Equipment Engineer-Thin Film-CVD

TSMC • Washington, DC

5d • Onsite

About The Position

TSMC Washington is seeking a proactive and detail-oriented Junior Equipment Engineer to join our Thin Film Equipment (TFE) team, specializing in Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) equipment. In this role, you will be responsible for maintaining tool availability, optimizing preventative and corrective maintenance procedure, reducing tool downtime, and sustaining high-yield semiconductor manufacturing operations in a 24/7 cleanroom environment. This position offers extensive hands-on training and mentorship from senior engineers to build a strong foundation in advanced semiconductor equipment engineering.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Mechatronics, Physics, or a related STEM field.
• 0–2 years of experience in equipment maintenance, cleanroom manufacturing, electromechanical troubleshooting, or relevant academic lab/internship projects.
• Basic understanding of vacuum systems, RF power delivery, gas delivery/MFCs, thermal controls, robotics, or pneumatic systems.
• Familiarity with data analysis tools (e.g., Excel, SPC) and basic statistical concepts.
• Strong problem-solving mindset and willingness to work hands-on with hardware inside a cleanroom.
• Solid written and verbal communication skills; ability to document complex mechanical procedures clearly.
• Strong team player capable of coordinating effectively across operations, process engineering, and vendor support teams.
• All applicants must possess legal authorization to work in the United States. Please note that we are unable to provide sponsorship or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.
• To be eligible for employment at TSMC, candidates must successfully pass a background check and a drug screening. Please note, in compliance with Washington state regulations, the drug screen will not test for cannabis (marijuana) use.

Nice To Haves

• Previous internship or co-op experience within a semiconductor wafer fabrication plant or flat-panel display facility.
• Hands-on familiarity with Applied Materials (AMAT Producer/Centura) or Lam Research (SEQUEL/SPEED) deposition platforms.
• Basic understanding of CVD film deposition mechanisms, precursors, and plasma physics.
• Fast learner with a strong desire to develop technical expertise.
• Excellent team player with strong communication skills.
• Demonstrated tenacity, adaptability, and flexibility in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong attention to detail and a hands-on approach to problem-solving.
• Strong teamwork and cross-functional communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Perform routine preventive maintenance (PM), calibration, and troubleshooting on CVD tools (e.g., HDP,PECVD, SACVD from major vendors such as Applied Materials, Lam Research).
• Respond promptly to tool alarms and line-down events to restore normal production while minimizing mean time to repair.
• Monitor tool health, particle performance, thickness uniformity, and Statistical Process Control (SPC) charts to prevent process excursions.
• Partner closely with CVD Process Engineers to qualify equipment modifications, new parts, and recipe implementations.
• Support root cause analysis (RCA) on chronic tool issues and component failures.
• Collaborate with senior engineers on equipment upgrade projects, spare parts management, and maintenance cost-reduction initiatives.
• Author, review, and standardize Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and maintenance checklists.
• Strictly adhere to cleanroom protocols, environmental health and safety (EHS) guidelines, and hazardous chemical/gas handling procedures.
• Work inside the cleanroom wearing full personal protective equipment (PPE / bunny suit).
• Participate in shift handover routines and support on-call or rotation/compressed work-week schedules as required by 24/7 fab operations.

Benefits

• Equal Employment Opportunity for all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a protected veteran, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level