Process Engineer, Staff - Plasma Etch

About Tower Semiconductor

Looking for a career path in the high-tech industry? Become part of a team focused on delivering the most exciting semiconductor technology in the world! If you enjoy working with others in a dynamic, fast-paced environment and are looking for an opportunity to grow your career in this exciting industry, then Tower Semiconductor is the place to be!

Tower Semiconductor, the leading foundry of high-value analog semiconductor solutions, provides technology, development, and process platforms for analog integrated circuits to more than 300 customers worldwide across growing markets such as communications, mobile, infrastructure, consumer, industrial, automotive, medical, and aerospace and defense, among others.

Join Tower and become part of a dynamic organization with exceptionally talented and dedicated team members who work collaboratively to provide best-in-class technological solutions to our clients

Job Description

In this role, you will lead process development, process transfer, and process improvement initiatives within our high-volume manufacturing facility located in San Antonio, TX. Our Tower fab in San Antonio is an expanding manufacturing site dedicated to delivering specialty electronic devices across diverse applications while maintaining exceptional quality standards, competitive costs, and efficient cycle times.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate excellent hands-on experience with both processes and equipment, coupled with strong experimental skills. Candidates with prior experience working with plasmas and a solid understanding of plasma physics will be given preference. Manufacturing or industrial experience is considered a significant advantage.

This Job Is For You If

• Lead the area by establishing directions for improvements, sustaining, and overall operations


• Mentor junior engineers and technicians


• Collaborate closely with process, integration, and yield enhancement engineers to improve process metrics including SPC, yield, parametrics, and defects


• Strive to achieve first-pass success for technology transfers


• Identify and define projects for process development and improvement


• Work with a team of process technicians on projects and daily sustaining activities


• Ensure newly installed equipment matches requirements to support production ramp


• Partner with equipment engineering to improve uptime and tool utilization


• Implement advanced process control to improve Cpk at critical levels


• Identify cost savings opportunities and drive projects to reduce overall costs


• Define and execute projects to completion, improving cost, quality, and productivity


• Develop and optimize processes to support new product introduction and demonstrate manufacturability


• Enjoy hands-on fab work, spending time running carefully designed experiments


• Multitask effectively and react quickly to changing conditions while recognizing problems, limitations, and opportunities


• Make decisions with strong technical implications


• Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing due to extensive cross-team collaboration

Job Requirements

Must Have:

• Ph.D. with 1+ years of experience, M.S. with 5+ years or B.S with 10+ years of experience in Plasma Etch.


• 3+ years of industry experience in silicon, dielectric or conductor etch.


• Major in chemical engineering, electrical engineering, physics, mechanical engineering, materials science, or chemistry


• Excellent written and oral communication skills


• Able to work closely and cordially with others as part of a team to solve difficult problems


• Proven strong skills in statistics, SPC, DOE, and data analysis techniques


• Hands-on experience with plasma tools and processes, experience with LAM tools is a plus.


• Good understanding of vacuum technology, plasma reactors, and plasma physics


• Some knowledge of device physics and device architecture


• High degree of discipline and organization with the ability to multi-task and successfully drive multiple projects simultaneously


• Understand cycle time, process flows, and material management


• Analyze problems and develop effective solutions


• Willingness to seek out information and advice from all members of the org. chart to get unstuck from challenging problems


• Willingness to design, execute, and analyze difficult experiments.


• This position requires an engineer who is willing to spend time in the fab working with equipment engineers and technicians to troubleshoot and solve difficult problems.


• Must be eligible to work in the U.S without requiring visa sponsorship now or in the future.

#IND100