Semiconductor Equipment Engineer I

Position Summary

Forge Nano is seeking a motivated Semiconductor Equipment Engineer I to support the reliability, maintenance, and continuous improvement of our Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) tool fleet. Reporting to the R&D Cleanroom Lead Engineer, this role is responsible for equipment reliability, maintenance program development, troubleshooting, technical documentation, training, spare parts management, and operational support across Forge Nano's semiconductor equipment platforms.

The Semiconductor Equipment Engineer I serves as a technical resource for ALD equipment operation and maintenance, working closely with Process Engineering, Operations, Service, and Product Development teams to maximize equipment uptime, reliability, and performance. This position offers the opportunity to directly contribute to equipment scalability, maintainability, and next-generation semiconductor manufacturing technologies in a fast-paced R&D and production environment.

Responsibilities

Equipment Ownership & Reliability

·       Own the operational readiness, reliability, and performance of assigned ALD toolsets.

·       Perform and coordinate preventative maintenance (PM) activities.

·       Troubleshoot and resolve equipment issues related to vacuum systems, gas delivery systems, thermal systems, automation, and controls.

·       Analyze equipment performance data and identify opportunities to improve uptime, availability, and mean time between failures (MTBF).

·       Lead root cause investigations and implement corrective actions for recurring equipment failures.

·       Maintain equipment history records, maintenance documentation, and reliability metrics.

Maintenance Program Development

·       Develop, implement, and continuously improve preventative and predictive maintenance programs.

·       Create maintenance procedures, work instructions, checklists, and standardized service processes.

·       Establish maintenance intervals based on equipment performance data and reliability trends.

·       Maintain accurate maintenance records and equipment history logs.

·       Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on equipment reliability and serviceability.

·       Ensure maintenance processes are executed safely, efficiently, and consistently.

Documentation & Technical Procedures

·       Create, revise, and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for equipment operation, maintenance, troubleshooting, and recovery.

·       Develop detailed technical documentation, service manuals, maintenance guides, and training materials.

·       Ensure documentation remains current and aligned with engineering changes and equipment updates.

·       Support document control activities and compliance-related documentation requirements.

Inventory & Spare Parts Management

·       Develop and maintain critical spare parts inventories for ALD tool systems.

·       Track inventory levels, lead times, component usage trends, and reorder requirements.

·       Implement inventory tracking processes and maintenance-related reporting metrics.

·       Coordinate with suppliers and internal teams to ensure spare parts availability.

Training & Knowledge Transfer

·       Train Equipment Engineers, Field Service Engineers, Manufacturing Technicians, and other technical personnel on equipment operation and maintenance.

·       Develop and deliver technical training programs, certifications, and qualification processes.

·       Mentor junior engineers and technicians on troubleshooting methodologies and maintenance best practices.

·       Support development of standardized maintenance and service competencies across technical organizations.

Operational & Cross-Functional Support

·       Provide occasional remote technical support for customer-installed ALD systems.

·       Assist Field Service Engineers with troubleshooting, diagnostics, recovery efforts, and escalation management activities.

·       Collaborate with Engineering and Product teams to identify equipment design improvements based on field feedback.

·       Work closely with Process Engineering to minimize equipment-related process variation.

·       Partner with Product Development teams to improve equipment maintainability and reliability.

·       Support commissioning, qualification, and acceptance testing of new ALD systems.

·       Participate in operational excellence and continuous improvement initiatives.

The following responsibilities represent the primary duties of this role and are not intended to be an exhaustive list.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

·       Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, Materials Science, or a related technical discipline.

·       3+ years of experience supporting semiconductor manufacturing equipment, vacuum systems, or ALD/CVD/PVD process tools.

·       Demonstrated ability to perform preventative maintenance and troubleshoot complex electromechanical systems.

·       Strong technical writing experience, including development of SOPs, maintenance procedures, work instructions, and engineering documentation.

·       Experience developing maintenance schedules and equipment reliability improvement programs.

·       Familiarity with spare parts management and inventory control systems.

·       Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and root cause investigation capabilities.

·       Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to train and mentor technical personnel.

·       Ability to work independently while collaborating across multiple departments and teams.

Preferred Qualifications

·       Direct experience with Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) systems.

·       Experience supporting semiconductor capital equipment in manufacturing, laboratory, or field service environments.

·       Knowledge of vacuum technology, gas delivery systems, pneumatic systems, thermal systems, PLCs, sensors, and industrial controls.

·       Experience utilizing CMMS, ERP, or computerized maintenance management systems.

·       Familiarity with semiconductor cleanroom operations and safety protocols.

·       Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, reliability engineering, or reliability-centered maintenance experience.

·       Previous experience training technical personnel, developing service programs, or standardizing maintenance processes.

·       Experience supporting equipment installation, commissioning, qualification, or startup activities.

Work Environment

Work is carried out within a research and development laboratory and semiconductor cleanroom environment. Employees may work with hazardous chemicals, specialty gases, breathable powders, and advanced manufacturing systems. Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), including eye protection, respiratory protection, gloves, steel-toed footwear, cleanroom attire, and other required safety equipment must be worn as necessary. Strict adherence to environmental, health, and safety procedures is required at all times.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of the position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job duties.

This position regularly requires standing, walking, reaching, bending, climbing, working with tools, and handling equipment components. The employee must be able to use hands for detailed troubleshooting, maintenance, repair, and equipment support activities and occasionally lift and move materials weighing up to 40 pounds. The employee may occasionally work near moving mechanical parts in a moderate-noise environment.

Travel

Limited travel may be required to support customer escalations, equipment installations, training activities, field service requirements, or operational initiatives. Anticipated travel is less than three months annually.

Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $70,000 - $90,000 annually, the salary range for this exempt position will be determined based on the candidate's qualifications, experience, technical expertise, skills, leadership capabilities, and alignment with internal equity among current employees.

Benefits Offered:

·       Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance

·       Life and Disability Insurance

·       LTD and STD Insurance

·       FSA and HSA

·       401(k) Retirement Match

·       Paid Time Off (PTO) & Floating Holidays

·       Paid Holidays

·       Paid Parental Leave

Forge Nano Inc. is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable law.