Semiconductor Equipment Engineer

About the role

QuantWare is developing advanced quantum processors using VIO technology to address significant global challenges. As a Semiconductor Equipment Engineer, you will be crucial in expanding our manufacturing capabilities. This role involves bringing new equipment online quickly and maintaining its reliable operation within a small, dedicated team. You will manage the full lifecycle of complex tools in a demanding environment, ensuring operational excellence and continuous improvement. Your work will directly enable the transition from prototype development to scaled manufacturing production. You will act as the primary technical contact for critical machinery and infrastructure. This position requires a proactive mindset and the ability to adapt to evolving project priorities in a fast-paced setting. Your contributions will be fundamental to achieving the company's ambitious goals in quantum processor development.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Manage complete equipment installations with original equipment manufacturers, from initial planning and factory/site acceptance tests through qualification for production.
• Oversee preventative maintenance by defining, performing, and optimizing schedules, spare parts, and documentation to maximize equipment uptime.
• Conduct corrective maintenance, including rapid issue resolution, in-depth root-cause analysis, implementing permanent fixes, and clear reporting.
• Support the setup of a new, advanced cleanroom and nanofabrication line, contributing to a multi-million investment in manufacturing scale-up.
• Collaborate closely with Process Engineering to ensure equipment capabilities, process needs, and factory operations are perfectly aligned.
• Manage facility connections for operational tools, such as gas, vacuum, cryogenic, electrical, cooling water, chemical, and exhaust systems, coordinating upgrades as the cleanroom expands.
• Perform detailed testing and qualification protocols to validate that new tools meet stringent performance and safety standards.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of all maintenance activities, modifications, and operational parameters in tracking systems.
• Troubleshoot intricate system-level issues by analyzing data logs, sensor readings, and process outputs to identify anomalies.
• Implement and monitor key performance indicators to assess equipment reliability and efficiency over time.
• Liaise with logistics and procurement teams to ensure timely delivery and calibration of replacement components.
• Provide technical guidance and support to operators and technicians to ensure correct and safe equipment usage.
• Participate in the development of standard operating procedures and technical documentation for new installations.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives aimed at reducing downtime and increasing throughput.

Requirements

• Practical experience with installing, maintaining, and troubleshooting complex equipment, ideally in commercial cleanroom settings.
• Open to candidates earlier in their career who demonstrate strong practical technical skills, high motivation, and a willingness to work directly with cleanroom equipment.
• Experience with high-vacuum tools, preferably semiconductor nanofabrication equipment.
• Relevant technical degree or equivalent background in fields like instrumentation, electrical engineering, or mechatronics.
• Systematic problem-solver with strong planning and coordination abilities.
• Comfortable working under pressure in a dynamic startup environment.
• Self-motivated, team-oriented, and capable of operating with minimal supervision and high ownership.
• Willingness to adhere to strict safety protocols and quality control procedures at all times.
• Ability to follow detailed technical documentation and create clear records of work performed.
• Flexibility to work within rotating shifts or extended hours if required for equipment uptime.
• Strong analytical skills to interpret technical data and diagnose faults effectively.
• Effective communication skills to interact with cross-functional teams and external vendors.

Nice to have

• Familiarity with cryogenic or dilution refrigerator systems.

Skills & tools

• High-vacuum nanofabrication tools (lithography, etching, deposition)
• Dilution refrigerators
• Advanced characterization equipment
• Lab equipment

Practical notes

• Benefits include a flexible, hybrid work setup, an open vacation policy, and a personal learning and development budget.
• The company invests in team events and offsites.
• Pre-employment screening may be required.
• QuantWare encourages applications from diverse backgrounds, including women in the quantum industry, even if not all requirements are met.

About the company

QuantWare is building the world's most powerful quantum processors to solve humanity's greatest challenges. We do this with our unique VIO technology, the only QPU architecture that breaks the hardware barriers that have held quantum computing back, unlocking the path to MegaQubit quantum processors.