Process Engineer

Process Engineer

Suffolk, UK 

Are you a PhD-qualified Process Engineer with hands-on cleanroom fabrication experience looking to take the next step in your semiconductor career?

We are working with a leading global technology organisation that is continuing to invest in advanced semiconductor and photonic technologies. They are looking to appoint a Process Engineer to join their growing engineering team in Ipswich. This is an exciting opportunity for someone with an academic research background in semiconductor processing, microfabrication or photonics to transition into an industrial R&D environment, working on cutting-edge III-V semiconductor and photonic device technologies.

You will be involved in the development, optimisation and characterisation of wafer fabrication processes, supporting both research and pilot manufacturing activities.

Working alongside experienced engineers and technical specialists, you will gain exposure to a variety of fabrication technologies and contribute to improving process performance, repeatability and wafer quality.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Carrying out hands-on cleanroom fabrication across photolithography, wet and dry etching, and thin-film deposition.
• Developing, optimising and maintaining process recipes across RIE, ICP-RIE, PECVD, ALD, sputtering and evaporation techniques.
• Performing wafer inspection, dimensional measurements and defect analysis using SEM, FIB-SEM, AFM, profilometry and optical microscopy.
• Supporting equipment qualification, calibration, process baselining and routine tool maintenance.
• Using Design of Experiments (DoE) and Statistical Process Control (SPC) to improve process performance and repeatability.
• Investigating process issues, defects and yield challenges through structured root-cause analysis.
• Maintaining technical documentation, process procedures and cleanroom safety standards.
• Collaborating with process, equipment and integration engineers to support technology development and process improvements.

To be considered, you should have:

• A PhD in Physics, Materials Science, Electronic/Electrical Engineering, Chemistry or a closely related discipline.
• Practical, hands-on cleanroom fabrication experience gained within an academic or industrial environment.
• Experience working across several semiconductor fabrication processes, including lithography, etching and thin-film deposition.
• Knowledge of photolithography techniques, including spin coating, mask alignment, exposure, development and lift-off.
• Experience with wet etching and dry etching techniques, ideally RIE or ICP-RIE.
• Exposure to thin-film deposition processes such as PECVD, ALD, sputtering or thermal/e-beam evaporation.
• Experience using semiconductor characterisation equipment, including SEM, profilometers and optical inspection tools.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with an understanding of experimental design and process optimisation.

Please get in touch with Christina McGuire to hear more about this fantastic role.