R&D Engineer 3 (7120U) - NanoLab

At the University of California, Berkeley, we are committed to creating a community that fosters equity of experience and opportunity, and ensures that students, faculty, and staff of all backgrounds feel safe, welcome and included. Our culture of openness, freedom and belonging make it a special place for students, faculty and staff.

The University of California, Berkeley, is one of the world's leading institutions of higher education, distinguished by its combination of internationally recognized academic and research excellence; the transformative opportunity it provides to a large and diverse student body; its public mission and commitment to equity and social justice; and its roots in the California experience, animated by such values as innovation, questioning the status quo, and respect for the environment and nature. Since its founding in 1868, Berkeley has fueled a perpetual renaissance, generating unparalleled intellectual, economic and social value in California, the United States and the world.

We are looking for equity-minded applicants who represent the full diversity of California and who demonstrate a sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds present in our community. When you join the team at Berkeley, you can expect to be part of an inclusive, innovative and equity-focused community that approaches higher education as a matter of social justice that requires broad collaboration among faculty, staff, students and community partners. In deciding whether to apply for a position at Berkeley, you are strongly encouraged to consider whether your values align with our Guiding Values and Principles, our Principles of Community, and our Strategic Plan.

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The College of Engineering at UC Berkeley provides oversight support for this independently managed recharge operation - the Marvell Nanofabrication Laboratory (NanoLab). Semiconductor research facilities are among the most complex, costly, and technically demanding research facilities. The NanoLab is an interdisciplinary recharge facility whose primary goals are to foster research and education in the areas of semiconductor manufacturing, micro/nanofabrication techniques and interdisciplinary application of microfabrication. The laboratory is a unique 15,000 sq. ft. ultra-clean, particle-free facility that houses over 170 pieces of semiconductor process equipment which serve the research needs of more than 500 researchers, faculty and approved startups.

This position is integral for successful operations and involves professional engineering and engineering technician support as part of academic instructional lab and/or research projects and programs. Engineering activities include the design, construction, testing of experimental systems, operation of analytical systems, establishment of performance specifications, and documentation. Under minimal direction of the Research and Development Engineering Manager this position is responsible to provide professional engineering development and maintenance support of facilities and equipment in the NanoLab.

This is a 100% FTE, 1-year contract position with the possibility of extension.

The First Review Date for this job is: November 15, 2024 - Open Until Filled

30% Equipment and Process Development:

• Provide full range of professional engineering services to research projects; meet with research staff in the design and development phase. Meet with Principal Investigators and/or faculty and research personnel with administrative responsibility for the research program or teaching facility. Meet with graduate researchers and principal investigators to design equipment modifications to meet special semiconductor process needs or to resolve equipment issues.
• Site new equipment; modify and upgrade existing equipment and their ancillary systems. Upgrade tasks may include but are not limited to - determine project specifications and parameters. Prepare CAD and hand drawings and schematics as needed. Submit machine shop orders for the custom fabrication of assemblies and parts. Design, construct, assemble and test experimental equipment and systems. Assist in developing recipes. Use critical thinking to solve complex problems. Work in teams as required. Contribute designs to develop and improve tools and tool reliability.

30% Equipment Troubleshooting and Repair. Sample subsystems:

• Troubleshoot and repair electronics. This includes but is not limited to DC, RF, and microwave power supplies; matching networks, logic and control systems.
• Troubleshoot and repair mid-range, high, and ultra-high high vacuum systems. This includes but is not limited to pumping systems (cryopumps; ionpumps; turbo-molecular pumps; oil, perfluorinated ether and nitrogen cooled rotary vane pumps); associated valves, manifolds and control systems; gauging and pressure control systems. Calibrate and repair vacuum metrology. Detect and resolve vacuum leak issues.
• Troubleshoot and repair high-purity, inert, non-toxic, corrosive and toxic gas delivery systems. This includes but is not limited to temperature based mass flow controllers, pressure based gas flow controllers, pneumatic and manual valving, and all associated plumbing.
• Troubleshoot and repair temperature maintenance systems. This includes but is not limited to water, glycol, freon, and peltier based cooling systems; resistance, induction and, infrared heating systems; thermocouple, RTD, and optical pyrometer temperature measurement systems.
• For all subsystems troubleshoot and repair logic based control systems, low voltage cabling, calibrate components as required, recommend component upgrades.

15% Perform design, construction, assembly and testing of complex experimental equipment and instrument systems. Equipment Maintenance and Sustaining Operations Schedule and perform preventative maintenance. Maintain a spare parts inventory. Provide part numbers for purchase. Liaison with vendors for support services. Identify second source (non OEM) suppliers especially for legacy equipment. Network with similar academic laboratories for best practice recommendations. Support equipment operating systems and programmable logic controllers. Work as a team member with the NanoLab computer support staff as needed. Backup software and hard drives.

10% May provide engineering information and advice to Principal Investigators and / or other faculty and research personnel with administrative responsibility for the research program or teaching facility. Understand and use the Mercury database to mark equipment status, enable tools, enter comments and problem reports and add needed support documents. Writes annual report and additional reports as needed. Write, edit and revise equipment manuals, support documents, startup and shutdown procedures.

5% Gather, analyze, prepare and summarize annual and semi-annual reports. Assist in the development of, and follow standard operating procedures and best known methods for safety and to prevent injuries. Practice and comply with safe working practices to assure personal safety and safety to the lab environment for colleagues and researchers. Understand and work within guidelines to protect the environment.

5% Provide direction, guidance and training to less experienced engineers, staff and students. Offer instruction and training in support of staff development and equipment, support, and repair.

5% May implement related business processes.

• Thorough knowledge necessary to apply principles, practices and procedures in the completion of assignments.
• Demonstrated organizational and decision-making abilities to prioritize competing work assignments in order to meet deadlines and adherence to quality standards.
• Strong analytical and judgment skills to independently conduct analyses and develop appropriate recommendations.
• Effective written and verbal communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to work in a collaborative manner; identify challenges and barriers and recommend resolutions.
• Ability to lead and influence others.
• Ability to make appropriate recommendations to improve equipment and laboratory operations.
• Ability to work alone (or in a team) to identify issues, recommend solutions, solve problems and produce results.
• Ability to meet deadlines and adhere to high standards of reliability, quality and cleanliness.
• Effective computer use, writing skills and the ability to verbally communicate with colleagues, researchers and vendors.
• A.A.S, E.E.T. or Bachelor's degree in science or engineering, or equivalent industrial experience and a proven track record of semiconductor equipment support and facilities engineering.
• Experience in the repair, modification, trouble shooting and support of DC, RF, microwave, high-voltage and other electronic circuits.
• PC/logic control experience.
• Experience with mechanical systems and robotics as pertains to wafer transport and handling.
• A working understanding of high vacuum components, pumps, systems, vacuum gauging, leak detection and vacuum science.
• Experience with high-purity gas delivery, gas manifolds, mass flow controllers and gas control mechanism.
• Experience with thin film deposition equipment via physical vapor deposition (PVD), chemical vapor deposition (PECVD and LPCVD), atomic layer deposition (ALD).
• Familiarity with thin films etching via gas phase plasma processing (RIE, DRIE, pulsed gas DRIE).

For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University, please visit the University of California's Compensation & Benefits website.

Under California law, the University of California, Berkeley is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience.

The budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $88,900 to $126,400 yearly ($7,408.33 to $10,533.33 monthly). This is a 100% FTE, 1-year contract position eligible for benefits. This position is FLSA Exempt and paid monthly.

This is a designated position requiring fingerprinting and a background check due to the nature of the job responsibilities. Berkeley does hire people with conviction histories and reviews information received in the context of the job responsibilities. The University reserves the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of the background check.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. For more information about your rights as an applicant, please see the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission poster.

The University of California's Affirmative action policy.

The University of California's Anti-Discrimination policy.