Two-photon Lithography & Process Engineer

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Job Summary

The University of British Columbia is world leading in silicon photonics research (ranked 4th world-wide in the prior 5 years, according to ScholarGPS). The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering has a group of faculty, researchers, postdocs, and students, engaged in photonics (intersection of optics and electronics). The UBC Stewart Blusson Quantum Matter Institute (UBC Blusson QMI) is a world-leading institute advancing research into solid state systems and phenomena that explicitly involve quantum mechanics. Among its core areas of expertise are the development of materials hosting novel quantum electronic states, and measurement of nanoscale electronic and photonic structures built from these materials, whose device characteristics display remarkable new paradigms of operation.

Our silicon photonics research involves applications in biomedical sensing, photonics for controlling and reading out data from quantum computers, quantum optic devices for quantum information processing, data communications, and more. There are many applications where new materials or newly engineered materials (quantum materials) and/or new photonic devices, will have a use. Our research involves many steps and expertise in a diverse group, ranging from design, fabrication, testing, packaging, and system application experiments.

We have invested heavily on building a nanofabrication facility, and acquiring a state-of-the-art two-photon lithography tool (Vanguard Automation Gmbh, SONATA1000), a tool that is used to 3D fabricate optical components such as photonic wire bonds and micro-optic lenses. The facility also houses an advanced electrical wire bonder, an electron beam lithography tool, and an inductively-coupled plasma etcher.

The Two-Photon Lithography & Process Engineer is the dedicated engineer responsible for the SONATA1000 tool, regarding all aspects of its operation, including user training and liaising with users, with the aim of delivering consistent and reliable service, and is responsible for fully exploiting the capabilities of this lithography tool. To this end, the post holder, who should already have experience in two-photon lithography, electrical wire bonding, die attach, micro/nano-fabrication, and process development, will plan, design and deliver complete micro/nano-fabrication engineering solutions, for a number of different stakeholders, and working on various projects.

The individual is expected to work independently, with a proactive and creative spirit and in close collaboration with colleagues, in order to deliver what is required of the role.

The post holder also has a duty to ensure that all tasks conducted within the labs are performed in a safe manner that conforms to current legislation and workplace protocols.

Project details:

The 5-year NSERC-funded project 'Hybrid Integrated Quantum Light Sources' aims to develop quantum light sources, and demonstrate their use in quantum applications including computing, sensing, and communications. The quantum light sources are based on the hybrid integration of quantum dot and quantum well compound semiconductors with the silicon integrated photonics platforms. The quantum applications will be in quantum computing (e.g., quantum photonic neural networks), quantum communication (e.g., quantum key distribution, QKD), and quantum sensing (e.g., quantum-enhanced LiDAR and gyroscopes). The proposal brings together academic and industrial partners from Canada, US, Australia, and Europe who contribute key expertise to deliver on this project.

Working with our industrial partners, the candidate will operate equipment, make improvements to existing equipment, design new assemblies, develop new nano-fabrication processes, and prototyping chip-based systems.

Organizational Status
The Two-Photon Lithography & Process Engineer reports to the UBC Blusson QMI Managing Director and the Principal Investigator in charge of the project 'Hybrid Integrated Quantum Light Sources'. The post holder will work independently and proactively, and will be often required to use the UBC cleanroom and to collaborate closely with researchers.

Work Performed

The Two-Photon Lithography & Process Engineer will be involved in leading a number of projects simultaneously with respect to their micro- and nano-engineering aspects. The Engineer will define requirements for materials and processes used in the fabrication of micro/nano-structured devices; produce specifications and other documents to manage the development of devices and processes; and develop and qualify new processes to meet requirements. The Engineer will also conduct analyses to determine reasons for failures of materials, devices or processes, implementing corrective and preventive actions.

The Engineer will be responsible for performing processes on a number of equipment, primarily the Vanguard Automation SONATA1000, but as needed, the TPT and Westbond wire bonders, T-3000 die bonder, JEOL8100FS 100 keV Electron Beam Lithography tool, the Heidelberg MLA150 optical lithography tool, and the Cobra ICP thin-film silicon etcher. The Engineer will use other packaging processes including wafer dicing, electrical wire bonding, attaching chips on carriers, and encapsulating them. The Engineer will follow process fabrication procedures in the fabrication of micro/nano-structured devices; produce documents to manage the development of devices and processes; and develop and qualify new processes to meet requirements. The Engineer will perform optical / electrical testing of the fabricated devices, and produce reports describing performance.

The following items reflect the most important tasks associated with the post. The list is not complete and may change as the role evolves with time. The Engineer:

• Plans and delivers nano-fabrication process work for the realisation of micro- and nano-structured devices, using techniques that may include, but are not limited to, two-photon lithography, electrical wire-bonding, electron-beam lithography, photolithography, wet and dry etching, physical and chemical vapour deposition, metrology, and device testing.

• Working on a number of different projects, develops innovative technologies for micro/nano-structured devices and transfers such technologies to a diverse user community that includes internal and external stakeholders and industrial partners.

• Advises on the design and feasibility of micro/nano-engineering aspects of various research projects for a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.

• Designs and develops novel capabilities of existing and new nano/micro-fabrication equipment, designs and develops experiments, and finds solutions to complex engineering problems.

• Monitors the performance of processes that make use of the two-photon lithography tool and engineers all necessary interventions, ensuring that these processes remain operational and perform to specifications.

• Is the main person responsible for the two-photon lithography tool, regarding all aspects of its operation, including user training and liaising with users, with the aim of delivering consistency and reliability.

• Offers time, skills and expertise to other UBC labs and projects, as instructed by the Principal Investigator, and performs other tasks relevant to the job tasks, as required.

• Interacts with industry partners, including discussing new projects, reporting on results, and coordinating work.

The working hours of this position will vary, but will occasionally be during evenings after 5 pm and weekends.

Consequence of Error/Judgement
Errors in judgement, mishandling of tools and neglect in following standard procedures could lead to the reduction of service available to the UBC research groups and external users, cause damage to expensive equipment and endanger the health and safety of the post holder, other lab users and those in the vicinity. The position is central to the operation and delivery of services with the two-photon lithography facility. Poor performance or errors in judgement may impact timely provision of services required by research, in particular students, who are working to strict timelines, and other internal and external users, including from industry and government. Issues with data quality could impact those stakeholders as well as the reputation of the facility and the University. Errors in performing the responsibilities of this position could also lead to unsafe laboratory conditions, which may jeopardise the safety of facility users and the role holder. Poor decisions could cause financial loss to UBC via failure to collect money owing for use of facilities and exposure to liability or damage to equipment or facilities.

Supervision Received
Works independently. UBC Blusson QMI Managing Director and the project Principal Investigator, who determines the broad direction and operational requirements of the role, and who may also offer training and guidance.

Supervision Given
Provides advice to faculty, staff, postdocs, graduate students and other facility users on the proper and safe use of the two-photon lithography tool and the associated processes, and oversees their activities within the two-photon lithography lab.

Minimum Qualifications
Undergraduate degree in Engineering or Applied Science. An undergraduate degree in Physics, Chemistry or another relevant discipline would also be suitable. A minimum of 5 years of experience or the equivalent combination of education and experience. Essential qualifications:

• Be familiar with the underlying principles of two-photon lithography, electron beam lithography, optical lithography, electrical wire bonding, die bonding, and plasma etching

• Computer skills, including mask layout and CAD-related software

• Experience in a research and/or research & development setting, involving micro and nano-fabrication processing

• Previous working knowledge and experience in operating two-photon lithography equipment

• Previous working knowledge and experience in operating etching and/or other micro/nano-fabrication equipment

• Proven working knowledge and hands-on experience in a range of other micro/nano-fabrication techniques, including but not limited to: photolithography, resist processing, wet and dry etching, and packaging

• Proven working knowledge and experience with optical test techniques using lasers, optical fibres, detectors.

• Proven working knowledge of analysis techniques, including but not limited to: scanning electron microscopy, scanning probe microscopy, and contact profilometry

• Proven awareness of safe work practices

• Demonstrated ability to creatively solve engineering problems

• Lab instrumentation/equipment fault finding and fault diagnosis skills

• Demonstrated team work qualities

• Must be available to work occasional evenings and weekends

• Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one's own

• Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one's own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's or PhD degree in Engineering, Physics, Chemistry or other relevant discipline

• Experience with a Vanguard Automation SONATA1000

• Experience with lithography (Electron Beam Lithography and/or Optical Lithography)

• Experience with electrical wire-bonding

• Proven working knowledge of analysis techniques, including but not limited to: scanning electron microscopy, ellipsometry, and contact profilometry

• Proven working knowledge and experience with photonic test techniques, including but not limited to: tunable laser transmission measurements of photonic integrated circuits, optical vector network analysers, with an emphasis on measuring optical loss.

• Knowledge of high-end lithography software

• Published research involving micro and nanofabrication

• Knowledge of and experience in Linux-based operating systems and computer programming

• Knowledge of and experience in software version control (Git)