Wafer Fab Equipment Engineer

As part of the Uncooled Detector (Focal Plane Array) Low-Rate Production team, the Wafer Fab Equipment Engineer will be responsible for the ownership, reliability, and continuous improvement of wafer fabrication equipment supporting low‑rate manufacturing of infrared detector devices. The role focuses on improving OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness) for equipment used in plasma etch, thin film deposition, lithography, and wet processing, while ensuring tools are safe, available, capable, and production‑ready. The Equipment Engineer will be a liaison between process and maintenance providing hands‑on technical support for low-rate production activity; troubleshoot complex equipment issues; optimize preventive maintenance strategies; support the qualification, sustainment, and recovery of critical tools and modules; and own data analysis and trends for optimum equipment health. This role works closely with Process Engineering, Maintenance, and Quality teams to ensure stable execution of production commitments.

This is an ideal position for a self‑directed, technically strong, and collaborative engineer who enjoys hands‑on equipment work, root‑cause problem solving, and operating in a structured cleanroom production environment. The work environment is a mix of office and cleanroom settings, within a collaborative, supportive, and engaging team culture.

• ◆Own and support assigned wafer fabrication tools and associated subsystems used in low-rate production
• ◆Troubleshoot, diagnose, and resolve equipment issues impacting safety, yield, schedule, or throughput
• ◆Drive equipment reliability improvements through root cause analysis and corrective/preventive actions
• ◆Partner with Process Engineers to ensure tools meet process capability and control

• ✓Support hands ‑on wafer processing and recovery activities for production lots as needed
• ✓Collect, analyze, and trend equipment performance metrics (OEE, Uptime, MTBF, MTTR, repeat failures)
• ✓Improve equipment diagnostics, automation, and recovery procedures to reduce unplanned downtime
• ✓Document equipment procedures, configurations, and workflows in MES ‑ready formats
• ✓Ensure compliance with safety, cleanroom, and EHS

• ✓Collaborate with Process, Maintenance, Quality, and R&D teams to support stable low-rate production execution

Job

• ✓Minimum Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or a related technical discipline
• ✓1–5 years of relevant experience supporting semiconductor, MEMS, or microfabrication equipment
• ✓Familiarity with equipment metrics (MTBF, MTTR, OEE), SPC concepts, or structured escalation workflows
• ✓Strong written and verbal communication skills in English
• ✓Proficient computer skills, including JMP, Microsoft Word, Excel
• ✓Strong troubleshooting, root ‑cause analysis, and problem ‑solving skills
• ✓Ability to work hands ‑on with semiconductor fabrication equipment, including vacuum systems, RF plasma systems, motion control, and wet processing tools
• ✓Experience with one or more key wafer fabrication processes
• ✓Experience using basic inspection and diagnostic tools (e.g., microscopes, electrical test equipment; SEM/FIB exposure a plus)
• ✓Familiarity with cleanroom operations, safety practices, and controlled manufacturing environments
• ✓Must be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident