Principal Process Engineer

For over 55 years ASM has been ahead of what’s next, at the forefront of innovation and what’s technologically possible. With more than 4,500 ASMers representing 70 nationalities, our people and our advanced semiconductor devices are playing a crucial role in trends such as 5G, cloud computing, AI, and autonomous driving. But we’re more than just a tech company.

As a Principal Process Engineer at ASM, you will work with semiconductor processing and analytical equipment to research, develop and optimize processes focused on oxidation, annealing, curing, Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD, PEALD), Epitaxy or PECVD for logic, memory, analog, power, and MEMS applications. You will utilize your extensive technical domain expertise to deliver innovative solutions to our product teams. You will design and conduct complex experiments, measurements and perform the interpretation of complex experimental output.

While you deliver creative and inventive solutions, technical publications, and generation of Intellectual Property (IP) are an essential function of this position.

Key Responsibilities

• Creative problem solver with experience in developing new films for emerging applications and experience in chemistry/materials characterization.
• Works with semiconductor processing equipment to research, develop and optimize unit processes focused on the deposition of metal and dielectric films via ALD, PEALD, Epitaxy, and/or PECVD.
• Bringing innovative ideas, staying abreast of state-of-the-art processing applications in the semiconductor industry to be effective.
• Process consulting and accountability including technical papers on advanced process applications and Intellectual Property creation.
• Provides mentorship to other Process Engineers within the team.
• Participates in and drives technical problem-solving sessions using the related scientific method and industry tools, such as Ishikawa diagrams.
• Designs and conducts experiments, in addition to measuring and interpreting experimental output, aimed at fulfilling stated objectives using Design of Experiments (DOE) and Response Surface Methodology (RSM).
• Troubleshoots equipment problems and is personally and actively engaged in problem via “hands-on” modalities.
• Works with customers and central marketing to understand and define requirements to successfully execute and document customer demonstrations.
• Develops methods and techniques for integrating metal and/or oxide films into existing and future device technologies.
• Ensures successful product transfer to customer base by performing demonstrations, training field service personnel, traveling to support remote sites (up to 10% travel required), and drafting documentation regarding process development, tool operation and maintenance.
• Produces technical papers on process, equipment, and device integration improvement strategies and presents to professional audience.
• You may be assigned supervisory duties over supporting process engineering technicians and aides. These supervisory duties could include direct input into employees’ performance evaluations, discipline, and discharge.

Qualifications

• Master’s or PhD degree in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Electrical Engineering, or Physics
• 7+ years of combined education, research, and work experience with:
• Cure, oxidation, ALD, CVD, Epitaxy, PECVD and/or other thin film deposition.
• Materials characterization techniques such as XPS, SIMS, RBS, AFM, XRR, XRD, TEM, SEM and ellipsometry.
• Knowledge of electrical characterization techniques for CMOS devices.
• Application of dielectric and/or metal films for logic and memory structures.
• Training in CFD (computational fluid dynamics), either theoretical or practical is preferred.
• Knowledge of electrical characterization techniques for CMOS devices is preferred.

Skills

• Ability to independently manage complex process development projects, including personnel, project schedules, experimental thrusts, hardware procurement and budgetary oversight.
• Ability to be a process consultant to internal and external customers.
• An authority on interplay between hardware design (e.g., chemical reactor design) and operation and process outputs
• Understanding of requirements for integration of metals as work function materials and barrier layers in FEOL and BEOL process flows
• Demonstrated ability to develop and completely characterize deposition processes using first principles and experimental design techniques (e.g., DOE, RSM).
• Experience with the theory, practice, and interpretation of materials characterization techniques such as XPS, SIMS, RBS, AFM, XRD, HRTEM, FESEM, Auger, Raman and ellipsometry.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with ability to clearly communicate advanced technical constructs in direct and concise manner.