Quantum and Nanotechnology Device Laboratory Engineer

University of the District of Columbia•Washington, DC

18h•Onsite

About The Position

The University of the District of Columbia seeks a Laboratory Engineer to support a federally funded, five-year Department of Defense quantum-device research program conducted primarily in CNRE laboratory facilities. The position provides hands-on technical support for quantum-device fabrication, micro- and nanofabrication, thin-film deposition, vacuum systems, nanoscale characterization, low-temperature electrical measurements, RF and magnetic-resonance measurements, automated instrumentation, experimental-system integration, laboratory infrastructure, and development of specialized quantum-device measurement capabilities. The engineer will develop, maintain, troubleshoot, and integrate equipment and experimental systems for emerging quantum-device research. The engineer will work with project leadership, faculty investigators, researchers, students, vendors, University facilities personnel, and CNRE technical staff. The position is primarily responsible for supporting the technical objectives, milestones, equipment, personnel, and research activities of the DoD-funded program. Work is primarily in person in CNRE laboratories. Some flexibility in working hours may be considered when compatible with project milestones, experiments, laboratory operations, safety requirements, meetings, and sponsor commitments. This is a full-time temporary position. A minimum of three years of directly relevant technical or research experience is required. For applicants with a PhD in quantum devices or a directly relevant experimental discipline, substantive doctoral research experience may count toward that requirement. The position requires a bachelor's degree or higher in a relevant engineering, science, or closely related discipline; a master's or PhD in a directly related field is strongly preferred.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree or higher in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, materials science and engineering, applied physics, nanotechnology, quantum engineering, physics, or a closely related discipline.
At least three years of directly relevant technical or research experience in areas such as laboratory engineering, nanofabrication, semiconductor-device fabrication, quantum-device research, nanoscale measurement, spintronics, magnetic devices, cryogenic measurements, RF measurements, or closely related experimental work.
Applicants with a PhD in quantum devices or a directly related experimental field may count substantive doctoral research experience toward the three-year experience requirement.
Ability to work primarily in person in CNRE laboratories.
Ability to support laboratory operations while meeting research milestones, safety requirements, project commitments, and equipment-use requirements.

Nice To Haves

Master's or PhD in nanoscale devices, quantum devices, spintronics, semiconductor devices, nanofabrication, condensed-matter physics, or experimental quantum technology.
Hands-on doctoral research experience in quantum devices or closely related experimental technologies.
Experience operating and troubleshooting photolithography, micro/nanofabrication, thin-film deposition, vacuum, nanoscale characterization, low-temperature measurement, or RF instrumentation.
Experience with LabVIEW, Python, MATLAB, or equivalent instrument-control environments.

Responsibilities

Operate, maintain, troubleshoot, and perform appropriate minor repairs on photolithography and other micro/nanofabrication equipment; support cleanroom operations, contamination control, chemical safety, and repeatable fabrication processes.
Help translate device designs into fabrication sequences and procedures, and facilitate fabrication of thin-film and nanoscale quantum-device structures.
Operate, maintain, and troubleshoot sputtering and vacuum-deposition systems, vacuum pumps, gauges, valves, gas-delivery systems, chambers, and associated components; diagnose vacuum problems and support preventive maintenance and deposition-process optimization.
Operate, monitor, troubleshoot, and maintain laboratory infrastructure such as air compressors, nitrogen generators, chillers, cooling-water systems, vacuum utilities, and gas-delivery systems; coordinate specialized electrical connections with qualified personnel when needed.
Operate and provide technical support for Raman spectroscopy, SEM, AFM, electrical characterization equipment, nanoscale measurement systems, temperature-dependent transport systems, and low-temperature device-measurement equipment.
Assist with nanoscale characterization protocols and measurements relating device structure and materials properties to magnetic behavior, electrical transport, and quantum-device performance.
Operate and support RF resonance systems, including ferromagnetic resonance and related magnetic-resonance techniques; integrate RF sources, detectors, electromagnets, field controllers, oscilloscopes, lock-in amplifiers, network-analysis equipment, and other test instrumentation.
Support development of quantum-device control and characterization capabilities, learn newly acquired quantum-computing, quantum-control, quantum-sensing, spin-control, and quantum-education equipment after appropriate training, and configure customized experimental setups.
Use LabVIEW, Python, MATLAB, or equivalent instrument-control environments to communicate with scientific instruments and integrate equipment into automated or semi-automated measurement systems.
Develop measurement routines controlling combinations of electrical sources, electromagnets, RF generators, oscilloscopes, temperature controllers, cryogenic equipment, motion/control systems, and data-acquisition equipment; troubleshoot communications over USB, GPIB, Ethernet, serial, or other protocols.
Develop reproducible, documented testing routines for novel quantum-device experiments.
Prepare SOPs, operating manuals, quick-reference guides, training materials, and troubleshooting procedures; train approved students, staff, and faculty in safe equipment use.
Maintain equipment qualification and training records, equipment schedules and inventories, maintenance and service histories, calibration records, and equipment-failure documentation; enforce applicable CNRE and DoD laboratory policies.
Conduct experimental work with DoD project investigators; assist with fabrication, troubleshooting, testing, characterization, and proof-of-concept demonstrations for quantum-device prototypes and associated nanoscale devices.
Help convert research concepts into experimental configurations and prototypes, and contribute technical knowledge to innovation, intellectual-property development, and commercialization when appropriate.
Support equipment use in courses, research training, workshops, and quantum-related educational activities; help students and researchers gain hands-on skills in fabrication, characterization, instrumentation, and quantum-device measurements.
Support long-term laboratory sustainability through safe, technically sound cost-saving measures, in-house maintenance and troubleshooting where appropriate, and efficient use of gases, cooling resources, consumables, replacement parts, and other operating resources.