Sr. Detector/Instrument Engineer

Columbus Technologies and Services; Greenbelt (MD); On-site; USD 95,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Columbus Technologies and Services at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center seeks a talented microfabrication engineer to advance cutting-edge MEMS technology for internal projects and space exploration capabilities.

The role includes developing and optimizing microfabrication processes, collaborating with cross-functional teams in design, test, and integration, and documenting procedures to industry standards for continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical, mechanical, chemical engineering, materials science, physics, or related field.
• MS or PhD preferred.
• Minimum 3 years of hands-on experience in semiconductor or MEMS fabrication environments.
• Experience with photolithography including photoresist application, exposure systems, and pattern development.

Responsibilities

• Oversees detector/instrument engineering activities.
• Develop and optimize microfabrication processes for MEMS devices.
• Troubleshoot process issues and implement solutions.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams in design, test, and integration.
• Document procedures and results according to industry standards.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives for fabrication processes.

Skills

Semiconductor fabrication

MEMS fabrication

Photolithography

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field

MS or PhD preferred

Tools

Stepper tools

E-beam lithography

Job description

Must be a US Person or Permanent Resident.

W2 with full benefits.

Customer and contract specific training will be required and provided.

Offer contingent on ability to successfully pass a background check and drug screen.

Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for the position.

JOB DESCRIPTION

• The Columbus Technologies & Services at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center seeks a talented microfabrication engineer to advance our cutting‑edge technology for internal projects. This exciting opportunity allows you to contribute directly to next‑generation space exploration capabilities.
• Senior Detector/Instrument Engineer Oversees and directs activities associated with detector/instrument engineering.
• Develop and optimize microfabrication processes for MEMS devices.
• Troubleshoot process issues and implement solutions.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams in design, test, and integration.
• Document procedures and results according to industry standards.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives for fabrication processes.

REQUIRED SKILLS

Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, materials science, physics, or related field; MS or PhD preferred.

Minimum 3 years of hands‑on experience in semiconductor or MEMS fabrication environments.

Demonstrated expertise in photolithography processes including photoresist application, exposure systems such as stepper tools or E‑beam lithography, and pattern development.

COMPREHENSIVE KNOWLEDGE OF THIN FILM DEPOSITION METHODS

• Physical vapor deposition (thermal/e‑beam evaporation and sputtering)
• Thermal oxidation processes
• Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD)
• Proficiency in etching techniques including:
• Wet chemical etching of metals and dielectric films
• Plasma‑based dry etching (RIE)
• Deep Reactive Ion Etching (DRIE)
• Specialty vapor phase etching (vapor HF and XeF2)
• Experience operating metrology and characterization equipment:
• Optical and electron microscopy
• Ellipsometry for film thickness measurement
• Stress measurement techniques for thin films
• Electrical probing and device characterization

DESIRED SKILLS

• Cleanroom experience in class 10‑1000 environments
• Familiarity with process integration and optimization
• Experience with Design of Experiments methodology
• Knowledge of MEMS design principles and fabrication challenges