RF & Plasma Technologist

KLA•Milpitas, CA

25d•Hybrid

About The Position

Working as part of our Advanced Development group, this role is designed for an experienced technical expert who wants to remain hands-on while developing leadership capability. The RF & Plasma Technologist will design and develop RF sub-assemblies and plasma hardware for advanced semiconductor etch and deposition systems. The successful candidate will work closely with process, electrical, mechanical, software and manufacturing teams to create robust subsystem solutions that deliver world-class plasma performance.

Requirements

PhD or MSc in Physics, Plasma Science, Electrical Engineering, Electronics or a related discipline.
Extensive industrial experience, with deep expertise in plasma processing, RF engineering, vacuum systems and semiconductor equipment.
Demonstrated success delivering complex technology from concept and modelling through prototype validation and product release.
Strong communication skills and the credibility to act as a cross-functional technical authority.

Nice To Haves

Formal or informal team-lead responsibility.
Semiconductor equipment development and Stage-Gate product development processes.
EMC, electrical safety and RF compliance knowledge

Responsibilities

Develop hardware associated with Etch & Deposition sources, electrodes, electrostatic chucks, gas distribution and chamber internals.
Work with process engineers to relate hardware changes to plasma uniformity, ion energy, etch rate, selectivity and process repeatability.
Apply vacuum, thermal, materials and contamination-control principles to subsystem design.
Design, model, build and test RF matching networks, RF feed structures, transmission systems and grounding assemblies at proto-type level
Investigate impedance matching, power-coupling efficiency, losses, harmonics and parasitic current paths.
Characterise performance using network analysers, RF voltage-current probes, oscilloscopes and other RF diagnostic tools.
Generate specifications, drawings, test methods and development reports.
Plan and conduct laboratory experiments, analyse data and document conclusions.
Support troubleshooting, failure analysis and structured root-cause investigations.
Support prototype build, system integration, qualification and release into product development.
Coordinate design reviews, risk reduction and structured root-cause investigations for projects in Advanced Development
Support strategic customer engagements and communicate technical findings to internal and external stakeholders.
Contribute to platform and subsystem technology roadmaps.
Identify invention opportunities and support intellectual-property development.
Work closely with electromagnetic, circuit and plasma modelling teams using tools such as COMSOL Multiphysics, Ansys HFSS and HPEM.
Define design-verification plans and interpret RF, plasma and process diagnostic data
Lead /present at technical reviews, mentor engineers and support invention disclosure and patent generation
Interface with customers, suppliers, universities and research institutions