermal, and control system issues.
• Perform maintenance, upgrades, rebuilds, and component replacements on ALD and PVD equipment.
• Respond to equipment downtime events and apply effective diagnostic techniques to restore equipment operation in a timely manner.
• Conduct equipment inspections and identify opportunities to improve reliability, performance, and maintainability.
• Support equipment installations, qualifications, relocations, decommissions, and upgrade projects.

Continuous Improvement

• Participate in cross‑functional teams focused on equipment performance, uptime improvement, cost reduction, and operational excellence.
• Analyze equipment failures and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
• Monitor equipment performance metrics and recommend improvements to increase availability and process stability.
• Assist in developing and improving preventive maintenance procedures, standard work practices, and maintenance schedules.
• Support implementation of continuous improvement initiatives and best practices throughout the fab.

Documentation and Communication

• Maintain accurate maintenance records, work orders, calibration records, equipment history, spare parts usage, and follow‑up actions.
• Provide detailed troubleshooting reports and written shift pass‑downs to ensure technical continuity between shifts.
• Update maintenance documentation, operating procedures, and equipment logs as required.
• Utilize computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS) and other business systems to document activities and equipment status.

Safety and Compliance

• Perform Safety Protocol checks before conducting maintenance or service activities.
• Follow all environmental, health, and safety (EHS) requirements and cleanroom procedures.
• Safely work with hazardous chemicals, gases, high voltage systems, vacuum equipment, and pressurized systems.
• Ensure all work complies with company policies, industry regulations, and established operating procedures.
• Participate as an active member of the Emergency Response Team (ERT).
• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe work environment.

Technical Knowledge And Skills

• Strong knowledge of vacuum systems, pumps, gas delivery systems, robotics, thermal systems, process equipment controls, and optical equipment.
• Experience troubleshooting semiconductor manufacturing equipment using schematics, manuals, drawings, and diagnostic tools.
• Working knowledge of electrical, mechanical, pneumatic, vacuum, and automation systems.
• Familiarity with PLCs, motion control systems, and industrial networking is preferred.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, electrical schematics, and technical documentation.
• Strong computer skills and proficiency with maintenance tracking systems and Microsoft Office applications.
• Excellent troubleshooting, analytical, problem‑solving, and organizational skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment.

Team Support

• Collaborate closely with Equipment Engineers, Process Engineers, Operations personnel, Facilities, and other stakeholders.
• Provide technical guidance and knowledge sharing to technicians and equipment users as needed.
• Support equipment vendors and contractors during maintenance, repair, and installation activities.
• Ensure contractor work meets company safety and quality requirements.
• Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.
• This position will be required to support either Saturday or Sunday 10hr Day shift.

Physical Attributes

• Ability to wear a full‑face respirator and self‑contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and successfully pass required medical evaluations.
• Ability to obtain and maintain annual respirator certification.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to work in confined spaces and elevated locations when required.
• Ability to stand, walk, bend, crouch, climb, reach, and perform repetitive movements throughout an 8–12‑hour shift.
• Ability to work within a semiconductor cleanroom environment while wearing required cleanroom garments and personal protective equipment.
• Comply with all company safety, environmental, and security requirements.

Minimum Qualifications

Who You Are:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electronics, Mechanical, or Industrial Engineering, or a very similar technical discipline; or equivalent military or technical training.

Or

• High school diploma or GED along with 5+ years of semiconductor equipment maintenance and troubleshooting experience in a wafer fabrication environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting ALD, PVD, CVD, vacuum, or similar semiconductor process equipment.
• Experience supporting ALD and PVD platforms.
• Experience with CMMS systems such as eMaint or equivalent.
• Experience participating in equipment improvement or reliability projects.
• Knowledge of root cause analysis methodologies and continuous improvement techniques.

Base Pay Range for this position - $41.00-$66.00 per hour

The offer range represents the anticipated low and high end of the base pay compensation for this position. The actual compensation offered will be determined by factors such as location, level of experience, education, skills, and other job-related factors. Position may be eligible for sales or performance-based bonuses. Benefits offered by the Company include health insurance, paid time off (PTO), retirement contributions, and other perquisites.

RSREMD

What we offer:

We are curious minds that come from a broad range of backgrounds, perspectives, and life experiences. We believe that this variety drives excellence and innovation, strengthening our ability to lead in science and technology. We are committed to creating access and opportunities for all to develop and grow at your own pace. Join us in building a culture of inclusion and belonging that impacts millions and empowers everyone to work their magic and champion human progress!