Senior Materials and Failure Analysis Technician - SIMS

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

• Support the Materials and Failure Analysis Engineer in establishing and operating Coherent Sherman's SIMS laboratory, including laboratory startup, equipment qualification, and development of operating procedures.

• Perform SIMS workflow activities including sample preparation, wafer cleaving, sample mounting, tool setup, recipe execution, data collection, and preliminary data analysis with an emphasis on quality, efficiency, and on-time delivery.

• Operate SIMS instrumentation and supporting laboratory equipment in accordance with approved procedures while maintaining high standards of data quality, equipment care, and laboratory safety.

• Perform advanced materials characterization and failure analysis activities on semiconductor, photonic, and optoelectronic devices using analytical tools such as SIMS, optical microscopy, SEM, FIB, probe stations, FTIR, and other laboratory equipment as required.

• Support failure analysis investigations by preparing samples, collecting data, documenting observations, and assisting engineers with root cause analysis activities.

• Prepare technical reports, data summaries, and presentations documenting analytical results with minimal supervision and correction required.

• Perform routine equipment checks, calibrations, housekeeping activities, and preventive maintenance tasks to maximize tool availability, data quality, and laboratory efficiency.

• Work closely with the Principal Engineer, Equipment Engineering, and Facilities teams to support SIMS tool maintenance, troubleshooting, repairs, upgrades, and equipment performance improvement initiatives.

• Assist with installation, qualification, acceptance testing, and startup activities for SIMS instrumentation and supporting laboratory infrastructure.

• Maintain laboratory consumables, chemicals, cryogenic supplies, spare parts inventories, and operational documentation.

• Identify opportunities to improve laboratory efficiency, analytical quality, throughput, and customer responsiveness.

• Write and maintain work instructions, standard operating procedures, laboratory documentation, and training materials under the direction of laboratory leadership.

• Train and mentor technicians and engineers on laboratory procedures, equipment operation, sample preparation techniques, and safety practices.

• Establish productive working relationships with engineers, manufacturing personnel, quality organizations, Equipment Engineering, and internal customers.

Education & Experience

• Requires a minimum of:

• Six (6) years of related laboratory, semiconductor manufacturing, materials characterization, metrology, or failure analysis experience; OR 

• Associate degree or technical degree with four (4) years of related experience; OR 

• Bachelor's degree in Physics, Chemistry, Materials Science, Engineering Technology, or related technical discipline. 

Skills

• Experience operating analytical laboratory equipment in semiconductor, materials characterization, or failure analysis environments. 

• Experience with SIMS or TOF-SIMS analysis preferred. 
• Experience with semiconductor wafer handling, sample preparation, wafer cleaving, and laboratory sample preparation techniques. 
• Experience with optical microscopy, SEM, FIB, probe stations, FTIR, or similar analytical equipment preferred. 
• Proficient understanding of chemistry, materials science, and semiconductor device fundamentals. 
• Ability to safely handle chemicals and cryogenic materials, including liquid nitrogen. 
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and preparation of technical reports and presentations. 

• Ability to work independently with limited supervision while maintaining high-quality work output. 

• Strong analytical, organizational, presentation, technical writing, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

• Time management skills to efficiently organize work assignments, set estimated completion dates and meet or exceed those commitments.

Working Conditions

• Work in a class 10,000 clean room for extended periods

• Work in a laboratory environment maintained at approximately 60°F (15°C) with tightly controlled temperature and low-humidity conditions required for SIMS instrumentation performance.

• Wear ESD attire (shoes, frocks, wrist straps, etc.).

• Work with and around chemicals such as IPA, acetone, and laboratory process chemicals.

• Work with cryogenic materials including liquid nitrogen.

• Participate in team meetings and support activities that may occasionally occur outside normal working hours.

Physical Requirements

• Work in a laboratory environment with controlled temperature and humidity conditions, including extended exposure to temperatures maintained at approximately 60°F to ensure optimal SIMS equipment performance.

• Ability to safely handle and transfer liquid nitrogen, including pouring liquid nitrogen into approved containers and analytical equipment while wearing required personal protective equipment (PPE).

• Manual dexterity sufficient to prepare analytical samples, including wafer cleaving, mounting, handling small specimens, and loading samples into characterization equipment.

• To  have close  visual  acuity, with or without corrective lenses,  to  perform an  activity  such as:    preparing  and analyzing  data  and figures;  transcribing;  focusing microscopic images on a microscope or at  a computer  terminal;  extensive reading;  visual inspection  involving small  defects,  small parts,  and/or  operation of  precision positioning probes; using  measurement devices; and/or assembly or destructive analysis of parts at distances close to the eyes.

• To have the visual acuity to distinguish colors to identify defects on parts. 

• Job requires expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word in English; those activities where detailed or important spoken instructions must be conveyed to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.

• Job requires perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction, and  having the ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and making fine 

  discriminations in sound.   

• Be able to review and investigate using a microscope, which requires employee to bend forward at the waist or spine, up to 1 hour at a time.

• Sedentary work that primarily involves sitting and standing up to 4 hours at a time to use a workstation, microscope or solvent hood.

• Be able to walk considerable distances in the facility, sometimes with shoe covers, up to 500 meters, to reach other areas of the factory.

• Light work that includes moving objects up to 25lbs over short distances.

• Ascending and descending step stairs and ladders. 

• Occasionally able to kneel/crouch to reach objects below workstations, requires bending the legs and resting on the knees.

• Precision positioning manual probes using left and right hands and arms for up to 1 hour at a time.

• The worker is subject to hazards:Includes a variety of physical conditions, such as proximity to moving mechanical parts that can cause pinch hazards and exposure to chemicals. 

• Must have the ability and willingness to wear cleanroom attire for up to 4 hours at a time.

Safety Requirements

All employees are required to attend scheduled training, follow the site EHS procedures and Corporate EHS standards.  This includes the use of proper protective equipment (PPE) as required by the job responsibilities.

Managers will ensure that all safety and environmental procedures are followed consistently.  They will ensure that risk assessments are performed, proper training, work instructions, required PPE is available, and will monitor compliance.

The below additional safety precautions are required. 

• Nitrile gloves for handling the following: IPA (Isopropyl Alcohol), acetone and wafers, die or any other parts submitted for analysis. 

• Laser safety glasses for testing high power laser parts.

• Safety glasses and goggles (prescription or standard) to be used when handling the following: Die punch tool, pouring liquid nitrogen and cleaning with chemicals. 

• Thermal Gloves for handling liquid nitrogen.

• Sharps gloves for handling sharp parts. 

• Face shield for handling liquid nitrogen or cleaning parts with chemicals.

• Apron and chemical gloves for pouring chemicals.

Quality and Environmental Responsibilities

Depending on location, this position may be responsible for the execution and maintenance of the ISO 9000, 9001, 14001 and/or other applicable standards that may apply to the relevant roles and responsibilities within the Quality Management System and Environmental Management System.

Culture Commitment

Ensure adherence to company’s values (ICARE) in all aspects of your position at Coherent Corp.:

Integrity – Create an Environment of Trust

Collaboration – Innovate Through the Sharing of Ideas

Accountability – Own the Process and the Outcome

Respect – Recognize the Value in Everyone

Enthusiasm – Find a Sense of Purpose in Work

Coherent Corp. is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.