Process Development Engineer, IC Design and Reticle Layout

 The IC Design and Reticle Layout Process Development Engineer will be responsible to help support the development of manufacturable, repeatable, and high yielding processes for state-of-the-art highly specialized devices in the fields of Aerospace, Defense, Bioelectronics, and High-Speed Communications.

• Partner with Integration Engineers, Customers, and Other Development Engineers to execute Manufacturing and Development programs, and adjust or optimize wafer layout for yields maximization, throughput and performance. 
• Partner with Product Engineering and Integration to help ensure effective new products introductions as well as consistent device performance and quality. 
• Guide and assist Customers and Integration Engineers through challenging manufacturing layout design rules. 
• Perform all tasks related to reticle design and mask layout supporting semiconductor manufacturing leveraging 193 nm scanners, i-line steppers, and 1x proximity g-line technologies.
• Establish and maintain layout design rules related to metrology and process constraints. Metrology design rules include CDSEM, overlay, ellipsometry, profilometry, and electrical tests. Process design rules include creation of keep-out areas, minimum CDs, overlay constraints, and the generation of dummy load structures to maintain uniformity and process consistency.
• Expand and maintain library of reusable unit components or structures with CAD software.
• Analyze GDS layout files, verify quality and disposition tape-out / manufacturing of reticles based on data and pass/fail criteria. 
• Report and summarize results from the analysis and provide guidance to Customers and the Integration Engineering Team. 
• Provide effective pass-downs to support uninterrupted operation in the Photolithography area.
• Sustain and improve processes for effective and efficient mask tape-out and fabrication. 
• Organize and track all versions of reticle layouts for internal and external customer products. Maintain database of existing mask sets. 
• Partner with reticle suppliers, customers and Integration engineers to improve tape-out cycle time and reticle manufacturing quality control. 
• Using Document Control, Process Work Instructions, and Manufacturing Execution Systems, preserve working knowledge of all codes and standards applicable to reticles design and layout. 
• Assure that the manufactured reticles conform to specifications and application requirements.

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or Physics with 5+ years of relevant experience, OR
Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or Physics with 2+ years of relevant experience.

• IC design, layout and reticle tape-out experience for a commercial foundry using CAD software
• Experience with commercial layout software (Cadence, dw-2000, Mentor Graphics)
• Deep understanding of DRC rules and their creation
• Strong problem solving and critical thinking skills
• Basic understanding of algebraic concepts
•  Data extraction, analysis, and reporting experience
• Basic understanding of Semiconductor processing
• Ability to troubleshoot basic problems and address root causes
• Ability to plan and prioritize activities, perform and monitor multiple overlapping tasks/operations to meet goals and timelines
• Strong communication, presentation and documentation skills
• Must be able to work effectively in a dynamic start-up environment