Equipment Engineer, Dry Etch

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The Quantum Photonics Group (led by Principal Investigator (PI) Oskar Painter) is seeking an Equipment Engineer, Dry Etch to assist in the day-to-day technical operations of its cleanroom facilities on the Caltech campus. The QPG Equipment Engineer will take an important role in maintaining peak performance of state-of-the-art nanofabrication equipment, which includes material deposition systems (e.g. plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition, atomic layer deposition, physical vapor deposition), material etching systems (e.g. reactive ion etchers, vapor HF), a scanning electron microscope, fume hoods for wet chemistry, and other supporting tools;

responsibilities for equipment will be shared with other technicians and a process engineer, with whom the QPG Equipment Engineer will work closely. The QPG Equipment Engineer will be expected to take ownership of equipment by both learning how to operate it at peak performance and by administering the types of maintenance and alignments that keep it dialed in to peak performance for use by the lab’s quantum device researchers.

When repairs are needed, the successful candidate will be able to combine problem-solving skills with mechanical, electrical, and vacuum system know-how to return equipment to optimal working order, then document the solutions to make future repairs. The QPG Equipment Engineer will carry out test protocols and preventative maintenance plans that minimize the chance of equipment failure, thereby maximizing its uptime for the lab’s researchers.

The successful candidate will become an expert in equipment operation to the point of being able to train lab users to also expertly operate the equipment. Overall, the QPG Equipment Engineer will be expected to contribute to the lab culture and capabilities and strive to meet the high standards necessary to run a world-class research operation.

• Perform routine inspection, preventive maintenance, calibration, and troubleshooting of mechanical, electrical, and vacuum systems for semiconductor nanofabrication equipment, along with other integrated systems for gas delivery, motion control, etc.
• Follow established methods to monitor equipment performance and operating parameters, including performing daily checklists and routine process qualifying runs, in order to ensure equipment is operating at peak performance.

• Respond quickly to equipment failures, system alarms, downtime, and operational issues. Establish response procedures to reduce downtime and improve efficiency.
• Perform repairs and diagnosis by reading through equipment and utility schematics, soliciting advice from vendors, and formally communicating with other team members.
• For repairs that rise to the level of needing attention from vendor service people (most equipment will be covered under service contract), first coordinate the service, then follow through until the service is complete. This includes documenting the service visit and formally communicating results to the other team members.

• Formally develop and execute preventative maintenance plans for equipment to keep performance at the established, high standard.
• Monitor performance indicators to continuously improve equipment reliability while reducing maintenance costs.
• Lead in formally creating, updating, and maintaining equipment troubleshooting documents that can be used to address commonly encountered problems.
• Help to maintain, upgrade, and back up computer systems in the lab (e.g., computers for individual instruments, login terminals, and new computer networking projects).

• Participate in the planning, installation, commissioning, testing, and acceptance of new…