Process Development Engineer

Job description - Process Development Engineer
My client delivers world class 'organic' semiconductor technology used in smartwatches, smartphones and tablets. The company provides customised solutions involving molecule synthesis, formulation, pre-production prototyping and technology transfer for market-driven applications.
To enable the engineering department to meet challenging business development driven targets a Process Development Engineer is required to work primarily in County Durham. The Process Engineer will support the demonstration of organic semiconductor materials in thin film transistor (O-TFT) test devices and demonstrator vehicles.

The process engineer will report to the Process Engineering Manager, and as part of the process engineering team they will support demonstration and validation of the performance of materials and processes.
In this role, you will be responsible for: - Definition, development and delivery of reproducible fabrication processes for O-TFT test device and demonstrator vehicles using semiconductor and display fabrication tools in a cleanroom environment, suitable for the transfer to large scale manufacturing facilities. - Working with the team to develop and maintain appropriate process control methodologies, understanding variability within the processes and reducing the variability to provide stable fabrication techniques. - Developing safety, operational and product flow operating procedures for the technicians who work for the company which enables consistent manufacturing techniques to be applied. - Working with engineers to improve existing and develop new processes in a collaborative but IP sensitive environment. - Working with the materials and test engineering teams to develop and improve device fabrication process improvements utilising parametric and reliability test data. - Reporting progress on device fabrication processes within a project environment to external and internal customers. - Working with customers to demonstrate and transfer device fabrication processes both in the UK and potentially at customer facilities in Asia. - Contributing to technology transfer documentation and data packages to support materials sales and customer focussed process development.

Skills: - Semiconductor or display fabrication process development in manufacturing or pilot production scale environment. - The ability to develop new processes for new product flows and apply design of experiments to carry out optimisation when necessary. - Six Sigma, Continuous Improvement and Lean Manufacturing skills. - Plasma etch, photolithography, spin and slot-die solution coating, vacuum deposition and patterning processes. - Process metrology experience - in particular, film thickness, surface energy, pattern transfer/overlay and adhesion measurement. - Process control methodologies and application in a development environment. - Document control principles with application to a development environment.
The Person: - To take ownership and responsibility for their products and processes. - Set themselves challenging goals and targets.
- Flexibility to be able to react to changes in demands and process requirements is a key personal attribute for this position. - Have an open-mindness to go beyond the obvious and seek out more information. - Hands on process development in a Semiconductor / O-TFT environment. - Ability to understand cause and effects of decision making at all levels. - Due diligent in their approach to planning tasks and time management. - Excellent communication on a daily, weekly and monthly basis.

Experience: - Appropriate experience at process engineer level in a semiconductor or display technology company is essential. - Experience of working in a fast-moving environment where self-direction and independent decision making is essential. - Experience of working in a cross functional team with scientific, engineering and operational staff is highly desirable. - Experience of process development and transfer from a start-up environment to manufacturing scale is highly desirable.

Education: - Minimum BSc in a Physical Science, Electronic Engineering or Materials Science.

Location: - The position is based in County Durham, but some flexibility in working arrangements is possible. - Occasional travel within the UK, EU and to Asia is likely to be required.
Remuneration: Commensurate with experience.