Process Engineer – Semiconductor & Photonics Fabrication

Location: United Kingdom

About the Opportunity

We are seeking a hands-on Process Engineer to join an advanced semiconductor and photonics fabrication team, supporting the development and optimisation of next-generation III-V semiconductor and photonic device technologies.

This is an excellent opportunity for a technically strong PhD graduate with practical academic cleanroom experience who is looking to transition into an industrial semiconductor environment.

Working alongside experienced process, integration and equipment engineers, you will contribute to wafer fabrication, process development, characterisation and baseline stability across multiple fabrication modules. Your work will support both research and development activities and pilot manufacturing operations.

Key Responsibilities

Wafer Fabrication & Process Development

• Execute cleanroom fabrication workflows across photolithography, etching and thin-film deposition.

• Perform lithography processes, including spin coating, mask alignment, exposure, development and lift-off.

• Support the development, optimisation and maintenance of process recipes for dry etching, wet etching and deposition.

• Work with processes including RIE, ICP-RIE, PECVD, ALD, sputtering and thermal/e-beam evaporation.

Metrology & Characterisation

• Conduct wafer inspection, dimensional characterisation and defect analysis.

• Operate analytical equipment such as SEM, FIB-SEM, AFM, optical profilometers and optical microscopes.

• Analyse process results and identify opportunities to improve wafer quality, repeatability and yield.

Process Control & Continuous Improvement

• Support process baselining, recipe optimisation and equipment qualification.

• Apply Design of Experiments (DoE) and Statistical Process Control (SPC) principles to assess process performance.

• Participate in root-cause investigations and structured problem-solving activities.

• Maintain accurate process documentation, SOPs and out-of-control action plans.

• Uphold cleanroom, contamination-control and safety procedures.

Collaboration & Project Support

• Work closely with process, equipment and integration engineers.

• Generate experimental data and technical summaries to support R&D milestones.

• Contribute to process improvement and technology transfer activities.

Requirements

• PhD in Physics, Materials Science, Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Chemistry or a closely related discipline, with research focused on semiconductor fabrication, photonics or micro/nanofabrication.

• Demonstrable hands-on cleanroom fabrication experience gained in an academic or industrial environment.

• Practical experience across multiple fabrication processes, including:

  • Photolithography: spin coating, mask alignment, exposure, development and lift-off.

  • Etching: dry etching (RIE or ICP-RIE) and wet chemical etching.

  • Thin-film deposition and metallisation: PECVD, ALD, sputtering or thermal/e-beam evaporation.

• Experience operating characterisation equipment such as SEM, surface profilometers, ellipsometers and optical inspection tools.

• Understanding of experimental design principles and data analysis.

• Strong analytical, documentation and communication skills.

• Ability to work independently while contributing effectively within a multidisciplinary team.

Desirable Experience

• Hands-on experience with III-V compound semiconductors, particularly InP or GaAs.

• Familiarity with electron-beam lithography (EBL) or exposure preparation software such as Beamer.

• Exposure to industrial process-control and quality methodologies, including SPC, Gauge R&R, FMEA and 8D.

• Experience with optoelectronic devices, photonic integrated circuits (PICs) or semiconductor photonics fabrication.

Personal Attributes

• Practical, proactive and enthusiastic about hands-on engineering.

• Strong attention to detail and a structured approach to problem-solving.

• Comfortable working to deadlines and adapting to changing project priorities.

• A collaborative team player who is equally capable of working independently.

• Keen to learn, share knowledge and contribute to continuous improvement.

The Opportunity

Join a technically advanced fabrication environment where you can build on your academic cleanroom experience, develop industrial semiconductor process expertise and contribute directly to the fabrication of next-generation semiconductor and photonic technologies.

Darwin Recruitment is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.

Sindi Ngubane