Tool Engineer-Wafer Fabrication

SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory; Menlo Park (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory is recruiting a Tool Engineer for the Detector Microfabrication Facility to oversee operation, maintenance and repair of the DMF tool suite, ensuring high performance for superconducting microelectronics fabrication.

The role emphasizes disciplined operations in a research-scale cleanroom, along with developing calibration protocols, documenting records, and collaborating with a team under the Fundamental Physics Directorate.

Qualifications

• 10+ years experience stewarding microelectronics fabrication equipment.
• Experience in a research-scale cleanroom facility.
• Experience with quality, safety and customer service.
• Strong verbal and written communication to build and maintain partnerships.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a SLAC environment.

Responsibilities

• Oversee operation, maintenance, and repair of fabrication and metrology tools to ensure optimal performance and reliability.
• Re-qualify tools after maintenance or hardware changes.
• Identify and resolve equipment malfunctions and process-related issues; perform root cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Develop and implement calibration and qualification protocols; maintain documentation of calibration records.
• Improve hardware capability and reliability while maintaining safe operation.

Skills

Microfabrication experience

Cleanroom operations

Quality and safety culture

Team collaboration

Tools

Lithography tools

Deposition tools

Etch tools

Metrology tools

Job description

Job Description

Tool Engineer for Superconducting Device Fabrication Facility, Fundamental Physics Directorate

BOLD PEOPLE. VISIONARY SCIENCE. REAL IMPACT.

You are invited to apply for the position of Tool Engineer for the Detector Microfabrication Facility (DMF) in the Fundamental Physics Directorate (FPD) at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. The Tool Engineer is responsible for the operation, maintenance, and repair of the DMF tool suite to ensure optimal performance and reliability of equipment to enable the fabrication of state-of-the-art superconducting microelectronics devices to support SLAC’s scientific mission. The DMF tool suite includes a diverse set of fabrication tools; lithography, deposition, etch, wet chemistry stations and metrology tools, which the successful applicant will steward.

The Detector Microfabrication Facility (DMF) is an ISO-5 cleanroom with a dedicated toolset for the R&D and at-scale production of superconducting devices and sensors with high uniformity, complexity, yield, and reproducibility. In addition to a specialized toolset on 150mm wafers, the DMF also includes necessary capabilities for post-fabrication metrology, room-temperature and cryogenic characterization down to 10mK, and validation of functionality and performance of devices produced at the DMF. The facility is envisioned to support DOE mission science by enabling collaborative research across universities, labs and industry in quantum information science and fundamental physics. The DMF is managed by the Fundamental Physics Directorate (FPD). The FPD brings together scientists and technologies that support national priorities in particle physics, astrophysics and cosmology to explore the basic particles and forces that knit the cosmos together. As a member of the DMF core team, you will report to the DMF Operations Manager.

Your specific responsibilities will include:

• Oversight of the operation, maintenance, and repair of fabrication and metrology tools to ensure optimal performance and reliability of the equipment.
• Re-qualify tools after maintenance or hardware changes.
• Identification and resolution of equipment malfunctions and process-related issues swiftly. Employ root cause analysis and implement corrective and preventive actions to minimize downtime.
• To develop and implement meticulous calibration and qualification protocols to ensure proper operation of tools in compliance with industry standards and laboratory specifications. To create and maintain detailed documentation of the calibration records.
• Improve hardware capability and reliability while maintaining safe operation.

To be successful in this position you will bring:

• Extensive experience (10 years or more preferred) stewarding a broad range of microelectronics fabrication equipment including lithography, deposition and etch tools for optical microfabrication.
• Demonstrated excellence in disciplined operations at a research-scale cleanroom facility.
• Experience working in an environment dedicated to quality, safety and customer service.
• Ability to work within an interactive team structure in a constructive and collaborative manner and in a way that appropriately represents SLAC.
• Verbal and written communication skills to effectively build and maintain working partnerships.
• Propensity to take action, persevere through challenges, solve problems, and drive for on-time results within costs without sacrificing safety, quality, and core values.

About SLAC:

SLAC is operated by Stanford University for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science and is one of 17 DOE national laboratories – the most comprehensive research system of its kind in the world - providing strategic scientific and technological capabilities and expertise that cannot be found elsewhere. A major part of the Office of Science mission is supporting the development, construction, and operation of unique, open-access scientific user facilities. The laboratory is home to three Office of Science user facilities: the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS), the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL) and the Facility for Advanced Accelerator Experimental Tests (FACET-II).

SLAC sits on 426 acres of Stanford land, located two miles from the main university campus. The lab’s ties with Stanford have grown over the years to include several joint institutes and facilities and many collaborative research efforts. Stanford has made numerous investments in the laboratory and provides key services that make its operations more efficient. SLAC also plays a key role for Stanford, which benefits from the lab’s deep expertise in key areas and its ability to develop and run large-scale research facilities. Together with Stanford, SLAC educates and develops the U.S. scientific workforce in key technological areas.

Physical requirements and Working conditions:

• Daily work in an ISO-5 cleanroom.
• Given the nature of this position, SLAC will require onsite work.
• Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of his or her job.

WORK STANDARDS:

• Interpersonal Skills: Demonstrates the ability to work well with Stanford colleagues and clients and with external organizations.
• Promote Culture of Safety: Demonstrates commitment to personal responsibility and value for environment, safety and security; communicates related concerns; uses and promotes safe behaviors based on training and lessons learned. Meets the applicable roles and responsibilities as described in the ESH Manual, Chapter 1—General Policy and Responsibilities: http://www- group.slac.stanford.edu/esh/eshmanual/pdfs/ESHch01.pdf
• Subject to and expected to comply with all applicable University policies and procedures, including but not limited to the personnel policies and other policies found in the University's Administrative Guide, http://adminguide.stanford.edu Advanced Specialized Leader

SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory is an Affir­mative Action / Equal Opportunity Employer and supports diversity in the workplace. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital or family status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or genetic information. All staff at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory must be able to demonstrate the legal right to work in the United States. SLAC is an E-Verify employer.