Cleanroom Manager

About the role

The Utah Nanofab is seeking an experienced, hands-on Cleanroom Manager to provide engineering, scientific, and operational leadership for its world-class micro- and nanofabrication facility. The manager oversees day-to-day cleanroom operations, equipment and infrastructure maintenance, user training, safety, budgeting, and strategic planning. This position plays a pivotal role in enabling leading-edge research and development in microelectronics, sensors, materials, micro optics, and nanotechnology. The successful candidate will demonstrate technical depth, leadership experience, and a passion for fostering a collaborative research environment.

Responsibilities

• Leadership and Strategy: Provide engineering, scientific, and operational leadership for the Utah Nanofab cleanroom; maintain and advance the Nanofab's reputation as a world-class user facility supporting academic, industrial, and government research; collaborate with faculty and leadership to develop and execute strategic plans for equipment acquisition, facility upgrades, and research initiatives; represent the Nanofab to the broader scientific community, including coordinating tours, outreach, and development efforts; prepare for and lead external reviews and assessments of the Nanofab program.
• Facility and Equipment Management: Work with facilities and staff safety engineer to oversee all aspects of cleanroom infrastructure, including HVAC, process gases, DI water, vacuum, and safety systems; supervise equipment maintenance, installation, and process development across thin-film, etch, lithography, and packaging tools; establish repair and preventative maintenance priorities and ensure minimal downtime; coordinate with campus facilities, safety, and vendors for service, repairs, and upgrades.
• User Support, Training, and Safety: Direct user training programs, ensuring safe and effective operation of tools and adherence to protocols; develop and update standard operating procedures (SOPs), online training modules, and safety documentation; conduct user group meetings, annual safety town halls, and individual process consultations; foster a culture of safety, accountability, cleanliness, and respect among users and staff.
• Staff Management and Mentorship: Supervise and mentor engineers, technicians, and student assistants; assign roles and responsibilities, conduct annual performance reviews, and coordinate team development; promote collaboration and communication between cleanroom, surface analysis, and administrative teams; support recruitment, retention, and advancement of staff from all backgrounds.
• Budgeting and Administration: Develop and manage cleanroom budgets, user billing rates, and cost recovery models; provide financial analysis and operational metrics to the Price College of Engineering and the Vice President for Research; oversee procurement, vendor relationships, and contract negotiations.
• Research and Technical Expertise: Provide micro/nanofabrication services and process guidance for internal and external projects; collaborate with faculty and students to develop and optimize fabrication process flows; support advanced research activities including e-beam and UV lithography, PVD, CVD, RIE/DRIE, wet etch, 3D microprinting, and metrology.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications (Equivalency Statement): 1 year of higher education can be substituted for 1 year of directly related work experience (example: bachelor's degree = 4 years of directly related work experience). Department may hire employee at one of the following job levels:

• Senior Supervisor, Multi-Discipline Engineering Management: Requires a bachelor's (or equivalency) + 4 years or a master's (or equivalency) + 2 years of directly related work experience.
• Manager, Multi-Discipline Engineering Management: Requires a bachelor's (or equivalency) + 6 years or a master's (or equivalency) + 4 years of directly related work experience.
• Senior Manager, Multi-Discipline Engineering Management: Requires a bachelor's (or equivalency) + 8 years or a master's (or equivalency) + 6 years of directly related work experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's or Ph.D. in a relevant engineering or physical science discipline.
• 7-10 years of experience managing a shared cleanroom facility or equivalent industrial environment.
• Demonstrated expertise in process integration and multi-tool fabrication workflows.
• E-beam lithography experience and expertise.
• Experience with cost recovery models, billing systems, and rate development.
• Hands-on experience with facility infrastructure (air handling, process gases, DI water, vacuum, exhaust).

Working Conditions

• Work performed primarily in a cleanroom environment.
• Frequent standing, walking, and working in protective garments.
• Occasional handling of chemicals, hazardous gases, and use of safety equipment.

Pay & Schedule

• Pay Rate Range: $90,000–$130,000
• Schedule: Monday–Friday, 8:00am–5:00pm