Equipment Engineer (South Plainfield)

Position Summary

The Equipment Engineer is responsible for supporting, maintaining, and improving semiconductor wafer fab equipment to ensure reliable manufacturing operations and consistent process performance. This role provides hands-on technical leadership in equipment troubleshooting, preventive maintenance, reliability improvement, equipment optimization, and new equipment qualification across key wafer fabrication processes. The Equipment Engineer works closely with Process Engineering, Production, Equipment Technicians, and equipment vendors to resolve complex technical issues, improve equipment uptime and capability, and support manufacturing requirements. The position also plays a key role in establishing equipment standards, maintaining technical documentation, and developing the technical capabilities of Equipment Technicians.

Key Responsibilities

• Support wafer fab equipment including photolithography, dry etch/RIE, PECVD, metallization, wet processing, lapping/polishing, vacuum systems, and related semiconductor processing equipment
• Ensure equipment performance and critical parameters consistently meet process and manufacturing requirements
• Lead high-level troubleshooting and root-cause analysis for complex or recurring equipment issues
• Define and maintain preventive maintenance requirements, procedures, checklists, and critical equipment parameters, and ensure proper execution by Equipment Technicians
• Monitor equipment performance and downtime and drive improvements in uptime, reliability, and process capability
• Identify and implement equipment improvements, upgrades, and optimization opportunities
• Support installation, qualification, and production release of new equipment
• Work closely with Process Engineering, Production, Equipment Technicians, and vendors to resolve equipment-related issues and support manufacturing needs
• Maintain key equipment documentation and support training and technical development of Equipment Technicians

Qualifications

• 3+ years of hands-on semiconductor wafer fab equipment engineering experience
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, or a related technical field
• Strong equipment troubleshooting, root-cause analysis, and problem-solving skills
• Good understanding of preventive maintenance and equipment reliability
• Strong communication and planning skills