Senior PVD Equipment Engineer

Job Description

Contribute to the design and development of PVD equipment and subsystems, with a focus on magnetic sputtering and magnetron configurations. Spearhead equipment architecture decisions, including vacuum systems, gas and power delivery, magnetron design, and target assemblies. Supervise the construction, installation, commissioning, and qualification of sputtering tools. Troubleshoot and resolve equipment issues related to plasma stability, film uniformity, arcing, target wear, and magnetic field non-uniformity. Support sputtering processes for magnetic and non-magnetic materials in both R&D and manufacturing environments. Partner with process, materials, and operations teams to enhance tool performance and reliability. Generate and maintain equipment documentation and preventative maintenance procedures. Pinpoint and implement continuous improvement opportunities and equipment upgrades.

Qualifications

1. Hold a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, or a related field; an advanced degree is preferred. 2. Possess extensive hands-on experience in designing, building, and troubleshooting magnetron sputtering tools. 3. Demonstrate a strong understanding of PVD sputtering processes. 4. Experience with sputtering of magnetic materials is strongly favored. 5. Exhibit a solid grasp of vacuum systems, plasma physics, RF/DC power supplies, and magnetic field design. 6. Showcase excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities, along with strong cross-functional collaboration skills. 7. Be capable of working independently and leading complex technical projects.