Quality Technician
Department: Engineering
Employment Type: Full Time
Location: Plymouth
Description
Join Plessey as a Quality Technician and play a key role in maintaining the performance and quality of our 24/7 manufacturing operation.
Working at the heart of the fab, you'll respond to yield-impacting events, carry out defect inspection activities using optical, SEM, and FIB techniques, and support structured problem-solving to keep production running efficiently.
Acting as a vital link between defect engineering, yield, operations and quality systems, you'll help ensure issues affecting product quality, process capability or material conformance are quickly identified, contained, escalated and accurately recorded, while contributing to continuous improvement and Quality Circle initiatives across the business.
Key Responsibilities
- Act as the first on-shift responder to inline, IQC, OQC, and WIP-related defect or yield issues, carrying out rapid triage, re-inspection, containment, and escalation activities.
- Perform defect review and classification using optical microscopy, SEM, FIB, and automated defect review systems, ensuring accurate documentation and traceability.
- Support the operation, validation, and basic maintenance of inspection and metrology tools including Optical, SEM, CIRCL, KLA/Klarity, and SAM systems.
- Ensure accurate lot history updates within MES and provide clear shift handovers covering defects, yield risks, holds, and ongoing actions.
- Work closely with Defect, Yield, Process, and Quality Engineering teams to support root cause investigations, defect analysis, process improvements, and inspection optimisation.
- Maintain defect libraries, inspection records, and supporting images to ensure robust data integrity and consistent classification standards.
- Support compliance with sampling plans, inspection procedures, and QMS requirements through first-line audit and verification activities.
- Contribute to Quality Circle and continuous improvement initiatives focused on reducing defectivity, rework, inspection burden, and yield loss.
- Apply structured problem-solving methods such as 5-Why, Fishbone, and IS/IS-NOT to support effective issue resolution and operational discipline.
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
- Experience in a high-reliability manufacturing environment.
- Confident working hands-on with optical microscopes; familiarity with SEM/FIB preferred (training provided).
- Strong attention to detail with the ability to recognise defect patterns and anomalies.
- Ability to work independently and make disciplined, evidence-based decisions.
- Effective communication skills for clear reporting and cross-shift handovers.
Advantage
- Experience in semiconductor, LED or microelectronics.
- Comfortable working in a cleanroom environment.
- Working knowledge of Klarity, CIRCL, or similar defect-review software.
Benefits
- Pension scheme
- Private medical & dental insurance
- 25 days annual leave
- Free onsite meals
- Onsite gym
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Quality Technician in Plymouth employer: Plessey Semiconductors Ltd
Plessey Semiconductors Ltd is an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture, particularly for the Finance Systems Lead role. Located in the UK, employees benefit from a supportive environment that encourages professional growth through continuous learning and development opportunities, while also being part of a forward-thinking team dedicated to driving process improvements in finance systems.
Contact Details:
Plessey Semiconductors Ltd Recruitment Team
