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For more than 50 years, Photronics has been a global leader in photomask technology — enabling the innovation behind smartphones, computers, automotive electronics, and countless other devices used every day. Our success is driven by advanced technology, strong customer partnerships, and most importantly, our people.
Join Photronics and be part of a collaborative, high-tech manufacturing environment where learning, engineering excellence, and continuous improvement are core to everything we do.
The Equipment Engineer for Clean Tools is responsible for the performance, reliability, and continuous improvement of cleaning process equipment within a photomask fabrication facility. This role ensures high equipment uptime, stable process performance, and minimal defect contribution by driving preventive maintenance strategies, troubleshooting complex tool issues, and supporting new equipment installation and qualification. The engineer works cross-functionally with Process Engineering, Manufacturing, Facilities, and Quality teams to improve yield, reduce defectivity, and maintain world-class manufacturing standards.
Location: Photronics, Boise, ID (US). This is an on-site position, and we are not open to remote candidates at this time.
Responsibilities:
- Own and maintain clean tool equipment performance, including uptime, reliability, and process stability.
- Monitor equipment health and respond to tool alarms, excursions, and performance deviations.
- Troubleshoot equipment-related issues and lead root cause analysis and corrective actions.
- Support installation, qualifications, and acceptance testing of new clean equipment and upgrades.
- Develop and optimize preventive maintenance (PM) and calibration strategies to improve MTBF and MTTR.
- Analyze equipment and process data (SPC, tool metrics) to identify trends and drive continuous improvement.
- Collaborate with Process Engineering to improve yield, defect reduction, and process capability.
- Coordinate with vendors to resolve equipment performance issues and support technology transfers.
- Develop and maintain equipment documentation, SOPs, and work instructions.
- Ensure compliance with cleanroom, safety, and environmental (EHS) standards.
- Participate in audits, continuous improvement initiatives, and training of technicians.
- Train and support technicians and junior engineers as needed.
Qualifications
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- Semiconductor manufacturing flow and cleanroom operations.
- Equipment systems: mechanical, electrical, vacuum, chemical delivery, fluid handling.
- Cleaning technologies (wet clean, chemical, megasonic, plasma preferred).
- Equipment performance metrics (uptime, MTBF, MTTR, defectivity).
- SPC, data analysis, and statistical problem-solving methods.
Experience
- 5-7 years of hands-on experience in semiconductor manufacturing, photolithography, photomask engineering.
- 3+ years of experience in semiconductor, photomask, or advanced microfabrication manufacturing, with direct experience in photolithography or patterning processes.
- Hands-on experience with clean, wet process, or lithography-related equipment.
- Background in supporting tool installation, qualification, and upgrades.
- Familiarity with troubleshooting methodologies and equipment optimization between PM cycles.
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, Chemical Engineering, or related field.
Travel: Less than 5%.
Why PhotronicsÂ
- Be part of a global technology leader driving innovation for the world’s biggest tech companies.
- Enjoy stability, challenge, and opportunity at a company with more than 50 years of proven success.
- Work in a collaborative, growth-focused environment where your expertise will have a real impact.
- Competitive salary and annual bonus program.
- Equity compensation eligibility.
- Full suite of health and welfare benefits.
- 401k with company match.
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Equal Opportunity Statement: We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression, or veteran status. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodation for team members’ disabilities and religious beliefs or practices.
Agency Notice: Photronics does not accept unsolicited resumes or outreach from search firms or employment agencies. Please, no phone calls or emails to any employee regarding this opening. Resumes submitted outside of our approved agency engagement process will be considered the sole property of Photronics, and no fees will be paid if such candidates are hired. Only agencies with a valid agreement in place with Photronics and assigned to this role may submit candidates.
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