Principal Process Engineer

Key Responsibilities

• Creative problem solver with experience in developing new films for emerging applications and experience in chemistry/materials characterization.
• Works with semiconductor processing equipment to research, develop and optimize unit processes focused on the deposition of metal and dielectric films via ALD, PEALD, Epitaxy, and/or PECVD.
• Bringing innovative ideas, staying abreast of state-of-the-art processing applications in the semiconductor industry to be effective.
• Process consulting and accountability including technical papers on advanced process applications and Intellectual Property creation.
• Provides mentorship to other Process Engineers within the team.
• Participates in and drives technical problem-solving sessions using the related scientific method and industry tools, such as Ishikawa diagrams.
• Designs and conducts experiments, in addition to measuring and interpreting experimental output, aimed at fulfilling stated objectives using Design of Experiments (DOE) and Response Surface Methodology (RSM).
• Troubleshoots equipment problems and is personally and actively engaged in problem via “hands-on” modalities.
• Works with customers and central marketing to understand and define requirements to successfully execute and document customer demonstrations.
• Develops methods and techniques for integrating metal and/or oxide films into existing and future device technologies.
• Ensures successful product transfer to customer base by performing demonstrations, training field service personnel, traveling to support remote sites (up to 10% travel required), and drafting documentation regarding process development, tool operation and maintenance.
• Produces technical papers on process, equipment, and device integration improvement strategies and presents to professional audience.
• You may be assigned supervisory duties over supporting process engineering technicians and aides. These supervisory duties could include direct input into employees’ performance evaluations, discipline, and discharge.

Qualifications

• Master’s or PhD degree in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Electrical Engineering, or Physics
• 7+ years of combined education, research, and work experience with:
• Cure, oxidation, ALD, CVD, Epitaxy, PECVD and/or other thin film deposition.
• Materials characterization techniques such as XPS, SIMS, RBS, AFM, XRR, XRD, TEM, SEM and ellipsometry.
• Knowledge of electrical characterization techniques for CMOS devices.
• Application of dielectric and/or metal films for logic and memory structures.
• Training in CFD (computational fluid dynamics), either theoretical or practical is preferred.
• Knowledge of electrical characterization techniques for CMOS devices is preferred.

Skills

• Ability to independently manage complex process development projects, including personnel, project schedules, experimental thrusts, hardware procurement and budgetary oversight.
• Ability to be a process consultant to internal and external customers.
• An authority on interplay between hardware design (e.g., chemical reactor design) and operation and process outputs.
• Understanding of requirements for integration of metals as work function materials and barrier layers in FEOL and BEOL process flows.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and completely characterize deposition processes using first principles and experimental design techniques (e.g., DOE, RSM).
• Experience with the theory, practice, and interpretation of materials characterization techniques such as XPS, SIMS, RBS, AFM, XRD, HRTEM, FESEM, Auger, Raman and ellipsometry.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with ability to clearly communicate advanced technical constructs in direct and concise manner.