Senior Engineer/Scientist

Qnity Electronics•Bellevue, WA

5d•Onsite

About The Position

Qnity’s R&D team is seeking a scientist or engineer to become a hands-on technical contributor and future technical leader in next-generation CMP consumables and processes. The role combines scientific investigation, cleanroom and polishing experiments, mechanical design and fixture development, materials and surface characterization, data analysis, and practical problem solving to deepen understanding of CMP mechanisms and performance. The successful candidate will translate physical understanding into practical decisions by working directly with laboratory and cleanroom equipment, building or modifying fixtures and experimental systems, handling samples, running tests, troubleshooting, analyzing data, and validating conclusions against physical observations and process results. The position involves independently leading fundamental studies that support internal technology development and external customer needs, while developing expertise in tribology, advanced process characterization, experimental methods, and CMP science. The individual will also own and advance data analysis, automation, and digital workflows to improve the efficiency, quality, and scalability of R&D activities. This role is intended to develop a long-term CMP technical expert who progressively takes ownership of increasingly complex technical problems, experimental platforms, and capability-development efforts.

Requirements

Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, or a related discipline, including a new Ph.D. graduate; alternatively, a master's degree in a related discipline with equivalent relevant research, laboratory, or industry experience.
Less than 5 years of relevant industry experience; relevant graduate research, laboratory, cleanroom, process-development, or tool-development experience may be considered in place of industry experience.
Hands-on experience in at least one of the following: semiconductor, cleanroom, polishing, or process-tool work; or designing, building, modifying, commissioning, or troubleshooting fixtures, test equipment, prototypes, or experimental systems.
Ability and willingness to work routinely in laboratory and cleanroom environments, operate equipment, run polishing or process experiments, handle samples, troubleshoot tools, and develop ownership of assigned experimental platforms.
Experience with quantitative data analysis, DOE, root-cause analysis, and technical documentation.
Strong interpersonal, collaboration, and technical communication skills with multidisciplinary teams.
Comfort learning across experimentation, characterization, process execution, mechanical design, data analysis, and tribology.
Willingness and demonstrated interest to learn tribology.
Working knowledge of coding, data-analysis, or laboratory-automation tools such as MATLAB, Python, R, LabVIEW, JMP, JSL, C/C++, ImageJ, or similar environments is valued, particularly for experiment control, data processing, visualization, or workflow improvement.

Nice To Haves

Experience in both semiconductor, cleanroom, polishing, or process-tool work and experimental-system or fixture development.
Prior tribology or wear experience.
Direct experience in a semiconductor cleanroom.
Experience owning a semiconductor process module or research tool, including qualification, troubleshooting, preventive care, vendor interaction, and transfer of methods to other users or sites.
Tribometer design, manufacturing, modification, commissioning, or operation; friction and wear measurement.
Hands-on use or modification of characterization or metrology tools.
Hands-on experience taking a fixture or test-equipment concept from design through fabrication, assembly, commissioning, troubleshooting, and repeated experimental use.
Hands-on experience with SolidWorks, Siemens NX, AutoCAD, or similar CAD and engineering design platforms.
Experience developing scripts, tools, automation, or analysis workflows using MATLAB, Python, C/C++, LabVIEW, ImageJ, JMP/JSL, or similar.
Demonstrated technical innovation through new methods, fixtures, tools, patents, publications, process improvements, product development, or transfer to manufacturing or customer use.

Responsibilities

Plan and execute experiments, including wafer polishing, consumable installation and qualification, recipe development, process monitoring, sampling, and post-polish analysis.
Work directly in laboratory and cleanroom environments; independently operate, troubleshoot, maintain, and improve assigned research tools and experimental platforms.
Own experimental work end to end, from defining the question and preparing materials through tool setup, safe execution, data-quality review, analysis, documentation, and recommendations.
Develop practical understanding of metrology and process variability; identify equipment or measurement limitations and design fixtures, test methods, tool modifications, or experimental approaches to address capability gaps.
Collaborate with technicians, applications engineers, equipment owners, vendors, and cleanroom personnel while remaining directly engaged in technical work.
Design experiments and DOE plans that isolate key variables while accounting for tool, material, schedule, and sample constraints.
Design and build test equipment, fixtures, prototypes, or modifications using mechanical design, CAD, machining, rapid prototyping, sensors, data acquisition, or laboratory automation as appropriate.
Commission experimental capabilities; establish safe operating procedures, maintenance and calibration needs; and train additional users.
Systematically troubleshoot unexpected experimental behavior and distinguish measurement artifacts, equipment issues, material variability, and physical effects.
Translate research methods into reliable capabilities that can be sustained by the broader organization.
Develop and maintain data-analysis workflows, automation tools, and digital processes that improve research efficiency, data quality, and organizational knowledge.
Design and conduct tribological and mechanical tests and apply surface and materials characterization.
Create repeatable test methods, data-quality checks, and calibration practices.
Own and define technical problem statements supporting product development, process improvement, customer needs, and long-term CMP capability development.
Balance technical rigor with speed by selecting the minimum experiment, measurement, or test needed for a defensible decision and communicating limitations and uncertainty.
Communicate findings through technical reports, presentations, customer interactions, patents, publications, and decision-ready recommendations.
Share knowledge, contribute to a collaborative growth mindset, build internal and external collaborations, and develop into a recognized technical expert and capability owner.