Field Service Engineer DMV Region

Oxford Instruments Plc•Washington, DC

9d•$100,000 - $120,000•Remote

About The Position

Represent Oxford Instruments by delivering technical support, installation, and maintenance for plasma etch and deposition systems, including PlasmaPro, FlexAL, and Estrelas etcher systems. This hands-on role supports customer sites across the Washington, DC and Mid-Atlantic region and requires frequent weekday travel. Candidates must live within a reasonable travel time—typically 60 minutes—of a major airport. The engineer leads installation and commissioning, performs preventive and corrective maintenance, troubleshoots hardware and software issues, calibrates components, and implements system upgrades. The role also involves customer communication and training, remote support when needed, cross-functional collaboration, escalation of issues, and thorough documentation to support continuous improvement and customer satisfaction.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or a related technical field; equivalent hands-on semiconductor equipment service experience may substitute.
5–7 years of semiconductor-industry field service experience, focused on plasma etch and deposition systems.
Familiarity with cleanroom operations and safety protocols.
Hands-on experience with vacuum technologies, including turbo pumps, cryo pumps, and roughing pumps.
Skill troubleshooting 208V electrical systems and 24V control subsystems.
Extensive experience with RF power components and pneumatically driven systems.
Proficiency with diagnostic instruments, including vacuum leak detectors, RF power meters, DVMs, LCR meters, multimeters, and megohm meters.
Ability to read and interpret mechanical, pneumatic, and electrical schematics and plumbing diagrams.
Strong understanding of RF theory and inductively coupled plasma (ICP) systems.
Familiarity with semiconductor processes including RIE, PECVD, ICP, and ALD.
Valid driver’s license and safe driving record, a passport, and ability to travel independently.
Physical agility and comfort working in confined or awkward spaces; ability to lift and handle equipment weighing up to 50 lbs.
Ability to commit to extensive weekday travel for customer installations and service, Monday through Friday.

Nice To Haves

Experience with Brooks platforms, Pfeiffer/Edwards pumping systems, and MKS components.
Knowledge of calibration and optimization of APCs and MFCs.
Strong manual dexterity and ability to maintain a clean, organized workspace while wearing cleanroom attire.
Proactive problem-solving and openness to continuous learning.
Effective communication and listening skills.
Adaptability to evolving technologies and customer needs.
Comfort working independently or as part of a team.
Passion for solving complex technical challenges and delivering timely, high-quality customer solutions.

Responsibilities

Lead installation and commissioning of plasma etch and deposition systems, ensuring compliance with customer specifications, cleanroom standards, and process readiness.
Perform scheduled and emergency maintenance; identify root causes and validate repairs against vacuum tolerances, leak-up rates, and process benchmarks.
Communicate with customers, build long-term relationships, and provide hands-on training so customers can operate and maintain systems.
Troubleshoot complex hardware and software issues using specialized diagnostic tools, and provide remote support when needed to minimize downtime.
Calibrate critical components, including AMUs, RF generators, APCs, and MFCs.
Implement system upgrades, including turbo pumps, PLCs, and breakers, to improve reliability and throughput.
Collaborate across teams, escalate issues when needed, and maintain detailed documentation.
Travel to customer sites for installations and service needs.