R&D Engineer Chemical Mechanical Polishing

Chemical Mechanical Polishing (CMP) is an enabling technology in the manufacturing of scaled chiplets used in a variety of applications like automotive, artificial intelligence, etc. Chiplets are small modular chips that can be combined to form a complete system-on-chip. The CMP process is used for the creation of fine-pitch RDL structures as well as in embedded die-to-wafer microbump processing. Both technologies require the planarization of polymer materials leaving a clean and planar surface with both polymers and metals exposed. As we see an increasing demand for these specific CMP applications, we are looking for a polymer expert with experience in IC manufacturing. What you will do You will be a member of the CMP and Wafer Grinding team at imec that is responsible for developing processes that help build devices for imec's Logic, Memory, Interconnect, Life Sciences... program activities. The team currently consists of ~14 people with whom you interact on a daily basis. However, you will also work in a dynamic multidisciplinary environment in close cooperation with other researchers, scientists, hardware engineers, device and process experts, equipment vendors, industrial assignees and operators. As a specialist in your field, you will be responsible for developing, optimizing, maintaining and documenting high-end CMP processes on state-of-the-art equipment. In this position, you are the first point of contact for customers on the topic of scaled chiplet related CMP, collecting documentation and transferring information, besides setting up dedicated experiments.

More specifically, your tasks include:

• Design, conduct and analyse your experiments.
• Actively contribute to the research and joint development programs with external partners. You will drive and define these activities for the new tool sets, new materials, new metrology tools and methodologies.
• Work cross-functionally with the integration/process support/hardware teams and industrial partners.
• Report about your work to internal and external partners, and via conference / journal publications.
• Monitor industry trends and innovations, applying scientific knowledge and adapting to imec research programs and activities.
• Interface with device engineers and researchers to identify the future needs and trends.
• Coordinate and implement the non-standard work in IMEC's 300mm fab organization together with fab process engineers and the pilot line. This includes coordination of the transfer of developed processes and tools to support and operational teams.
• You will be coached on-the-job by senior colleagues and the CMP team supervisor.

Who you are

• You have a PhD degree in Chemistry, Physics, Physical Chemistry or Material Engineering or equivalent by experience.
• You have a strong technical background in polymer materials; hands-on experience in the field of CMP is an asset.
• You will require a strong capability to work without supervision with a high focus on quality.
• You will actively participate in cross-functional teams, utilizing scientific and engineering skills to enhance the team's capability.
• You have good communication skills since you will work with a multicultural mix of imec researchers, partners and customers. Prior experience in customer relations in an asset.
• You are a team player with good networking skills. You also have good reporting skills.
• Since your job consists of a variety of activities, depending on the interactions with imec's research programs and customers, a flexible attitude towards your tasks is required.
• Given the international character of imec, good knowledge of (spoken and written) English is a must.
• Willingness to physically relocate to Leuven, Belgium.