Process & Equipment Engineer; AMAT Tools Security Clearance

Position: Staff Process & Equipment Engineer (AMAT Tools) with Security Clearance
Location: Linthicum Heights
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE:
Relocation assistance may be available CLEARANCE TYPE: SCI TRAVEL:
Yes, 10% of the Time Description At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon.

We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work - and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.

Northrop Grumman Microelectronics Center (NGMC) of Mission Systems is seeking a Staff Process & Equipment Engineer (AMAT Tools) for our Advanced Technology Lab (ATL) - located outside of Baltimore, Maryland - where we design, manufacture, and test semiconductor products for internal and commercial production customers as well as emerging technology programs. What You'll get to Do:
Lead process and/or equipment engineering efforts utilizing Applied Materials tools , a combination of ENDURA, CENTURA ( dry etch and CVD ) and MIRRA platforms . This position will focus on driving process optimization and enhancing equipment performance by collaborating with on-site AMAT FSO and engineering functions. In this role you will focus on improv ing various operational metrics, including:
* Process capability ( CpK )
* Equipment availability
* Tool down escalations
* Maintenance ratio (M-ratio)
* Mean Time to Repair (MTTR)
* Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF)
* Preventive Maintenance (PM) success rate
* PM on-time and in-time metrics This position may qualify for Extended Work Week (EWW) compensation, which provides straight time pay at the regular hourly rate for authorized hours worked beyond 80 in a biweekly pay period. EWW eligibility and approval are determined by management discretion and business needs. Additionally, a 9/80 work schedule may be available, allowing for a day off every two weeks while maintaining full-time hours to support work-life balance.

Both EWW and alternative work schedules are subject to review and may change based on customer requirements and evolving business priorities

Key Responsibilities:

* Provide informal guidance to process and equipment engineers while collaborating and directing Customer Engineers (CEs) in both conference room and hands-on settings.
* Create and review documents covering technical improvements, system upgrades, support plans, maintenance manuals and process Best Known Methods (BKMs).
* Serve as the primary point of contact for tool downtime escalations, liaising between Applied Materials and internal stakeholders such as Operations, Process Engineering, Equipment Engineering, and site director.
* Analyze equipment performance and troubleshoot issues, driving data-based methodologies to enhance yield and efficiency.
* Lead process optimization initiatives, developing and implementing strategies to resolve on-wafer issues and diagnostics of equipment malfunctions.
* Collaborate with local and cross-functional teams to develop BKMs for the operation and upkeep of ENDURA, CENTURA, and MIRRA tools.

Basic Qualifications:

* Bachelor's degree in a STEM discipline (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math) and 12+ years of related experience; or Master's degree in a STEM discipline and 10 years of related experience.
* Prior experience with leading OEMs and/or HVM fabs.
* Proven expertise with 200mm or 300mm semiconductor equipment, such as ENDURA, CENTURA, PRODUCER, and/or MIRRA platforms.
* Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, capable of working independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
* Demonstrated experience in leading projects, mentoring colleagues, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
* Able to create and perform equipment and process partitioning to resolve hardware and/or process issues, such as failing mechanical and infilm defects, high film uniformity, failing VPD , and more.
* Skilled in interpreting and modifying diagrams and schematics to effectively troubleshoot and resolve hardware issues .
* US citizenship and ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Top Secret/SCI clearance with Poly required.

Preferred Qualifications:

* Expertise in fingerprinting a wide range of Applied Materials equipment, including detailed assessments of hardware configurations, calibration parameters, and process variables.
* Strong understanding of experimental design methodologies, specifically full factorial and fractional factorial designs.
* Expertise in configuring and troubleshooting the ENDURA mainframe and process chambers, including…