NWA-10 Process Engineer – FAMES
Contract: Full Time / Fixed Term

Tyndall National Institute is Ireland’s largest Research and Technology Organisation (RTO) and a flagship Institute of University College Cork. Specialising in both electronics and photonics, Tyndall is Ireland’s R&D hub on semiconductor technologies and works with global industry and academia to transform research into products in its core market areas of electronics, communications, energy, health, agri-tech and the environment. With a network of over 200 industry partners and customers worldwide, Tyndall is focused on delivering human and economic impact from excellence in research. Tyndall is home to a research community of over 650 people of more than 50 nationalities.

Background to the Role
Within Tyndall’s research programme for Integrated Power Management for Energy-efficient high performance computing, we have developed world leading platform technologies for the heterogeneous integration of high-efficiency miniaturised passive components. These platform technologies are to be further developed and offered through the €1Billion Chips Joint Undertaking (JU) FAMES Pilot Line.

The FAMES Pilot Line is the result of a remarkable European cross-border collaboration. The consortium, led by CEA-Leti, Grenoble, France, is composed of 4 Hosting Sites (CEA-Leti, Tyndall, VTT Finland, and SAL Austria) and includes other research providers such as imec (Belgium), Fraunhofer (Germany), CEZAMAT WUT (Poland), universities including UC Louvain (Belgium), Grenoble INP (France), Universidad of Granada (Spain), and the European Association SiNANO. FAMES is co-funded for the period of 2024–2028 by the European Commission and national agencies as part of the targeted initiatives of the EU Chips Act.

With the goal of transferring results to the EU semiconductor industry, the FAMES Pilot Line will develop advanced technologies offering 2 generations of Fully-Depleted Silicon-on-Insulator (FD-SOI) at 10nm and 7nm nodes, addressing the surging demand for FD-SOI technology. This FD-SOI platform will be enhanced with integrated non-volatile memory, radiofrequency components, 3D options, and thin-film magnetic inductors to improve power management.

In FAMES, the development of Tyndall demonstrators will unlock the innovation potential of our technology platforms by enabling new applications (e.g., IoT and 6G) and creating additional demand by industry clients within the FD-SOI ecosystem. We will bring world-leading expertise, capabilities and international profile in integrated magnetics and power management to create miniaturised inductors and develop micro-transfer printing of power passives and PMICs (power management ICs). This will enable European companies to build their global competitiveness in Power Supply in Package (PSiP) and Power Supply on Chip (PwrSOC) with the ultimate goal of developing leadership in the area of integrated, granular power management on the FDSOI platform.

Purpose of the Role
This role is central to bridging research concepts with practical fabrication, ensuring that innovative ideas from the NanoIC program are successfully translated into robust device flows. As the Process Integration Engineer, you will be responsible for planning and executing end-to-end fabrication runs in Tyndall’s flexifab, using a variety of process modules and advanced metrology methods. By designing and running experiments, collecting and analyzing data, and iterating on process flows, you will help drive continuous improvements in device performance.

Although you will report into the SP&S group, you will work closely with researchers and domain experts within the NanoIC program who will guide much of the technical direction. Your hands-on approach in the cleanroom—coupled with thorough documentation of procedures and results—will be essential for turning cutting-edge research ideas into tangible outcomes. By proactively identifying and mitigating risks, you will also ensure that all process developments align with the highest standards of quality and safety.

Through collaboration and mentorship, you will play a key role in strengthening our research-to-fabrication pipeline. By training junior team members and sharing best practices, you will help build a culture of knowledge transfer and operational excellence. Ultimately, your work will have a direct impact on advancing semiconductor technology, as you push the boundaries of what is possible in device manufacturing and integration.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Work with the supervisor and other team members to support the delivery of the outputs of the project
Hands-on end-to-end fabrication of device runs in the Tyndall MEMS fab
Setup and execution of DOEs for process and device optimization
Implement in-line and end-of-line process metrology to monitor process performance
Analyze data from experimental runs to provide data-driven recommendations for process improvements and modifications
Collaborate closely with researchers and domain experts to translate ideas into practical fabrication flows
Perform risk assessments of new flows or equipment integration
Document process flows, recipes, and experimental results
Report results in internal meetings
Stay current with processing methods reported in the literature and apply them where applicable
Provide process engineering support for tools specific to project (e.g., cleaning tools)
Train and support junior engineers, interns or researchers on tool operation, safety protocols, and fabrication procedures
Participate in Education and Public Engagement activities, as required
Ensure all activities are compliant with the Tyndall Quality Management system
Ensure all activities are compliant with required Health and Safety standards
Carry out any additional duties reasonably required within the general scope and level of the post

Essential Criteria

MSc degree in physics, materials science, chemistry or related discipline
Typically 3 years hands-on experience with end-to-end wafer fabrication processes in a cleanroom environment
Demonstrated competence in at least 3 semiconductor processing techniques (e.g., photolithography, deposition, etch)
Knowledge of in-line and end-of-line metrology techniques (e.g., SEM, AFM, ellipsometry)
Demonstrated ability to follow and document experimental procedures, including recipe development and data analysis/DOE for process optimization
Familiarity with risk assessments and compliance with safety and quality protocols

Desirable Criteria

Evidence of entrepreneurial experience and creativity (e.g., technology start-ups)
Self-motivated with proactive approach and strong desire to learn new fields
Strong ability to analyze experimental data and make data-driven decisions
Ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams and translate research ideas into practical process solutions
Proven track record of documenting process flows, recipes, and experimental results clearly and accurately
Ability to report results and present findings in internal meetings
Strong understanding of cleanroom standards, chemical handling, hazardous material protocols, and commitment to ensuring safety and quality protocols are followed

Tyndall National Institute has a proactive entrepreneurial culture and we welcome applications from candidates who possess entrepreneurial and creative skills or experience, including the creation of technology start-ups.

Appointment may be made on the UCC Technical Officer Salary Scale €48,922 – €66,949 per annum. Salary placement on appointment will be in accordance with public sector pay policy.

The duration of the contract is fixed-term for approximately 24 months, with the possibility to extend by 18 months depending on availability of funding, satisfactory performance, mutual agreement, and a detailed career development plan.

Informal enquiries concerning this position can be made to Iurii Efimenkov.

Closing date for application is 1pm on 22nd September 2025.

Application Instructions:
Please make sure to attach an up-to-date CV and a brief motivation letter outlining how you meet the ‘Essential Criteria’ for this role.

A full candidate information pack is available to download by clicking here.

Please note that Garda vetting and/or an international police clearance check may form part of the selection process.
Please note that an appointment to posts advertised will be dependent on University approval, together with the terms of the employment control framework for the higher education sector.

At this time, Tyndall National Institute does not require the assistance of recruitment agencies.
Tyndall National Institute at University College, Cork is an Equal Opportunities Employer

Process Engineer – FAMES

Job Description