Process Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

For more than 50 years, Photronics has been a global leader in photomask technology — enabling the innovation behind smartphones, computers, automotive electronics, and countless other devices used every day. Our success is driven by advanced technology, strong customer partnerships, and most importantly, our people.

Join Photronics and be part of a collaborative, high-tech manufacturing environment where learning, engineering excellence, and continuous improvement are core to everything we do.

As the Process Engineer, Cleans , you’ll be responsible for developing, optimizing, and sustaining photomask etch, clean and resist strip processes that support high-yield, high-quality mask manufacturing. This role drives process stability, defect reduction, and equipment performance across cleanroom operations, partnering closely with manufacturing, equipment engineering, quality, and adjacent process teams. The engineer uses structured problem solving, statistical analysis, and hands-on process ownership to improve yield, reliability, cycle time, and overall manufacturing performance.

Location: Boise, ID (US). This is an on-site position, and we are not open to remote candidates at this time.

Responsibilities

• Own and optimize photomask cleans and resist strip processes in a cleanroom manufacturing environment.
• Monitor process performance, analyze SPC trends, and implement corrective actions to maintain process stability.
• Perform process characterization, troubleshooting, and root-cause analysis to improve yield, defectivity, and reliability.
• Support qualification of new tools, materials, recipes, and process changes.
• Develop and maintain process documentation, SOPs, control plans, and work instructions.
• Partner with equipment engineers to improve tool uptime, process capability, PM strategy, and excursion response.
• Collaborate with integration, inspection, metrology, pellicle, and manufacturing teams on cross-functional yield and quality issues.
• Support technology transfers, scale-up activity, and new product/process introductions.
• Ensure compliance with EHS, chemical handling, and cleanroom protocols.
• Drive root cause analysis and resolution of etch-related issues, reducing defects, variability, and production interruptions.
• Develop, optimize, and qualify etch processes using data-driven methodologies (DOE, SPC), ensuring stability and repeatability in production.
• Train and support technicians and junior engineers as needed.

Qualifications:

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Hands-on experience with lithography process development and troubleshooting in a cleanroom or manufacturing environment.
• Hands-on experience with cleans, dry and/or wet etch process, resist strip, lithography, or related semiconductor process modules.
• Strong documentation, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a cleanroom and support production-driven schedules.
• Familiarity with Cleanroom operations.
• Familiarity with pellicle, inspection/repair, metrology, and other adjacent mask shop modules.

Experience:

• 3+ years of hands-on experience in semiconductor manufacturing, photolithography, photomask engineering.
• 3+ years of experience in semiconductor, photomask, or advanced microfabrication manufacturing, with direct experience in photolithography or patterning processes.
• Experience with tool qualification, process change control, and MES/fab automation systems.
• Experience supporting defect reduction and yield improvement in high-mix or high-volume manufacturing.
• Familiarity with Cleanroom operations.
• Familiarity with pellicle, inspection/repair, metrology, and other adjacent mask shop modules.

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, Chemical Engineering, or related field.
• A combination of relevant education and experience related to etch will be considered.

Travel: Less than 5%.

Why Photronics

• Be part of a global technology leader driving innovation for the world’s biggest tech companies.
• Enjoy stability, challenge, and opportunity at a company with more than 50 years of proven success.
• Work in a collaborative, growth-focused environment where your expertise will have a real impact.
• Competitive salary and annual bonus program.
• Equity compensation eligibility.
• Full suite of health and welfare benefits.
• 401k with company match.

Equal Opportunity Statement: We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression, or veteran status. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodation for team members’ disabilities and religious beliefs or practices.

Agency Notice: Photronics does not accept unsolicited resumes or outreach from search firms or employment agencies. Please, no phone calls or emails to any employee regarding this opening. Resumes submitted outside of our approved agency engagement process will be considered the sole property of Photronics, and no fees will be paid if such candidates are hired. Only agencies with a valid agreement in place with Photronics and assigned to this role may submit candidates.