Engineering opportunities

Vice President Engineering & Operations (semi equipment - pre-IPO, Sunnyvale, CA)

NEW POSITION (12/01):
Director of Engineering, Robotics (semi equipment, Fremont, CA)

Senior Control System Design Engineer (semi equipment - Milpitas, CA)

Applications Engineer (semi equipment - San Jose, CA)

Applications/Sales Engineer (semi equipment - Santa Clara, CA)

Vice President Engineering & Operations - SEN #101 (pre-IPO start-up)
Santa Clara, CA

Note: This position has been filled (August 2001)

Our client is a pre-public growth company, run by a team of professionals drawn from some of the Bay Area's most successful semiconductor companies.  The company develops and markets advanced process control solutions for the semiconductor manufacturing industry.  Products include advanced, high-speed optical metrology systems, targeted at applications in CMP, CVD, etch and lithography. 

The Company seeks an experienced VP Engineering & Operations ("the VP") to direct the Company's Technology and Product Roadmap.  The VP will have overall responsibility and accountability for the design, development and delivery of new products, as well as the enhancement or customization of existing products. He or she will contribute technology expertise to strategic business decisions, and will ensure customer relations through the leadership and management of technical support functions. The VP will also be responsible for the development and maintenance of outsourced manufacturing capability, ensuring seamless integration between design, production, test and product delivery. The VP will be a key member of the senior management team, reporting to the Company's President and CEO.

Job Responsibilities:

• Direct all R&D operations including new product development and sustaining engineering.
• Direct all manufacturing operations including planning, vendor selection, production management/implementation, in-house final test and customer delivery.
• Manage multiple projects including planning, budgeting, scheduling, staff supervision and project reporting.
• As a member of the senior management team, provide technical input addressing product strategy, deliverables, and design and manufacturing implementation.
• Lead technical support functions, working closely with Sales and Marketing to ensure customer satisfaction.
• Recruit and manage a staff of 6-8 engineers.

Requirements:

• 5 to 10 years of solid business experience in technology and engineering roles working in the semiconductor capital equipment industry, with an emphasis on Metrology or Semiconductor Process Equipment.
• Prior experience managing Metrology Engineering is a significant plus.
• BSEE or equivalent; masters degree is preferred.
• 3 to 5 years of successful experience in Project Management and Design Implementation.
• Demonstrated success in project planning, scheduling, budgeting, staff supervision and project reporting.
• Track record of success in leading a fast-paced engineering organization, delivering high quality, innovative products to market on a timely basis.
• Solid knowledge of the product engineering process, project management techniques and documentation standards in a highly entrepreneurial environment.
• Direct technical involvement in system design, design implementation and manufacturing.
• Excellent interpersonal and skills and customer/vendor/investor presentation skills.
• Ability to closely collaborate with other members of senior management on strategic and tactical business decisions.
• Proven ability to build, manage and motivate a team.
• Desire to succeed.

Compensation will include base salary, incentive and pre-IPO stock options.

Contact: Send your resume, the job title/number and salary history to: lherbst@searchmgmnt.com

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Director of Engineering, Robotics -- Job #AS 101
Fremont, CA

Our client is a provider of integrated automation systems for the semiconductor manufacturing industry.  The Company designs systems that enable semiconductor manufacturers to increase their manufacturing productivity and protect their investment in silicon wafers during the manufacture of integrated circuits. The Company offers isolation systems, work-in-process materials management, substrate-handling robotics, automated transport and loading systems, and connectivity automation software.

Job Scope:
In recent years, state-of-the-art factory automation has emerged as a critical path in helping chipmakers meet both their technology and manufacturing goals. The Company is seeking an experienced Director of Engineering, Robotics ("Director") to help it meet its goals of continued market leadership, revenue growth and client satisfaction.

This position reports to the VP Engineering, Integrated Products Group.

The Director will manage an organization of about 36 personnel.  During periods of industry growth, this employee number could double. The current organization has two Groups – Input/Output (I/O), and Robotics – but this could be expanded to also include Integrated Systems.

The Robotics and I/O Groups each include 16 engineers and 2 Product Mangers including mechanical, software and electrical engineering. Engineering projects today total 6-10 per Group, with projects ranging from new development to customer request.

The Director will be responsible for the design, development and delivery of new Robotics and I/O products, as well as the enhancement or customization of existing products.  He or she will develop the engineering organization, including recruitment, training and personnel management.  The Director will provide technical leadership to the organization and function as a team-builder and mentor.

The Director will interact with every department in the Company and will help with technical sales, as needed.  He or she will contribute technology expertise to strategic business decisions, particularly those addressing product features and product/market competitiveness. 

Job Responsibilities:

• Direct all Robotics and I/O R&D operations including new product development, customer requests and sustaining engineering.
• Manage multiple projects including planning, budgeting, scheduling, staff supervision and project reporting.
• Provide technical input addressing product strategy, deliverables, and design and manufacturing implementation.
• Recruit, train and manage engineering personnel to match resource needs and growth requirements.
• Provide support for technical sales, as needed.

Requirements:

• 5 to 10 years of solid business experience in technology and engineering roles working in the semiconductor capital equipment industry or related industry, with an emphasis on Factory  Automation or Robotics.
• Prior experience managing an Engineering organization is a significant plus.
• Strategic thinker and effective change agent.
• Outstanding technical, team-building and interpersonal skills.
• Proven ability to build, manage and motivate a team.
• Track record of success in a fast-paced engineering organization, delivering high quality, innovative products to market on a timely basis.
• Demonstrated success in project planning, scheduling, budgeting, staff supervision and project reporting.
• Direct technical involvement in system design and design implementation.
• Ability to closely collaborate with other members of management on strategic and tactical business decisions.
• BSME or equivalent; masters degree preferred.
• Desire to succeed.

Compensation will include base salary, incentive and stock options.

Contact: Send your resume, the job title/number and salary history to: lherbst@searchmgmnt.com

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Senior Control System Design Engineer -- Job # NM 101
Milpitas, CA

Our client designs, manufactures and markets advanced thin film and overlay metrology systems. The Company serves the global semiconductor industry as its primary market, and is a leading metrology supplier to the flat panel display (FPD) and magnetic recording head industries.

The Company offers complete metrology solutions that make use of several advanced technologies, including visible and deep-UV reflectometry, spectroscopic ellipsometry and FTIR reflectometry to measure film thickness, optical constants, dopant concentration and overlay accuracy.  Products range from integrated systems to fully automated stand-alone and tabletop systems. Solutions also include 300mm-capable systems/applications.

The Position:
The Company is seeking a Senior Control Systems Design Engineer to manage the design and implementation of motion controllers in next-generation metrology products.  This position reports to the head of Engineering.

The Control Engineer will provide strategy and vision for new product development and will direct analog and digital designers in activities that may include:

• Analog Design: General-purpose amplifier and filter design, phase lock loop design, etc.  Analog front-end sensor design.
• Digital Design:  DSP-based (Motorola, TI or Analog Devices chip) hardware board design for signal processing, data acquisition, control or sensor integration.
• Control Systems Design:  DSP, microprocessor and analog control (servo) systems hardware and firmware development (motion control). Conceptual and analytical design of control systems.

The Control Engineer will be an integral part of a product development team involving Marketing, Applications, Technical/Field Support and Manufacturing. He or she will be involved in all aspects of the product life cycle from system design to product delivery.  The Control Engineer will work closely with Product Management, and may work directly with customers on problem analysis and feature specifications.

Requirements:

• BSEE or MSEE
• At least 5 years of experience working with power supplies, amplifiers, motion control, robotics, servo motors and measurement instrumentation.
• Experience developing machine control systems hardware and software for semiconductor capital equipment systems.
• Experience with schematic and layout tools, simulation and modeling tools.
• Experience in product design engineering environment with industry regulatory bodies is desired.

Compensation will include base salary and stock options. The Company offers excellent benefits including medical, ESPP and a 401K with employer matching.

Contact: Send your resume, the job title/number and salary history to: lherbst@searchmgmnt.com

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Applications Engineer -- Job # SEK 101
San Jose, CA

Note: This position has been placed on hold effective 9/28/01

Our client is the leader in non-contact temperature measurement for the semiconductor capital equipment industry.  The Company's electro-optical products are used in leading-edge semiconductor processing applications such as RTP, HDP-CVD, PVD, epitaxy, etch and strip.  We are seeking an industry-tested professional with experience in semiconductor manufacturing to work from the Company's offices in San Jose, CA.  This position reports to the VP Technology & Applications.

The Applications Engineer performs engineering work in basic and applied research, development, and/or design of new products, as well as the application/evaluation of existing products. The Engineer will demonstrate products to customers and assist in the integration of non-contact temperature equipment in capital equipment.

Essential Duties:

• Designs, modifies, and evaluates non-contact, optical fiber thermometers and emissometers for use in monitoring and controlling temperatures in plasma generating equipment.
• Develops methods and systems for testing and evaluating existing or newly developed equipment in applications anticipated at customer installations.
• Participates in concept/design activities for development of next generation products. Shares or manages prototyping responsibilities for concept/feasibility testing of such products.
• Mentors less experienced engineers and technicians, including customers.
• Manages projects, including performance, technical requirements and manufacturability issues, budget, and schedule.
• Practices safety conscience discipline in potentially hazardous laboratory environment.
• Assists and acquires data with customers at customer facilities to prove efficacy of temperature sensing equipment.
• Assists customers in proper integration of temperature sensing equipment into capital equipment.
• Travels to customer facilities 25%-50%.

The Applications Engineer will work in a fast-paced engineering laboratory, at customer fabs, and in a standard office environment. The Engineer will manage both administrative and mechanically oriented tasks as needed.  This may include troubleshooting vacuum assemblies, processing and plasma generating devices in addition to high voltage electronic assemblies. The Engineer will operate sampling and real time oscilloscopes, pulse generators, meters, power supplies and special test fixtures. Overtime may be necessary in times of increased demand.

Experience and Education:

• Minimum of four years of related experience in the semiconductor capital equipment industry.
• Experience in plasma processing, IC fabrication, plasma system design or similar.
• Qualified to independently lead complex projects.
• Bachelors or Masters of Science degree in Engineering, Physics, Chemistry or a related field, or equivalent experience and/or education.
• CPR certification.

Additional Skills:

• Excellent verbal and written communications skills and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to handle highly complex engineering assignments.
• Ability to manage multiple projects at one time.
• Ability to work independently and be creative.
• Strong engineering skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including PowerPoint.

Compensation will include base salary and incentive bonus. The Company offers excellent benefits including 401K matching and a stock purchase plan.

Contact: Send your resume, the job title/number and salary history to: lherbst@searchmgmnt.com

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Applications/Sales Engineer -- Job # MKS 101
Santa Clara, CA

Note: This position has been placed on hold effective 10/4/01

Our client is a leading developer, manufacturer and supplier of process control instruments, components and subsystems that are integrated into many gas and vacuum-based manufacturing processes. The Company's Advanced Process Control Product Group provides sophisticated measurement technologies to monitor and control manufacturing processes in the semiconductor and opto-electronic industries.  Products include an advanced range of gas/liquid analysis products and wafer metrology products based on FTIR spectrometry, as well as complementary analysis and control software. 

Responsibilities:
The Applications/Sales Engineer will provide timely technical support and information to customers, field sales, repair and order entry personnel mainly for Process Sense endpoint products.  The primary effort will be focused on supporting OEM customers with the application, integration and operation of the Process Sense remote plasma process endpoint sensor.  Additional tasks will include applications support for both MultiGas IR gas analyzers and FilmExpert IR film metrology product families as well.  This support will mainly involve travel to customer sites and phone support.

Job Details:

• Will travel to customer sites, sometimes with local sales staff, to support product installation and testing and provide applications solutions.
   
• Will conduct tests either in-house or at customer locations to evaluate products for particular applications.
   
• Will be a key interface between outside customers, field sales, marketing and engineering.
   
• May serve as the technical focal person for one or more of our major customers.
   
• Will support engineering and marketing strategies via written application notes and technical articles.
   
• Will gather technical information from Company's Engineering group or through direct experiments and provide the results to customers.
   
• May provide technical assistance at trade shows.
   
• Will provide weekly reports of activities.

Job Requirements:

• B.S. in an Engineering or Physical Science.
   
• 2-3 years in technical customer support or applications engineering.
   
• Excellent interpersonal and communications skills for working with customers and in-house personnel.
   
• Hands-on experience with vacuum/semiconductor equipment.
   
• Ability to travel about 25% of the time for coverage of the Western Region (mainly CA, OR & WA).
   
• Experience in Microsoft office and Lotus Notes helpful.
   

Compensation will include base salary, stock options and excellent benefits.

Contact: Send your resume, the job title/number and salary history to: lherbst@searchmgmnt.com

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