Senior Process Engineer, IBS Coating Group

Responsibilities

• Operate, maintain, troubleshoot and improve vacuum deposition equipment for IBS coatings.
• Train technicians in operation and maintenance of such equipment.
• Develop preventive maintenance schedules to avoid unscheduled downtime.
• Liaise with equipment manufacturer to implement software and hardware upgrades as necessary.
• Design substrate holders (fixtures) for both routine shapes and custom parts.
• Use commercial software to design complex multilayer coatings for demanding specifications, including laser damage, polarization and GDD control for Ultrafast applications.
• Characterize materials for optical properties to a high degree of accuracy and evaluate their variation and evolution over time.
• Specify and optimize metrology to measure critical coating performance: R, T, GDD, Loss, Absorption.
• Train technicians in accurate operation of this equipment.
• Conduct experiments to evaluate Cp and Cpk for IBS processes using Lean Six Sigma, and DOE methodologies.
• Develop a Critical Materials List with primary and secondary suppliers.
• Supervise the creation of routings, SOP’s, WI’s, etc.
• Review RFQs with the IBS Quote Team and either complete or reassign to other members of the department.
• Specify new equipment and tools to increase capability and/or capacity.
• Based on need, become proficient in equipment and processes outside of area-of-focus.
• Generate detailed reports for both custom production work (FAIs) and R&D activity.
• Participate in bringing new technology or processes from Pilot to Production.
• May be required to use shop and power tools to modify parts or equipment.
• Comply with federal, state, and company policies, procedures, and regulations.

Qualifications

• In depth understanding of High Vacuum Systems, associated pumps, sub-assemblies and control equipment.
• Familiarity with vacuum diagnostics using residual gas analysis and leak detection.
• Working knowledge of IBS components such as ion sources, grids, power supplies and target assemblies.
• Good working knowledge of OptiLayer or equivalent commercial thin film design software.
• Familiarity with various models for the characterization of optical materials, such as Cauchy, Sellmeier and Lorentz.
• Ability to use software for reverse engineering to assess thickness errors from spectral measurements.
• Familiarity with standard techniques to improve non-uniformity, such as chamber geometry and shadow masking.
• Knowledge of advanced metrology equipment, such as spectrophotometers, Cavity Ring Down Spectroscopy (CRDS), White Light Interferometer, photothermal common-path interferometry (PCI).
• Understanding of factors affecting Laser Induced Damage Threshold (LIDT) such as material selection, coating design, substrate and cleanliness, for both nanosecond and femtosecond regimes.
• Understanding of all aspects of blueprints including geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T).
• Proficient in CAD software; proficiency in SolidWorks is a plus.
• Working knowledge of LEAN 6σ principles and DOE.
• Able to think critically and solve complex problems.
• Excellent math, verbal and written skills.
• Understand conventional manufacturing and metrology techniques for precision optics.
• Intermediate to advanced mechanical and computer skills (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Vizio, SQL).