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Semiconductor Etch Unit Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Plasma Dry Etch Engineer

Covington, GA ยท On-site

$90K - $150K/yr

You will be a primary technical owner for vacuum-based unit processes in a hands-on, early-stage R& ... semiconductor or packaging environment * Direct experience with PVD sputter deposition of seed ...

Process Support Engineer - Etch

Hillsboro, OR ยท On-site

$86K - $119K/yr

... semiconductor chips - the brains of devices we use every day. As the foundation of the global ... Serves as liaison between the customer and the Business Unit for assigned projects, ensuring clear ...

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Semiconductor Etch Unit information

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How much do semiconductor etch unit jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 11, 2026, the average hourly pay for semiconductor etch unit in the United States is $21.23, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $16.59 and $26.68 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a semiconductor etch unit?

A Semiconductor Etch Unit is a specialized machine used in semiconductor manufacturing to remove specific layers from a silicon wafer through chemical or plasma processes. This selective removal is crucial for creating the intricate patterns needed for integrated circuits and microchips. The etching process ensures precision and accuracy, impacting the performance and functionality of electronic devices. Operators or engineers working with these units must understand cleanroom protocols and equipment operation to maintain product quality.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals working in a semiconductor etch unit, and how can they be addressed?

Professionals in a Semiconductor Etch Unit often encounter challenges such as maintaining process consistency, troubleshooting equipment issues, and minimizing defects during wafer processing. These challenges require strong attention to detail, quick problem-solving skills, and close collaboration with process engineers and maintenance teams. Staying updated with standard operating procedures, regularly calibrating equipment, and participating in continuous improvement initiatives can help address these challenges and contribute to a more efficient and reliable manufacturing process.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a semiconductor etch technician, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Semiconductor Etch Technician, you need a background in electronics, materials science, or a related technical field, often supported by a technical diploma or associate's degree. Familiarity with cleanroom protocols, semiconductor fabrication equipment, and process control systems like SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy) is typically required. Attention to detail, strong problem-solving skills, and effective teamwork are crucial soft skills for success in this environment. These competencies ensure precise manufacturing, help maintain product quality, and support efficient semiconductor production processes.

What are popular job titles related to Semiconductor Etch Unit jobs?

For Semiconductor Etch Unit jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Semiconductor Etch Unit job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% As Needed, 79% Full Time, 11% Part Time, and 8% Contract. Highlights an 96% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $44,153 per year, or $21.2 per hour.

Plasma Dry Etch Engineer

Covington, GA โ€ข On-site

$90K - $150K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 11 days ago


Job description

Job Title: R&D Engineer - Dry Process (Plasma Etch /Plasma Ablation/ PVD) Expert for Advanced Packaging applications

Location: Covington, GA

Job Type: Full-Time

 

About Us: Absolics is a leading provider of advanced packaging technologies and services, offering scalable solutions for businesses of high-performance computing. We offer smart, innovative services to dozens of clients globally. By dedicating our efforts to establishing large glass substrates with built-in active and passive elements, our goal is to provide significant improvement in signaling characteristics and power consumption compared to existing solutions.

Job Description:

We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Dry Process Engineer to join our R&D team. In this role you will lead development of dry processing capabilities across plasma etch, physical vapor deposition, and plasma-based ablation steps for fabricating advanced packaging interconnect structures. This role sits at the intersection of thin-film metallization and dielectric patterning, requiring you to steer equipment and process qualification, process recipe development, and integration handoffs with lithography, wet process, and plating teams. You will be a primary technical owner for vacuum-based unit processes in a hands-on, early-stage R&D environment where design of experiment planning capabilities and rigorous root-cause analysis both matter.

 

Key Responsibilities:

  • Develop and qualify plasma etch, PVD seed deposition, and plasma ablation processes for RDL build up and interconnect structures
  • Help establish process flows that enable control of film uniformity, required via or trench step coverage and taper/sidewall profile, and layer-to-layer adhesion across the various plasma-based sub processes
  • Establish recipes and tune plasma chemistry and tool parameters to optimize etch selectivity and minimize defects (micro-masking, residue, undercut)
  • Perform root-cause and failure analysis on dry-process defects using SEM, XPS/AES, and electrical metrology
  • Assess plasma-induced damage risk (charging, UV effects) on dielectrics and downstream reliability
  • Collaborate with wet process and plating teams to ensure clean handoff of seed layers and trench/via structures

 

Required Skills

  • Hands-on experience with plasma etch process development (RIE, ICP, or barrel plasma) in a semiconductor or packaging environment
  • Direct experience with PVD sputter deposition of seed layers (Ti, TiW, Ta, Cu) including thickness uniformity, step coverage, and adhesion control
  • Experience with plasma-based dielectric ablation techniques/descum on organic or inorganic dielectrics (ABF, PBO, PSPI, polyimide)
  • Working knowledge of plasma chemistry fundamentals (O₂, CF₄, SF₆, Ar, N₂ chemistries) and their etch selectivity tradeoffs
  • Proficiency with vacuum system fundamentals: chamber pressure control, RF/ICP power coupling, gas flow control, end-point detection
  • Metrology and characterization skills: SEM, profilometry, XPS or AES for surface composition, four-point probe for film resistivity
  • DOE design and statistical analysis for process optimization (Minitab, JMP, or equivalent)
  • Root-cause and failure analysis experience for etch defects (micro-masking, undercut, residue, via taper control)

 

Preferred Skills

  • Experience with plasma descum/etch-back for via clean prior to metallization (organic dielectric residue removal)
  • Familiarity with PECVD or ALD for inorganic dielectric or barrier films (SiN, SiO₂, SiCN)
  • Experience tuning trench taper angle, sidewall profile, and CD bias for fine-pitch micro structures (≤10 µm)
  • Knowledge of dry plasma Ti seed removal as an alternative to wet etch (selectivity to underlying Cu RDL)
  • Familiarity with plasma uniformity modeling, chamber matching, or tool-to-tool variation reduction
  • Cross-process integration experience linking dry etch outcomes to downstream plating or CMP performance
  • Experience with reliability impact assessment of plasma-induced damage (charging, UV exposure effects on dielectrics)

 

Education

  • Ph.D. in Materials Science, Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Physics, or related field preferred
  • M.S. with 3+ years of relevant industry or research experience considered

Benefits: 

  • 401K 6% matching (NO vesting period)
  • Healthcare 100% support (Health, Dental, Vision)
  • Life, STD, LTD 100 % support
  • Cell phone allowance
  • PTO and self-development

SALARY:

  • $90,000 – $150,000