Staff Engineer - Semiconductor Equipment

About the position

WGNSTAR is a dynamic and growing company with a global footprint, primarily focused on the semiconductor industry. We’re excited to be partnering directly with one of our valued clients to fill a key position on their team. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to meaningful work in an innovative environment. Schedule: Standard - Monday - Friday, 1st Shift; 9-80's also optional. Pay Rate: Up to $245K. DOE. Location: Baltimore, MD area - Relocation assistance is available. Travel: 10%. Position Type: Full-Time, Client Direct Hire.

Responsibilities

• Lead process and/or equipment engineering efforts utilizing Applied Materials (AMAT) tools, a combination of ENDURA, CENTURA, (dry etch and CVD) and MIRRA platforms.
• Focus on driving process optimization and enhancing equipment performance by collaborating with onsite AMAT FSO and engineering functions.
• Improve various metrics including Process capability (CpK), Equipment availability, Tool down escalations, Maintenance to ratio (M-ratio), Mean Time to Repair (MTTR), Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF), Preventative Maintenance (PM) success rate, PM on-time and in-time metrics.
• 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 down escalations, liaising between AMAT 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.
• Collaborate with local and cross-functional teams to develop BKMs for the operation and upkeep of ENDURA, CENTURA and MIRRA tools.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree: in Science, Technology, Engineering or Math AND 12+ years of related experience; or Master's degree in same 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 at 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.

Nice-to-haves

• Expertise in fingerprinting a wide range of Applied Materials (AMAT) 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 optimization of processes to improve film uniformity, reduce defects, and increase overall throughput.
• Expertise in CENTURA etch eMXP+ systems, specializing in high-aspect-ratio etches on silicon, metal and dielectrics.
• Expertise in Centura CVD platforms to deposit high quality SIOx and SiN films, including modifying hardware and/or process.
• Expertise in MIRRA DESICA CMP for fully automated dry-in/dry-out planarization, including endpoint detection for multi-platen polishing, expertise in metal damascene and dielectric planarization, and knowledge in slurry chemistry and pad conditioning.

Benefits

• Relocation assistance available.
• Access to a full range of wellness services through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Support for individual and group sponsorships for local sports and vulnerable communities.