Research and Development Engineer 3
Research and Development Engineer 3 - Nanofabrication
JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS:
The Penn State Materials Research Institute is seek ing a Research and Development Engineer for Penn State’s Nanofabrication Lab. The position is focused on the fabrication and characterization o f devices utilizing piezoelectric thin films deposited in the Nanofabrication Lab and supporting the associated equipment in the Nanofabrication Lab .
Scope: This position is integrated into the Nanofab user facility and materials community at large. The position provides expertise and supports the Nanofab and its users. More than 500 students, faculty and external users are supported by the Nanofab facility. The estimated value of the Nanofab systems and supporting equipment exceed s $25M. Penn S tate is a leader in piezoelectric thin films and devices and has decades of experience in this area . This position is a key part to maintaining that expertise.
Th is position reports primarily to the Nanofab facility operations director, will provide input and recommendations to them regarding equipment issues, purchases, staffing and budgeting. The extent of communication ranges from interactions with students and faculty here at Penn State as well as to other institutions throughout the world. Communicating with industry and government labs is also within the scope of this position . Regular c ommunication with key f aculty who are experts in this area is essential.
Summary: This position is for a Research and Development Engineer who will work in process integration and deposition of piezoelectric thin films for a variety of micro and nanofabrication processes including lithography, thin film deposition, plasma etching and characterization. Primary responsibilities include working with users, operating fabrication equipment and documenting micro and nanofabrication processes in their area . Additional responsibilities include overseeing maintenance of sputter deposition equipment, evaporation equipment, rapid thermal annealing equipment and other related coating equipment as well as providing training to users from multi-disciplinary backgrounds (engineering, materials, physical, and life sciences). This position requires excellent knowledge of vacuum systems, thin films and semiconductor fabrication . It is also required to be detail oriented, able to work independently, in teams, and with customers from diverse cultural and technical backgrounds. Excellent oral and written communication skills are required.
Duties:
- Train academic and industrial users with deposition equipment operation and processing: Sputter Tools, Evaporators and PECVD
- Develop baseline processes for current and new materials , including piezoelectrics with the wurzite structure, along with orienting bottom electrodes
- Develop training protocols on new equipment in the lab
- Documentation of equipment operation procedures and nanofabrication processes
- Characterization of thin films utilizing X-Ray diffraction , scanning electron microscopy , and electrical characterization
- Maintenance and material changes for equipment (ex. Sputter, Spin, RTA)
- Assist with external project work , including integrated MEM’s processing. This will necessitate strong skills in preparing highly textured perovskite thin films on Si, glass, and metal substrates, as well as fabrication of these materials into MEMS structures
- Develop and document integrated processes for internal and external customers
- Educational training via zoom or teams
- Maintain and train on lead zircaonte titanate, PZT , deposition equipment (chemical solution deposition and sputtering)
- Provide expertise and support the Nanofab and its users - this role provides input and recommendations to them regarding equipment issues, purchases, staffing and budgeting
Education and Experience: The minimum requirements for this position are a Bachelor's degree or higher in material s cience , chemistry, physics or related field (Master's Degree preferred) and 5+ years of applicable experience working with micro and nanofabrication tool set. 8-10 years of related experience is desirable but not required.
The wide-ranging scope of this position requires that the ability to self-manage be at the forefront to effectively function in this position. Goal setting and prioritizing is critical. The ability to evaluate and understand a situation or task then apply a rational approach to problem solving is essential. This position requires a large degree of self-management, this includes goal setting and scheduling. It requires effective teamwork collaboration skills with wide variety of constituencies. The extent of communication ranges from interactions with students and faculty here at Penn State as well as other institutions throughout the world. Communicating with industry and government labs is also required. The very nature of the position requires solving of complex problems. The breadth of problem solving varies from the staff, customers, facility, equipment, safety to process issues. Also dealing with equipment repair or processing issues are a significant part of this position.
About the Materials Research Institute
Materials research at Penn State is truly interdisciplinary with representation from more than 350 faculty across 6 colleges and nearly 30 departments across the Penn State commonwealth campuses. MRI facilitates and enables large scale research efforts and runs core instrumentation facilities that enable research success. These facilities impact more than $100 million of Penn State research and are staffed by more than 45 technical staff and service 1500 users annually. Their combined budget exceeds $8 million annually. This position supports the director’s office with communication activities and helps coordinate a highly active research group. It is also responsible for coordinating a large industry-oriented research center and planning for meetings and medium-sized conferences.
This position will require successful completion of standard background checks.
The Pennsylvania State University is committed to and accountable for advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in all its forms. We embrace individual uniqueness, foster a culture of inclusive excellence that supports both broad and specific diversity initiatives, leverage the educational and institutional benefits of diversity, and engage all individuals to help them thrive. We value inclusive excellence as a core strength and an essential element of our public service mission.
Penn State offers competitive benefits to full-time employees, including medical, dental, vision, and retirement plans, in addition to tuition discounts, and paid holidays. Please visit https://hr.psu.edu/prospective-employee for more detailed information.
CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS:
Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here .
Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.
EEO IS THE LAW
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