Cleanroom Safety & Process Engineer

Cleanroom Safety & Process Engineer About the Opportunity

JOB SUMMARY:

The Cleanroom Safety & Process Engineer will play a critical role in the safe, efficient, and compliant operation of the Kostas Center's cleanroom and H5 room environments. In addition, they are responsible for ensuring the safe operation of a nanofabrication cleanroom facility with particular emphasis on the management of toxic, corrosive, pyrophoric, and otherwise hazardous gases. This position combines hands-on process engineering expertise with comprehensive safety oversight, including management of toxic and flammable gas systems, chemical inventory, personnel training, and regulatory coordination.

The ideal candidate will bring a strong background in microfabrication, cleanroom operations, and hazardous materials safety. This role goes well beyond traditional technician-level responsibilities. The ideal candidate functions as a subject-matter expert who develops safety protocols, leads incident investigations, drives continuous improvement in tool uptime and reliability, and serves as the primary technical authority on hazardous materials within the cleanroom environment.

The Kostas Nanoscale Technology and Manufacturing Research Center at Northeastern University is a state-of-the-art facility supporting cutting-edge research in nanoscale fabrication. Our cleanroom and associated high-hazard (H5) facilities serve a diverse community of internal and external researchers working at the forefront of microfabrication and nanotechnology.

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, materials science, physics, chemistry, or a closely related field. Master's degree preferred.
• Minimum of 3-5 years of professional experience in cleanroom process engineering, microfabrication, or a closely related environment.
• Demonstrated experience with microfabrication processes, including etching (wet and/or dry), thin film deposition, lithography, or related techniques.
• Working knowledge of hazardous gas systems, gas cabinets, and toxic gas monitoring systems.
• SCBA trained or medically cleared to successfully complete SCBA training upon hire and pass annual respirator fit testing and medical evaluation.
• On-call availability for emergency response to gas alarms, tool failures, and safety incidents outside normal business hours.
• Strong understanding of cleanroom safety protocols, chemical hygiene, and relevant regulatory requirements.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills with the ability to work collaboratively across teams.

• Direct experience working with toxic and/or flammable gases in a cleanroom or semiconductor fabrication environment.
• Prior experience developing and maintaining SOPs for complex laboratory or cleanroom equipment.
• Experience coordinating with environmental health and safety (EH&S) or facilities management organizations.
• Familiarity with gas monitoring systems (tGMS) and emergency response procedures for gas-related incidents.
• Experience training and mentoring technical staff or research personnel in cleanroom operations and safety.
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs, work on elevated platforms, and access confined spaces as needed.

• Act as the facility safety officer or designee for all cleanroom operations, ensuring compliance with OSHA, EPA, NFPA 318 (Cleanroom Fire Protection), SEMI S2/S8 standards, and applicable local/state regulations.
• Manage chemical hygiene plans, hazardous waste streams, SDS libraries, and chemical inventory tracking systems within the cleanroom.
• Maintain current SCBA (Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus) certification or obtain certification promptly upon hire; must be medically cleared for SCBA training and use.
• Maintain and update Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all cleanroom tools and H5 equipment, including gas cabinets and the toxic Gas Monitoring System (tGMS), emergency response plans, and exposure mitigation strategies.
• Maintain and calibrate continuous toxic gas monitoring (TGM) systems, ensuring alarm set-points comply with OSHA PELs, ACGIH TLVs, and IDLH thresholds.
• Lead quarterly gas safety audits, cylinder change-out inspections, and leak detection campaigns using methods such as FTIR, electrochemical sensors, and colorimetric detection.
• Interface with the Office of Academic Research Safety (OARS) and Facilities (PREF) to coordinate facility access, shutdowns, and any activities that may impact cleanroom or H5 room operations.

• Perform daily and weekly inspections of the H5 room and all associated equipment, ensuring safe and reliable operation at all times.
• Operate and maintain cleanroom process tools for both internal and external users, including equipment that utilizes high-hazard toxic and flammable gases.
• Develop and maintain PM schedules, qualification procedures, and tool-specific lockout/tagout (LOTO) protocols that integrate safety requirements with…