Cleanroom Microfabrication Process Engineer

Cleanroom Microfabrication Process Engineer
Are you passionate about cleanroom microfabrication and eager to work in a high-tech environment at EPFL Lausanne? As a Cleanroom Microfabrication Process Engineer, you will be part of a dynamic team responsible for the fabrication of photonic integrated circuits in the CMi cleanroom (EPFL Lausanne). Your expertise may also be utilised to solve complex fabrication challenges in piezo-MEMS and piezoelectric thin film deposition.

Due to the unique nature of microfabrication, each process requires a broad range of equipment and materials. You will need to develop specialised expertise across multiple fabrication techniques, ultimately becoming capable of independently managing projects from start to finish. This role demands precision, focus, and a steady hand. Flexibility in both attitude and working hours is essential, as is patience when handling intricate manufacturing processes.

Work environment
You will be working in a shared cleanroom facility, accessible to both academics and companies. The cleanroom is a climate-controlled, dust-free laboratory, meaning that you will have to wear a special dust-free suit. Access is granted only after completing the mandatory chemical and safety course.

Typical but not only cleanroom processes are:
• Lithography (including ASML DUV stepper)
• Chemical vapour deposition (LPCVD, PECVD)
• PVD (Sputtering, evaporation, Pulsed Laser Deposition)
• Wet and dry etching
• Structural and functional characterisation (XRD, piezoelectric and dielectric characterisation)
• Metrology techniques like ellipsometry, profilometry and SEM

Professional requirements:
• Master’s degree in Physics, Chemistry, Electrical Engineering or Nanotechnology
• 3-5 years of cleanroom experience is a must
• PICs microfabrication experience is a must
• Pulsed laser deposition experience is a must
• Well organised and focused
• Autonomous, curious and eager to learn
• Practical and pragmatic
• Languages: Fluency in English, French is a plus

About the company
FoXmat SA is a start-up from the EPFL ecosystem, having its roots at the now-defunct EPFL Ceramics Laboratory (EPFL IMX LC), a world-renowned research laboratory which focused on the science and technology of functional ceramics, including piezoelectrics, ferroelectrics, high-K dielectrics etc.

FoXmat focuses on providing the highest quality piezoelectric thin films (mainly lead-based PZT) on the wafer scale (from chips to 200 mm wafers) deposited by the PLD technique, taking into account stringent application and integration requirements. The main fabrication and thin film deposition partner (clean room service provider) over the years was and still is EPFL Center of MicroNanoTechnology. The main served market is the optoelectronic integrated circuits (OEIC) – a very fast-expanding segment, where state-of-the-art piezo-optical-MEMS provides much-needed means for further miniaturization and scaling down possibilities. As a pure-play micro- and nano-fabrication partner for the Photonic Integrated Circuits, FoXmat targets to become a major player in Europe and Switzerland, fulfilling the goal to bring back innovation capabilities from overseas.

What FoXmat SA offers you:
• A 40-hour job as Cleanroom microfabrication Process Engineer
• Working with and on cutting-edge technology
• A gross yearly salary between 70’000 CHF – 80’000 CHF based on 100% contract
• 25 vacation days
• An inspiring and informal work environment with opportunities to grow
• Vibrant high-tech environment of EPFL and EPFL Innovation Park in Lausanne, and the Lake Leman region in Switzerland