Internship Downstream Process Development Scientist Jobs in Tempe, AZ

This role serves as the primary engineering resource during off-hours, responsible for executing development experiments, driving laboratory productivity, monitoring tool and process performance, analyzing experimental data, and coordinating development activities with operators, technicians, and daytime process engineers.

Working closely with Process Engineers and technology development teams, this position enables accelerated process development by providing dedicated engineering coverage for DOE execution, tool qualifications, hardware evaluations, and process demonstrations.

The ideal candidate combines strong engineering fundamentals with hands-on laboratory execution skills and thrives in a fast-paced semiconductor development environment.

Key Responsibilities

Process Development Execution

• Execute Design of Experiments (DOE), process qualifications, demonstrations, and hardware evaluations developed by senior Process Engineers.
• Lead daily development activities during the 3:00 PM to 11:00 PM shift.
• Review experimental objectives, wafer splits, recipes, and process conditions to ensure accurate execution.
• Partner with operators and technicians to prioritize and complete development activities.
• Ensure adherence to development plans and identify deviations that may impact experiment integrity.

Equipment and Process Support

• Monitor process performance and equipment health during development activities.
• Perform engineering-level troubleshooting of process and equipment issues.
• Support chamber matching, process recovery, equipment qualifications, and hardware evaluations.
• Coordinate with maintenance and engineering teams to resolve issues impacting development schedules.
• Drive rapid response to process excursions and tool abnormalities.

Data Analysis and Reporting

• Collect, analyze, and summarize process, metrology, and equipment data.
• Generate engineering reports, trends, and experiment summaries for review by development teams.
• Identify abnormal trends and provide recommendations for corrective actions.
• Maintain accurate documentation of experimental conditions and observations.
• Provide comprehensive shift handoffs to daytime engineers.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Act as the primary interface between operators, technicians, and daytime development engineers during second-shift operations.
• Coordinate execution priorities across multiple development programs.
• Support customer demonstrations, process qualifications, and technology evaluations.
• Provide technical guidance to operators during development activities.
• Participate in engineering reviews and communicate key findings and execution risks.

Continuous Improvement

• Identify opportunities to improve development cycle time, experiment quality, and laboratory efficiency.
• Assist in developing procedures, training materials, and best practices.
• Support implementation of new process technologies and hardware platforms.
• Drive a culture of safety, quality, and operational excellence.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Chemistry, Physics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related STEM field.
• Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills.
• Ability to interpret experimental plans and technical data.
• Experience with statistical analysis and data-driven problem solving.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• 2+ years of engineering, laboratory, semiconductor manufacturing, research, or process development experience (internships and co-op experience may be considered).
• Experience in semiconductor process development, process engineering, equipment engineering, or advanced manufacturing.
• Knowledge of DOE methodologies and statistical software such as JMP.
• Experience with semiconductor process equipment, metrology tools, or laboratory development environments.
• Familiarity with thin films, plasma processes, ALD, CVD, etch, thermal processing, or related semiconductor technologies.
• Experience supporting 24/7 manufacturing or development operations.

Success Factors

• Successful execution of development experiments and qualifications.
• Quality and timeliness of engineering data collection and analysis.
• Effective collaboration with operators, technicians, and process engineers.
• Reduction in development cycle time through efficient execution.
• Strong equipment and process troubleshooting capability.
• Detailed and actionable communication between shifts.