Principal Engineer, Field Process ALD

As a member of the Key Account organization of the Global Sales and Services business unit, the Principal Field Process Engineer is the on-site process application expert to support the customer in expanding ASM film opportunities on our installed products. In this role, you will drive the process development projects and new product introductions with ASM’s customers. You will provide a technical bridge between the customer process development teams and the Business Unit Process Application Development Team.  
 
Accountability in this role is critical - our Field Process Engineers interface with ASM customers and must have a strong sense of responsibility, authority, and excellent communication skills. Delivering customer satisfaction is a key objective of this role. 
 
Key Responsibilities:

New Product Introduction (NPI): 

• Undergo training with the Business Unit to build expertise on newly developed deposition processes (thermal ALD, plasma ALD, Area Selective Deposition) and hardware. Own the introduction/transfer of these processes to the customer site.  


• Work closely with the field hardware teams and Business Unit to support and troubleshoot issues on new products, including developing proposals for equipment and process design improvements, as well as conducting those experiments in conjunction with the customer. 


• Escalate issues, as needed, to ensure a timely resolution and to maintain the project timeline/scope.  


• Document learnings during NPI and work with the Business Unit to ensure learning is incorporated in future IQ/hardware/process rollout packages. 


• Document the learnings for subsequent knowledge transfer to the local service team at manufacturing sites.  


• Applying Process and Equipment knowledge, troubleshooting skills, and escalation leadership are key to ensuring the success of NPI equipment at the customer site. 

On-site process development: 

• Support Customer deposition processes and hardware development (both new development and continuous improvement projects, CIP).  


• Work closely with the Customer to design and conduct experiments to meet the Customer’s need (new development, device integration, CIP, troubleshooting).  


• Analyze current baseline process and system performance; identify gaps with respect to technology node requirements. 


• Perform problem assessment and root cause analysis of system performance issues (non-conformances) at customer site.  


• Work with the customer to develop new opportunities for ASM processes and hardware introduction at the Customer site. 

HVM (High Volume Manufacturing) process transfer: 

• Responsible for process transfer to HVM fabs and transfer of product knowledge to the local service organization. 


• Document and maintain the process and hardware learnings from the development phase and develop/transfer best known methods (BKMs) to the HVM site teams. 
   

Minimum Qualifications: 

• M.S. or PhD in chemistry, physical chemistry, chemical engineering, materials science, or physics. 


• 7-10 years industry experience in processing, developing, and characterizing thin films deposited in any of the following types of deposition reactors: thermal ALD, plasma-enhanced ALD, plasma-enhanced CVD, Epitaxy, or LPCVD/vertical furnace. Demonstrated understanding and experience with semiconductor device applications, vacuum techniques, film characterization and metrology techniques, and thin film ALD deposition processes and equipment.  


• Experience with advanced troubleshooting/structured problem analysis methodologies (KT/FMEA/7-step/Ishikawa diagrams/etc.). 


• Experience designing and conducting experiments, in addition to measuring and interpreting experimental output, aimed at fulfilling stated objectives using DOEs and statistical methods. 


• Experience resolving escalations, developing, and managing action plans, and ensuring clear communication between customer, service team, business unit, and other sub-suppliers. 


• Ability to travel for extended periods of time for training, technical engagement, and to Customer sites. The primary Customer focus will be at a site in Hillsboro, Oregon. 


• In some cases (tool qualifications or escalations), additional hours and working weekends may be required. 


• Must understand the Intellectual Property boundaries between ASM and the Customer and be able to maintain IP, as appropriate, during all external and internal interactions. 


• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with ability to clearly communicate advanced technical constructs in a direct and concise manner. 
   

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Preference towards candidates with experience optimizing film deposition and process development with ASM ALD, PEALD, PECVD, Epitaxy, or Vertical Furnace LPCVD equipment.