Staff Scientist Nanofabrication

Staff Scientist, Nanofabrication Process - Nanofabrication Core Lab

Position Summary

KAUST Nanofabrication Core Lab is a multidisciplinary laboratory supporting research in Micro- and Nanofabrication and Microfluidics. The individual will support research at KAUST and regionally by providing expertise and support to staff, students, researchers and external users of the cleanroom. The individual will work with a team of scientists and engineers and specialists to help ensure an uninterrupted, high standard of experimental research. In addition, the individual is expected to fulfil a multitude of laboratory and university-related tasks.

Major Responsibilities

• Responsible for multi-tube furnace systems and processes (LPCVD polysilicon and silicon nitride, Diffusion wet/dry oxidation) and rapid thermal annealing systems and processes.
• Work in a team to deliver the highest level of service to maximize thermal process equipment up time, minimize maintenance costs and meet KPI targets.
• Respond quickly to maintenance, calibration, process and trouble-shooting requests.
• Develop new processes and assist with research projects
• Provide training to staff, researchers, students and external users.
• Complete assigned work at the highest possible level of quality and in a timely manner.
• Coordinate with other tool owners to schedule equipment maintenance and other services.
• Coordinate with vendors and team members to ensure proper repair and maintenance of equipment.
• Identify required spare parts and facilitate the ordering process.
• Provide sufficiently detailed, frequent and easy to understand communications to team lead
• Maintain service reports to record all service-related activities.
• Complete assigned requests for service (RFS) on time, communicating effectively with requesters and Team lead.
• Help document procedures for equipment operation, maintaining and reviewing regularly the standard operating procedures (SOP) and risk assessments.
• Optimize and maintain standard processes, monitoring them regularly and recording data.
• Assist team lead in writing specifications for new equipment and assist users and staff to commission new installations and develop new processes.
• Ensure good laboratory practice and highlight non-compliance of laboratory policy and rules.
• Identify areas for improvement in lab operations and suggest solutions.
• Perform routine laboratory duties and maintenance, including administrative, procurement, service on task forces and committees.
• Other duties as assigned by the team lead and lab director.

Personal Requirements

Competencies

• Strong Experience in maintaining and developing thermal processes such as LPCVD, oxidation, diffusion and annealing in silicon and compound semiconductor-based wafer processes.
• Knowledge of processing semiconductor materials
• Excellent process trouble-shooting skills and demonstrable semiconductor based thermal processing/furnace equipment knowledge
• Experience and knowledge of using thin films imaging and characterization tools, including techniques such as spectroscopic ellipsometry and optical or stylus surface profiling, optical microscopy, film stress measurements, atomic force microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy.
• Strong experience and knowledge of cleanroom environments, standards and procedures.
• Good knowledge of advances in the field of research and potential vendors, to be able to advise on equipment specifications, replacement and upgrades.
• Experience and practical knowledge of handling, installing and storing hazardous substances, risk assessing tools, processes and maintenance tasks.
• Experience in managing material and chemical inventories.
• Knowledge of safety protocols for use of gases, hazardous substances and high vacuum and high temperature equipment and processes.
• Efficiently manage a variety of tasks independently.
• Customer focused attitude.
• Excellent problem solving and analytical skills. The individual should be able to conduct complicated equipment trouble shooting through applying theoretical principles and is able to work collaboratively with factory service experts when needed.
• Ability to work effectively and efficiently in a diverse, multi-cultural environment
• Collaborate with team members, lab users, and external service providers.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Strong planning and organizational skills.

Qualifications

• A PhD degree in a relevant scientific/engineering field (minimum requirement).

Experience

• At least 5 additional years of semiconductor or micro/nano- fabrication experience in a cleanroom environment with demonstrable experience in using and maintaining LPCVD high temperature thermal furnaces/systems and deposition systems.
• Knowledge and experience using statistical process control (SPC) is preferable