At a Glance
- Tasks: Maintain, troubleshoot, and improve semiconductor manufacturing equipment for epitaxial wafer growth.
- Company: A leading developer of advanced optical and photonic technologies in Northamptonshire.
- Benefits: Great base salary, excellent company benefits, and VISA/relocation support if required.
- Other info: Full-time permanent role in a cleanroom environment, Monday to Friday, 39.5 hours per week.
- Why this job: Join a high-growth company with cutting-edge epitaxy technologies and diverse engineering projects.
- Qualifications: Minimum 5 years' experience as an Epitaxy Equipment Engineer or equivalent, with strong electrical knowledge.
The predicted salary is between 35000 - 45000 £ per year.
Our client is a leading developer and manufacturer of advanced optical and photonic technologies, supporting global semiconductor, telecommunications, data communications, sensing, and industrial manufacturing markets. They have invested heavily into epitaxy equipment, with lots of new equipment being commissioned and installed.
This role for a Senior Epitaxy Equipment Engineer involves planning and prioritising epitaxy equipment maintenance on a key site. It is an excellent opportunity for an experienced lead epitaxy equipment engineer to work with cutting-edge epitaxy technologies in a highly specialised cleanroom environment.
The Role
As the Senior / Principal Epitaxy Equipment Engineer, you will be responsible for maintaining, troubleshooting, improving, and commissioning complex semiconductor manufacturing equipment used for epitaxial wafer growth. You will play a key role in maximising equipment uptime, supporting production, and driving continuous improvement across critical manufacturing processes. Working closely with Process Engineering and Manufacturing teams, you will provide technical expertise across advanced MOVPE and associated semiconductor systems.
Key Responsibilities
- Support and maintain MOVPE and related semiconductor manufacturing equipment.
- Perform preventative maintenance, fault diagnosis, and repair activities to minimise production downtime.
- Lead epitaxy equipment improvement, reliability, and upgrade projects.
- Support the installation, commissioning, relocation, and optimisation of capital equipment.
- Operate and troubleshoot high-vacuum systems, reactors, turbo pumps, pneumatic controls, and associated infrastructure.
- Manage hazardous process gases and chemicals, including gas cylinder and phosphorus trap changes.
- Oversee spare parts, chemical inventories, gas management, and waste disposal processes.
- Liaise with equipment suppliers, service engineers, and external contractors.
- Develop preventative maintenance strategies to improve equipment utilisation and reliability.
- Support site shutdown activities and emergency response requirements.
About You
You will be a highly motivated, expert epitaxy engineer with a strong background in epitaxy equipment maintenance and a passion for solving complex technical challenges.
Essential Experience
- HNC, Degree, or equivalent qualification in Electrical, Mechanical, Electronic Engineering, or a related discipline.
- Minimum 5 years' experience within a semiconductor manufacturing or advanced engineering environment working directly as an Epitaxy Equipment Engineer, Epitaxy Engineering Manager or Principal Epitaxy Equipment Engineer or equivalent.
- Strong electrical engineering knowledge, including low and high voltage systems.
- Proven experience supporting semiconductor wafer fabrication equipment.
- Experience with fault finding on complex electro-mechanical systems.
- Knowledge of vacuum technology, reactors, pneumatic systems, and industrial controls/PLCs.
- Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics and technical drawings.
- Experience working with hazardous gases and chemicals in a manufacturing environment.
- Excellent communication and problem-solving skills.
Desirable Experience
- Experience with MOVPE, MBE, CVD, or related epitaxy/deposition technologies.
- Knowledge of equipment from manufacturers such as Aixtron, Veeco, ASML, SPTS Technologies, Palomar, or similar.
- Experience supporting equipment installations, commissioning projects, or factory expansions.
Additional Information
- Full time permanent Monday to Friday 39.5 hours per week.
- Cleanroom-based environment.
What's on Offer?
- Opportunity to work with the latest, most advanced Epitaxy equipment/technology.
- Work in a senior technical role as the Lead Epitaxy Equipment Engineer.
- Challenging and technically diverse engineering projects.
- Collaborative engineering environment focused on innovation and continuous improvement.
- Great base salary plus excellent company benefits.
- Career progression within a high growth, high-tech stable company with a solid forward order book.
- VISA/Relocation support if required.
If you're an experienced senior epitaxy equipment engineer looking to take the next step in your career within a world-class advanced manufacturing environment, we would love to hear from you.
Epitaxy Equipment Engineer in Northampton employer: Beautiful Recruitment LLP
Located in Northamptonshire, this company is at the forefront of optical and photonic technology development. They offer a collaborative engineering environment focused on innovation and continuous improvement, along with a solid forward order book and career progression opportunities.
