CMP Equipment Engineer

Seeking a motivated CMP Equipment Engineer with 2–5 years of semiconductor manufacturing experience to support and improve equipment performance in a high-volume wafer fabrication environment. This role will focus primarily on equipment reliability, uptime, and maintenance while also driving process and operational improvements that enhance yield, quality, cycle time, and cost performance.

The successful candidate will partner closely with Process Engineering, Manufacturing, Facilities, and Equipment Vendors to troubleshoot issues, implement corrective actions, and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

Equipment Engineering

• Monitor, maintain, and improve CMP equipment performance to achieve manufacturing output and reliability targets.

• Troubleshoot equipment failures and coordinate timely recovery actions to minimize production impact.

• Perform root cause analysis on recurring equipment issues and implement sustainable corrective actions.

• Support equipment qualifications, installations, upgrades, and technology transfers.

• Develop and optimize preventive and predictive maintenance plans to improve tool availability.

• Work closely with equipment vendors to resolve technical issues and implement equipment improvements.

• Monitor equipment health through SPC, fault detection systems, and equipment performance metrics.

• Create and maintain equipment documentation, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and maintenance instructions.

Process Improvement & Manufacturing Support

• Partner with Process Engineers to identify opportunities for yield, defect, and productivity improvements.

• Analyze equipment and process data to identify trends, sources of variation, and improvement opportunities.

• Support process experiments, engineering evaluations, and qualification activities.

• Drive continuous improvement projects focused on uptime, throughput, availability, cost reduction, and manufacturing efficiency.

• Investigate process excursions associated with equipment performance and implement corrective actions.

• Support lot disposition activities and provide technical support to manufacturing operations.

• Participate in cross-functional problem-solving teams to resolve process and equipment-related challenges.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, or a related engineering discipline.

• 2–5 years of experience in semiconductor manufacturing, preferably in an Equipment Engineering role.

• Experience supporting CMP equipment in a wafer fabrication environment.

• Knowledge of semiconductor manufacturing processes and cleanroom operations.

• Experience troubleshooting manufacturing equipment and driving corrective actions.

• Familiarity with statistical process control (SPC) and data-driven problem-solving techniques.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with CMP platforms such as:

  • Applied Materials Mirra, Mirra Messa (Wet and DIDO) tools

  • Screen DNS AS2000, Ontrak Scrubber Systems

  • NovaScan System 2040

• Experience performing equipment qualifications and production tool releases.

• Working knowledge of data analysis tools such as JMP, Spotfire, Python, MATLAB, SQL, or VBA.

• Experience with structured problem-solving methodologies such as 8D, DMAIC, or 5-Why analysis.

• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, TPM, or continuous improvement methodologies.

• Experience supporting process improvement, defect reduction, or yield enhancement projects.

• Familiarity with equipment monitoring systems and preventive maintenance optimization.

Desired Competencies

• Strong troubleshooting and analytical skills.

• Worked on 200mm platform.

• Ability to identify equipment-related process improvement opportunities.

• Effective verbal and written communication skills.

• Strong organizational and project management abilities.

• Ability to work independently and within cross-functional teams.

• Results-oriented with a continuous improvement mindset.

• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced semiconductor manufacturing environment.

More information about NXP in the United States...

NXP is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer regardless of age, color, national origin, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital status, status as a disabled veteran and/or veteran of the Vietnam Era or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, NXP will provide reasonable accommodations for otherwise qualified disabled individuals.