Senior Materials and Failure Analysis Technician; SIMS

Job Description

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

• Support the Materials and Failure Analysis Engineer in establishing and operating Coherent Sherman's SIMS laboratory, including laboratory startup, equipment qualification, and development of operating procedures.
• Perform SIMS workflow activities including sample preparation, wafer cleaving, sample mounting, tool setup, recipe execution, data collection, and preliminary data analysis with an emphasis on quality, efficiency, and on-time delivery.
• Operate SIMS instrumentation and supporting laboratory equipment in accordance with approved procedures while maintaining high standards of data quality, equipment care, and laboratory safety.
• Perform advanced materials characterization and failure analysis activities on semiconductor, photonic, and optoelectronic devices using analytical tools such as SIMS, optical microscopy, SEM, FIB, probe stations, FTIR, and other laboratory equipment as required.
• Support failure analysis investigations by preparing samples, collecting data, documenting observations, and assisting engineers with root cause analysis activities.
• Prepare technical reports, data summaries, and presentations documenting analytical results with minimal supervision and correction required.
• Perform routine equipment checks, calibrations, housekeeping activities, and preventive maintenance tasks to maximize tool availability, data quality, and laboratory efficiency.
• Work closely with the Principal Engineer, Equipment Engineering, and Facilities teams to support SIMS tool maintenance, troubleshooting, repairs, upgrades, and equipment performance improvement initiatives.
• Assist with installation, qualification, acceptance testing, and startup activities for SIMS instrumentation and supporting laboratory infrastructure.
• Maintain laboratory consumables, chemicals, cryogenic supplies, spare parts inventories, and operational documentation.
• Identify opportunities to improve laboratory efficiency, analytical quality, throughput, and customer responsiveness.
• Write and maintain work instructions, standard operating procedures, laboratory documentation, and training materials under the direction of laboratory leadership.
• Train and mentor technicians and engineers on laboratory procedures, equipment operation, sample preparation techniques, and safety practices.
• Establish productive working relationships with engineers, manufacturing personnel, quality organizations, Equipment Engineering, and internal customers.

Education & Experience

• Requires a minimum of:
• Six (6) years of related laboratory, semiconductor manufacturing, materials characterization, metrology, or failure analysis experience; OR
• Associate degree or technical degree with four (4) years of related experience; OR
• Bachelor's degree in Physics, Chemistry, Materials Science, Engineering Technology, or related technical discipline.

Skills

• Experience operating analytical laboratory equipment in semiconductor, materials characterization, or failure analysis environments.
• Experience with SIMS or TOF-SIMS analysis preferred.
• Experience with semiconductor wafer handling, sample preparation, wafer cleaving, and laboratory sample preparation techniques.
• Experience with optical microscopy, SEM, FIB, probe stations, FTIR, or similar analytical equipment preferred.
• Proficient understanding of chemistry, materials science, and semiconductor device fundamentals.
• Ability to safely handle chemicals and cryogenic materials, including liquid nitrogen.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and preparation of technical reports and presentations.
• Ability to work independently with limited supervision while maintaining high-quality work output.
• Strong analytical, organizational, presentation, technical writing, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Time management skills to efficiently organize work assignments, set estimated completion dates and meet or exceed those commitments.

Working Conditions

• Work in a class 10,000 clean room for extended periods
• Work in a laboratory environment maintained at approximately 60°F (15°C) with tightly controlled temperature and low-humidity conditions required for SIMS instrumentation…