Designs, develops, builds, commissions, qualifies, and troubleshoots PVD equipment, especially magnetron sputtering systems for magnetic thin-film deposition. Leads equipment architecture decisions involving vacuum, gas and power delivery, magnetrons, and target assemblies. Supports R&D and manufacturing, resolves plasma and film-uniformity issues, collaborates cross-functionally, maintains equipment documentation and preventive-maintenance procedures, and implements reliability improvements and upgrades.
Senior PVD Equipment Engineer
Company Overview
Vital Materials is a global technology organization with operations in over 20 countries, providing advanced materials, products, and solutions across markets including semiconductors, optics, consumer electronics, aerospace, automotive, and energy-related applications. The company is committed to enabling next-generation technologies through materials science and process innovation.
Job Summary
The Senior PVD Equipment Engineer is a senior technical role responsible for the design, development, build, and troubleshooting of physical vapor deposition (PVD) equipment, with a strong emphasis on magnetron sputtering systems. This position supports R&D, pilot-scale, and manufacturing operations, particularly for thin-film deposition of magnetic materials.
Responsibilities
- Design and develop PVD equipment and subsystems with emphasis on magnetic sputtering and magnetron configurations.
- Lead equipment architecture decisions including vacuum systems, gas and power delivery, magnetron design, and target assemblies.
- Oversee build, installation, commissioning, and qualification of sputtering tools.
- Diagnose and resolve equipment issues related to plasma stability, film uniformity, arcing, target wear, and magnetic field non-uniformity.
- Support sputtering processes for magnetic and non-magnetic materials in R&D and manufacturing environments.
- Collaborate with process, materials, and operations teams to optimize tool performance and reliability.
- Develop and maintain equipment documentation and preventative maintenance procedures.
- Identify and implement continuous improvement opportunities and equipment upgrades.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, or related field (advanced degree preferred).
- Extensive hands-on experience designing, building, and troubleshooting magnetron sputtering tools.
- Strong practical knowledge of PVD sputtering processes.
- Direct experience with sputtering of magnetic materials strongly preferred.
- Solid understanding of vacuum systems, plasma physics, RF/DC power supplies, and magnetic field design.
- Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
- Ability to work independently and lead complex technical projects.
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