Wafer Fabrication Facility Technician

You are invited to apply for the position of Facility Technician for the Detector Microfabrication Facility (DMF) in the Fundamental Physics Directorate (FPD) at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. The role of the Facility Technician is the inspection, operation, preventive maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair of water systems, vacuum systems, and other facility support systems to enable the fabrication of state-of-the-art superconducting microelectronics devices and support SLAC’s scientific mission. The DMF tool suite includes a diverse set of fabrication tools; lithography, deposition, etch, wet chemistry stations and metrology tools, which the technician will also cross-train and assist with their routine operation and maintenance in accordance with established procedures.

The Detector Microfabrication Facility (DMF) is an ISO-5 cleanroom with a dedicated toolset for the R&D and at-scale production of superconducting devices and sensors with high uniformity, complexity, yield, and reproducibility. In addition to a specialized toolset on 150mm wafers, the DMF also includes necessary capabilities for post-fabrication metrology, room-temperature and cryogenic characterization down to 20mK, and validation of functionality and performance of devices produced at the DMF. The facility is envisioned to support DOE mission science by enabling collaborative research across universities, labs and industry in quantum information science and fundamental physics. The DMF is managed by the Fundamental Physics Directorate (FPD). The FPD brings together scientists and technologies that support national priorities in particle physics, astrophysics and cosmology to explore the basic particles and forces that knit the cosmos together. As a member of the DMF core team, you will report to the DMF Operations Manager.

Your specific responsibilities will include:

• Operate, inspect, maintain, and troubleshoot water systems that support the facility and process equipment, following approved procedures and safety requirements.
• Maintain and troubleshoot vacuum systems, including pumps, valves, gauges, seals, lines, and related components; perform basic leak checks and support more advanced diagnostics as needed.
• Support the reliable operation of facility systems and utilities serving the cleanroom and tool suite, and promptly report abnormal conditions, alarms, leaks, or performance changes.
• Respond to equipment and facility issues, gather operating data, help identify likely causes, and carry out corrective actions within the technician's training and authorization.
• Help improve equipment reliability, maintainability, and uptime by identifying recurring issues and recommending practical improvements to procedures, tooling, or spare-parts planning.
• This position requires an onsite work schedule and may require response during non-standard business hours.

To be successful in this position you will bring:

• Hands-on experience maintaining or operating mechanical, vacuum, water, utility, laboratory, industrial, or semiconductor-facility systems.
• An detail orientated work ethic. Not only reports, but solves issues, both on the urgent and long term time scale through collaborative and intrinsic experience based knowledge.
• Working knowledge of mechanical components, pumps, valves, piping, gauges, sensors, and common hand and diagnostic tools.
• Ability to read and follow procedures, equipment manuals, drawings, schematics, work plans, and safety documentation.
• Strong attention to detail and a dependable ownership mindset for assigned systems and tasks.
• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative team and communicate clearly with technicians, engineers, scientists, facility staff, and vendors.
• Experience in a cleanroom, research laboratory, semiconductor facility, or similarly controlled technical environment is preferred.
• Technical training, an associate degree, an apprenticeship, military technical training, or equivalent practical experience is preferred.

Core Duties:

• Support complex scientific and research programs related to area of specialization; analyze data, monitor and oversee experimental process, and design and develop prototypes, specialized equipment, and/or systems.
• Collaborate with scientists, engineers, or senior administrative officers to oversee complex non-routine analyses, select optimum solutions, and perform corrective modifications to equipment and system designs.
• Carry out all activities, including troubleshooting and resolving routine problems for scientist or engineers, independently.
• Collaborate with senior engineers and scientists to design and develop special purpose equipment and/or systems.
• Participate in the planning, design, and implementation of scientific or engineering initiatives, and work toward project objective.
• Oversee a laboratory space or unit and supervise the work of technicians and other staff associated with the group.
• Serve as a resource in review of research proposals and research capabilities and make recommendations.
• Establish, communicate, and enforce compliance with health and safety policies and procedures.
• Develop training manuals and safety guidelines, and train new instrumentation users, researchers, and/or technical staff.
• Perform supervisory duties, including overseeing the work of technicians and other staff associated with the group/project, supervising the regular installation, maintenance, and operation of complex scientific or engineering projects, and training technicians, operators, and others working in particular scientific or engineering function area.

Minimum Education and Experience

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, science, or related field and three years of relevant experience; or a combination of education and relevant experience.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Demonstrated knowledge and skills of advanced scientific or engineering principles and practices.
• Demonstrated experience applying complex scientific and engineering principles and performing special technical services involving both development and performance.
• In-depth experience with software applications, systems, or programs relevant for the job.
• Ability to independently oversee and manage instrumentation or system installation.
• Ability to collaborate with senior engineering and scientific staff to design and develop special purpose equipment and/or systems.
• Experience overseeing the plan, design, and implementation of major scientific or engineering initiatives and ensuring project objectives are met.
• Demonstrated ability to review research proposals, evaluate research capabilities, and make recommendations.
• Demonstrated ability to establish, communicate, and enforce compliance with health and safety policies and procedures.
• Experience overseeing a laboratory space or unit and supervising the work of technicians and other staff associated with the group.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively supervise and train a diverse work staff.