Cleanroom Production Operator (Part-time)

Cleanroom Production Operator

This role operates in a fast-paced silicon wafer manufacturing environment, focusing on final inspection and quality control. You will work primarily in a highly automated cleanroom, following detailed procedures and maintaining strict quality and cleanliness standards. You will handle delicate wafers, operate both automated and manual equipment, and complete precise documentation to ensure products meet customer specifications and daily production targets.

Responsibilities

• Follow complex, detailed procedures and documented training to meet quality, cleanroom, and safety standards in a fast-paced production environment.
• Perform final inspection and quality control of silicon wafers, ensuring all products meet order and customer specifications before moving to the next process step.
• Stand and walk for extended periods during 12-hour shifts while performing production, inspection, and material handling tasks.
• Handle wafers and wafer cassettes with fine motor control to prevent contact with cleanroom uniforms, gloves, or mechanical equipment and avoid damage or contamination.
• Operate automated and manual equipment, including loading and unloading material, transporting carts of wafers, and manually handling wafers, tools, and other equipment.
• Push carts on wheels that can range from approximately 20 lbs up to occasionally 400 lbs, using safe material handling practices.
• Work around hazardous and volatile chemicals, including hand pouring specified amounts into manual cleanlines and testing lines with chemical test strips before running them.
• Clean equipment and work areas to maintain cleanroom and 5S standards, ensuring a tidy, organized, and contamination-controlled environment.
• Multitask by monitoring the movement of wafers on multiple automated machines simultaneously and responding promptly to process changes or alarms.
• Review work orders, load material onto appropriate tool sets, and select or load the correct process recipes according to customer and order specifications.
• Verify that lot numbers on work orders match lot numbers on box labels at both load and unload for each operation to maintain traceability.
• Count wafers in each box and confirm counts match the quantities listed on work orders and box labels at load and unload of each operation.
• Set up tools for each box, ensuring the correct recipe is selected and the correct lot number is scanned into computer systems before processing.
• Verify that cassettes are placed properly on tools at the designated station and position to prevent robotic malfunctions and potential wafer scrap or exposure to chemical and mechanical hazards.
• Enter daily quality, calibration, and process data into computerized checklists accurately and on time.
• Continuously monitor, analyze, and verify process data and conditions during and after each process step to ensure compliance with quality and order requirements.
• Respond to and troubleshoot tool alarms, escalating issues as needed to maintain production flow and minimize downtime.
• Visually inspect wafers and finished boxes under varied lighting conditions, including halogen lights in dark booths, to detect scratches, particles, smudges, pen marks, misalignment, and other defects.
• Check wafers for proper orientation, color variations, and alignment through opaque and clear lids, even when sealed in plastic bags.
• Run test wafers and visually inspect them manually to confirm there are no added particles or scratches and that process conditions are acceptable.
• Communicate effectively in English with supervisors and co-workers, including reading, writing, and explaining instructions, procedures, manuals, reports, and correspondence.
• Use computers to read work instructions, view process data, enter production and quality information, and communicate via email or other software tools.
• Maintain organization, manage time effectively, and prioritize tasks to meet daily production targets without defects.
• Participate in cross-training to become certified in multiple process areas within the department and rotate among these areas as needed.
• Work collaboratively as part of a team while also being self-motivated and able to work independently when required.
• Drive a box truck between buildings as needed and assist with staging and material movement in areas outside the cleanroom, including loading docks.

Essential Skills

• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods and work 12-hour shifts in a production environment.
• Strong fine motor skills to handle delicate wafers and wafer cassettes safely and precisely.
• Willingness and ability to work around hazardous and volatile chemicals, including hand pouring chemicals and using chemical test strips.
• Capability to push carts weighing from approximately 20 lbs up to occasionally 400 lbs using safe techniques.
• Ability to multitask and monitor multiple automated machines and wafer movements at the same time.
• High attention to detail for verifying lot numbers, wafer counts, recipes, and process parameters.
• Strong visual acuity to inspect wafers and finished boxes under varied lighting, including halogen lights in dark booths.
• Basic technical aptitude and comfort using computers, reading computer screens, and entering data accurately.
• Experience using a computer, keyboard, and monitor with proficiency in basic software tools.
• Ability to use software such as Microsoft Excel and Outlook or similar applications.
• Ability to operate a calculator and telephone for routine production and communication tasks.
• Ability to communicate effectively in English, including reading, writing, and explaining technical instructions and documentation.
• Strong multitasking ability, organization, and time management skills.
• High level of accuracy in data entry and documentation to support quality control and traceability.
• Willingness to learn, accept training, and follow documented procedures consistently.
• Ability to work well as part of a team while also being self-directed when working independently.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Prior production or manufacturing experience, especially in a fast-paced environment, is a plus but not required.
• Experience with warehouse, inventory, or material handling tasks is beneficial.
• Driving experience, including operating a box truck between buildings, is helpful.
• Strong organizational skills to manage work orders, materials, and documentation effectively.
• Comfort working with data entry and basic computer applications beyond the minimum requirements.
• Ability to maintain focus and quality in repetitive tasks and high-volume workflows.
• Capability to adapt to cross-training and certification in multiple process areas within the department.

Work Environment

You work part of the day in a highly automated, air-conditioned, and well-ventilated cleanroom environment dedicated to silicon wafer manufacturing. In this setting, you wear full personal protective equipment, including a hooded full-body cleanroom gown (bunny suit), hairnet and/or beard net, safety glasses, mouth and nose covering, nylon or nitrile gloves, and a chemical apron. While the cleanroom is climate-controlled, the full-body gown can make the environment feel warm during the day. You work with automated and manual tools, computers, and inspection equipment under varied lighting conditions, including specialized inspection lighting. The role involves standing and walking for long periods, pushing carts of varying weights, and handling chemicals in a controlled and safety-focused setting. Other parts of the day are spent outside the cleanroom in staging areas, including loading docks and driving a box truck between buildings, where you may experience outdoor conditions and a more traditional warehouse-like environment.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Vancouver, WA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $19.00 - $20.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully