CLAWS Manufacturing Systems Engineer

CLAWS Manufacturing Systems Engineer

Company:
North Carolina State University

Job Location:
Category:
Network/System Administrator

Type:
Full-Time

Join the Pack! A community with nearly 8,000 faculty and staff, and 30,000 students. NC State is one of the largest employers in North Carolina, offering a large range of career opportunities. Visit us at https://jobs.hr.ncsu.edu/.

Location: Raleigh, NC

Essential Job Duties:
We are seeking a motivated Manufacturing Execution System (MES) / Database Engineer to support and develop the digital infrastructure of our advanced semiconductor research foundry. The position focuses on enhancing MES workflows and managing Oracle-based backend systems to improve process traceability, data integrity, and operational efficiency in an R&D fabrication environment.

Key Responsibilities:

MES Workflow Development & Support (40%)

• Create and implement MES workflows to support custom semiconductor fabrication process flows. Support foundry users in establishing new fabrication process flows.
• Build and maintain digital traveler systems for lot tracking, process documentation, and process monitoring.
• Integrate MES with process tools and data acquisition systems.
• Develop intuitive user interfaces and dashboards for tracking materials, fabrication lots, and operating metrics, including process controls (SPC).
• Ensure data consistency and traceability throughout fabrication process flows.

Database Architecture & Management (30%)

• Administer databases storing process metadata, experiment logs, and tool usage history.
• Design and maintain scalable schemas and optimize query performance for large datasets.
• Ensure data security, backup protocols, and system uptime.
• Support analytics and reporting needs from internal teams and external partners

Data Integration & Automation (20%)

• Automate data collection pipelines from lab equipment, process logs, and measurement tools.
• Support integration with homegrown and third-party web-based applications.
• Develop and maintain APIs, ETL processes, and scheduled jobs to support workflows.
• Enable clean data delivery for analytics, visualization, and AI/ML use cases.

Collaboration & Support (10%)

• Work with process engineers, cleanroom staff, and IT to gather requirements and implement MES/database updates.
• Support continuous improvement through data accessibility and system enhancements.
• Implement and maintain document control protocols within MES.
• Document workflows, user guides, and SOPs for MES and data systems.
• Provide training and troubleshooting for end users.

Other Work/Responsibilities:
The successful candidate will:

• Comply with stated workplace policies.
• Communicate results, plans, and other updates to a variety of audiences.
• Adhere to and mentor others in known best practices.
• Support CLAWS activities such as tours, meetings, and conferences

Minimum Experience/Education:

• Master's Degree in a relevant field with demonstrated experience in MES/database systems.
• Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Industrial Engineering, or related field and 2+ years of experience.

Required Qualifications:

• Proficiency in SQL and relational database architecture.
• Experience developing and maintaining MES systems or digital workflows in a laboratory or manufacturing setting.
• Familiarity with Python, JavaScript, or similar scripting languages for data automation.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced R&D environment with evolving needs and technologies.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Eligibility to obtain clearance upon request of the US government.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in a semiconductor R&D or university research cleanroom environment.
• Familiarity with laboratory information management systems (LIMS) or lightweight MES tools.
• Understanding of wafer fabrication workflows and experimental process tracking.
• Experience building web-based dashboards or UIs (e.g., Flask, Django, Node.js).
• Exposure to cloud-based data solutions or virtualized database systems.

Required License or Certification:
N/A