Position Overview
The Operations Engineer (OE) is primarily responsible for operation, training and maintenance of semiconductor research equipment within the MIT.nano facility. Each OE has an area of specific expertise, but also requires broad knowledge of general laboratory and cleanroom protocols and operation. The OE will work as a part of a team in their area of expertise, and with other Operations Engineers and Domain Experts of other areas to enable successful research within the lab.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities
We are seeking an OE who will support state-of-the-art semiconductor equipment including the support systems that serve those tools. The OE will interact closely with users of the MIT.nano Fabrication Facility to ensure successful operation of the tools. Equipment responsibilities include lithography, wet processing stations, reactive ion etchers (RIE), chemical and physical vapor deposition systems (PVD and CVD), and thermal processing systems. Expertise will include lithography, etch and deposition techniques, proper chemical handling, safety and storage, and support system maintenance and service.
The primary goal of MIT.nano is to enhance and enable the research and educational goals of the Institute. The facility serves a large R&D community of faculty, students, businesses, and staff by providing a shared environment for fabrication, study, and characterization of novel nanostructures, materials, devices, and processes. The Operations Engineer title is a technical staff position within MIT.nano that reports to the Assistant Director of Operations of MIT.nano. This position will support laboratory operational functions to provide services and research facilities to multiple communities inside and outside of MIT. The following outlines the responsibilities of this position in more detail:
Equipment Operation
Ownership or co-ownership for primary tooling, auxiliary equipment and building systems as assigned ensuring up-time, safety, and performance metrics are achieved. Typical tasks / responsibilities include:
- Read and understand electrical and mechanical drawings for various systems and subsystems;
- trouble-shoot (electro-mechanical root-cause analysis);
- disassemble / reassemble (with and without formal documentation, schematics, blueprints, or manuals);
- repair (with and without support from the OEM);
- perform routine and preventative maintenance (cleaning, calibrating, or servicing);
- develop back-up plans to reduce tool downtime for common tool problems;
- create inventory control methodologies (spares, consumables, and ancillary support equipment),
Maintain effective training protocols, documentation, and training materials to enhance the user community’s access to tooling and instrumentation. Support the efforts of MIT.nano to assure the user community has easy access to both training materials and staff. Training could include formal presentations (classroom), hands-on at the tool / instrument, and the creation of training materials. Run process qualification, at meaningful intervals, to enable tracking and documentation of equipment / tool / instrument performance over time. Publish and share performance metrics with the user community.
Facility Operation and Safety
Establish and maintain appropriate levels of knowledge and proficiency for laboratory cleanroom and non-cleanroom protocols. Exhibit appropriate housekeeping and cleanroom protocol practices at all times.
Participation in all forms of safety process and procedures which include, but are not limited to: safe handling and storage of hazardous materials (gases, chemicals, waste), EHS trainings, lock-out tag-out (LOTO) programs, emergency response team training sessions, responding to lab emergencies (including gas leaks and chemical spills), etc. Exhibit safe working practices at all times.
User Interactions
Engage the user community, MIT.nano staff and outside resources in a meaningful and productive manner such that the users’ process needs are met and well matched to the capabilities of the facility and the equipment within it.
Train and supervise student and industry users and staff in proper equipment use.
Maintain a significant presence in the cleanroom to be available to assist users with their day-to-day processing challenges.
MINIMUM REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
- BS in Electrical, Mechanical or Chemical Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, or related discipline; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Maturity of judgement, goal-oriented, and a personality that will allow the candidate to function in a highly research-oriented yet disciplined environment that requires strong interaction with faculty, students, and research staff.
- Excellent written and oral communications skills as well as strong interpersonal skills and ability to work alone or within a team environment. Must demonstrate a keen interest in training the user community.
- Demonstrated ability to recognize and respond to unsafe conditions or dangerous situations.
- Ability to regularly lift and transport up to 50lbs.
- Ability to wear respiratory protection, including air-purifying respirator and self-contained breathing apparatus.
- Knowledge and experience with safe working practices for working with hazardous materials. Proficiency in hazard communication and learning/understanding safety information (e.g. Safety Data Sheets, PubChem, etc).
PREFERRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
- Two or more years of experience working in a cleanroom or semiconductor process facility.
- Experienced trainer in one-on-one interactions or in large groups (20-30 people), with the ability to convey complex ideas to personnel with diverse backgrounds and education experience.
- Experience working with hazardous materials including inert, flammable and toxic compressed gases, wet corrosive chemicals and solvents.
- Working knowledge of established and emerging research processes, with ability to assist researchers in experimental design.
- Experience with program logic controllers.
- Proficient in document and data management tools.
- HAZWOPER certification.