Principal Foundry Process Equipment Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

Blackwatch International Corporation (Blackwatch), founded in 2010, is an agile small business dedicated to supporting Federal Government and national security objectives. Headquartered in McLean, VA with offices in Sacramento, CA, Blackwatch invests in innovation and quality, holding corporate-level ISO 9001:2015, ISO/IEC 27001, and ISO/IEC 20000-1 certifications, and is appraised at CMMI® Maturity Level 3 for services and supplier management. We specialize in large and complex projects and offer a dynamic working environment with multiple opportunities for advancement.

Work environment: This role supports a Federal R&D cleanroom/fab setting, Defense Microelectronics Activity (DMEA) and is customer-facing, requiring adherence to facility policies, cleanroom protocols, and safety standards.

Position Title : Principal Foundry Process Equipment Engineer

Position Location : Sacramento, CA

Position type : Regular Full Time

Years of experience : 10+

Security Clearance : Secret or ability to obtain – SECRET

US Citizenship Required : Yes

Classification : Exempt

Telecommute : Telework is not available for this position.

Role Summary

Step into a career defining role as a Principal Foundry Process Equipment Engineer at Blackwatch, serving as a key deputy to program leadership in the creation of a brand new cleanroom fabrication capability for the Defense Microelectronics Activity (DMEA). In this role, you will not only coordinate major workstreams and technical execution—you will also take a visible, hands on role in bringing new equipment and process modules online.

You’ll directly support capital equipment projects from concept through production, including requirements definition, vendor interaction, on floor tool installation, cleanroom coordination, and execution of qualification activities. Working side by side with vendors, facilities, and module owners, you will help ensure the cleanroom, utilities, and infrastructure are physically ready for tool arrival, installation, and startup. This hybrid technical/deputy program role blends high level coordination with practical, in the fab engagement, ensuring that equipment, facilities, and operational readiness stay tightly aligned.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as a deputy program manager for the cleanroom buildout—coordinating project plans, schedules, risks, and cross team execution—while remaining closely engaged with day to day technical and installation activities in the fab.

• Coordinate major capital equipment acquisition and installation, including hands on participation during tool delivery, vendor installation activities, hookup verification, and early system bring up.

• Drive facilities and installation readiness by working directly in the cleanroom and sub fab with Facilities Engineering, construction teams, and tool vendors to verify utilities, chemical systems, exhaust, and infrastructure modifications ahead of tool startup.

• Support program leadership in tracking progress across facility upgrades, tool installation, and module ramp—ground truthing schedules through direct observation of installation progress and on-tool execution.

• Maintain lifecycle equipment ownership: author specifications, participate in vendor selection, oversee FAT/SAT, manage installation/start-up, perform or lead qualification execution (PQ), and ensure smooth handoff to operations.

• Collaborate across engineering, facilities, and operations teams, actively engaging in technical tasks such as checkout, calibration coordination, test wafer runs, recipe verification, and troubleshooting to ensure readiness for module integration.

• Support definition of capital plans and multi year capability roadmaps informed by practical experience with tool performance, installation constraints, and fab infrastructure needs.

• Ensure operational and facility readiness by developing procedures, acceptance criteria, SPC/monitoring plans, and safety documentation, and performing on floor validation in coordination with EHS and Facilities.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Physics, or a related STEM discipline.

• 10+ years of semiconductor process equipment engineering experience with deep expertise in at least one module (Epi, Thin Films, Wet, Diffusion, Implant, Metrology, Test & Measurement, or Cleanroom Facilities) and broad exposure across multiple areas.

• Demonstrated success supporting equipment acquisition, installation, and qualification—including hands on involvement during vendor install activities, tool bring up, checkout, and production release.

• Proven ability to work safely and effectively in cleanroom environments, including direct interaction with complex tools, process chemicals, and on floor installation activities.

• Strong communication, teaming, and mentoring skills; ability to coordinate complex multidisciplinary efforts as a technical lead or deputy program manager while remaining actively engaged in technical execution.

• U.S. Citizenship and an active or obtainable Secret security clearance (firm requirement).

Preferred Qualifications

• MS/PhD in a relevant engineering or scientific discipline.

• Demonstrated leadership as a senior/principal engineer with experience coordinating technical teams, guiding equipment readiness, and mentoring staff while also participating directly in hands on installation, qualification, or troubleshooting.

• Strong background collaborating with Facilities Engineering and construction teams on cleanroom readiness, utility hookups, sub fab integration, or infrastructure modifications, preferably with direct verification or on tool validation experience.

• Demonstrated capability in technology development through production transfer, including executing DOE/SPC activities, running test wafers, and performing tool/process characterization in R&D or low volume/high mix settings.

• Prior experience supporting Federal or DoD R&D facilities, including adherence to structured safety, compliance, and security protocols.

Work Model & Benefits

On-site role at McClellan Park / Sacramento, CA; standard day shift; relocation assistance available; no regular travel.

Competitive benefits package (details available upon request).

Equal Opportunity Employer

Blackwatch International Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to protected characteristics. Blackwatch participates in E-Verify.