SEM Process Technician III (T3)

Applied Materials•Santa Clara, CA

About The Position

The SEM Process Technician prepares wafers for experimentation, operates reactors to perform thin-film processes, and uses scanning electron microscopes (SEM) for analysis and imaging. The role records process conditions and experimental observations, performs routine maintenance, and evaluates wafers and thin films. It also involves preparing cross-section samples, identifying patterns of interest in images, and operating laboratory process equipment and instrumentation. Troubleshooting, equipment maintenance, and process optimization support productivity, quality, and efficiency in manufacturing processes. The technician works under limited supervision on reactor processes and handles multiple technology products. Depending on assignment, SEM work may include cross-section, top-view, critical-dimension (CD), or energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analysis and imaging. The position interfaces with requestors and engineering, helps monitor wafer-in-process (WIP) throughput, and coordinates equipment supplies, vendors, repairs, and maintenance.

Responsibilities

Prepare and clean wafers for experimentation; load wafers, prepare reactors, and clean reactors.
Evaluate process-system performance and check system performance.
Prepare cross-section samples for SEM analysis, identify cutting locations from pattern instructions, and help requestors optimize sample-preparation procedures and conditions.
Operate reactors to perform thin-film processes under limited supervision.
Operate SEMs for cross-section, top-view, CD, or EDS analysis and imaging as assigned; identify patterns of interest and optimize conditions based on image-quality requirements and sample/beam interaction.
Record process conditions and experimental observations.
Perform SEM system software alignment functions and routine maintenance procedures, including flash and plasma cleaning.
Evaluate wafers and thin films and prepare graphs and tables summarizing results.
Interface with requestors to understand detailed requirements and communicate results.
Help monitor wafers in process and maintain throughput.
Order equipment and supplies and coordinate with vendors and purchasing.
Perform routine shutdown procedures, identify problems, take tools out of operation when needed, and call for service.
Coordinate instrument repair and maintenance.
Coordinate with engineering on wafer evaluations.
Set up equipment for experiments and use quantitative wafer-evaluation and process-instrumentation knowledge.