Wet Process Development Engineer

118-WW TMG MFG OPS; Lehi (UT); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Texas Instruments in Lehi, Utah, is seeking a Wet Process Development Engineer to own the development, integration and qualification of wet etch and clean modules for 28nm SiGe and silicidation flows. You will drive chemistry formulation, tool integration, yield analysis and production readiness across the full device fabrication sequence.

You will partner with Epi, Lithography, Spacer Films and CMP teams, apply SEM/TEM/ellipsometry/AFM metrology, and lead multiple workstreams under schedule

Qualifications

• Master's or Ph.D. in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or related field.
• 5+ years in R&D semiconductor wafer fabrication for advanced nodes (28nm or below).
• Hands-on experience with wet etch chemistries and with single-wafer or batch wet process tools.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams from concept to production-ready status.

Responsibilities

• Module Integration: Develop and optimize wet process flows for SiGe epi-layer cleaning and selective removal without damage to underlying Si or gate oxide.
• Selective Etching: Define chemistries for high-precision isotropic and anisotropic etching with focus on SiGe/Si/silicided film selectivity and undercut control at 28nm geometries.
• Yield & Defectivity: Identify root causes of process-related defects using FMEA and 8D methodologies; implement SPC to support the yield ramp toward high-volume manufacturing.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with Epi, Lithography, Spacer Films, and CMP teams to ensure seamless integration of wet modules into the full 28nm SiGe and silicidation fabrication flow.
• Metrology & Characterization: Utilize SEM, TEM, ellipsometry, and AFM to characterize surface roughness and etch profiles at atomic resolution.

Skills

DOE methodology

SPC (Statistical Process Control)

Cross-functional collaboration

Wet process knowledge

Education

Master's or Ph.D. in Materials Science or related field

Tools

LAM

TEL

SCREEN

Single-wafer tools

Batch wet process tools

Job description

Change the world. Love your job.
SiGe strained channel and silicided contact integration at 28nm demands wet etch and clean chemistries that operate at nanometer precision: removing exactly the right material, at exactly the right selectivity, without disturbing adjacent films or device structures. At LFAB, these processes don’t yet exist in production form. You will build them. As a Wet Process Development Engineer in TI’s ATD organization in Lehi, you will own the development, integration, and qualification of wet etch and clean modules for the 28nm SiGe and silicidation device flows which which directly enabling LFAB’s technology ramp from development to high-volume manufacturing. Your work spans the full arc from chemistry formulation through module integration, yield analysis, and production readiness. The wet process modules you develop will run on every wafer at LFAB.

Responsibilities include:

• Module Integration: Develop and optimize wet process flows for SiGe epi-layer cleaning and selective removal without damage to underlying Si or gate oxide
• Selective Etching: Define chemistries for high-precision isotropic and anisotropic etching with focus on SiGe/Si/silicided film selectivity and undercut control at 28nm geometries
• Yield & Defectivity: Identify root causes of process-related defects using FMEA and 8D methodologies; implement Statistical Process Control (SPC) to support the 28nm yield ramp toward high-volume manufacturing
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with Epi, Lithography, Spacer Films, and CMP teams to ensure seamless integration of wet modules into the full 28nm SiGe and silicidation fabrication flow

• Metrology & Characterization: Utilize SEM, TEM, ellipsometry, and AFM to characterize surface roughness and etch profiles at atomic resolution

  This role requires the ability to manage multiple parallel workstreams under schedule pressure, lead technical discussions with authority, communicate status and risks clearly, and drive alignment across organizational boundaries in a fast-paced technology development environment.

Minimum requirements:

• Master’s or Ph.D. in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or related field
• 5+ years in R&D semiconductor wafer fabrication for advanced nodes (28nm or below)
• Technical depth in:
  • SiGe device physics, surface preparation, and chemical reaction kinetics
  • Wet etch chemistries across a broad range of film types
  • Hands-on experience with single-wafer or batch wet process tools (LAM, TEL, SCREEN, or equivalent)
  • Design of Experiments (DOE) methodology
  • Leading cross-functional teams from concept to production-ready status

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience developing new wet process modules from the ground up
• Strong inline-to-end-of-line signal correlation and process characterization skills
• Ability to build and maintain stakeholder relationships across internal and external partners
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to ramp quickly on new systems and processes