CLAWS Manufacturing Systems Engineer

North Carolina State University is leading the charge as the recipient of a $39.4 million award from the Department of Defense to establish the regional Microelectronics Commons regional innovation hub, Commercial Leap Ahead for Wide Bandgap Semiconductors (CLAWS). This initiative, part of the larger $238 million investment through the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) and Science Act, aims to revolutionize the field of wide bandgap semiconductors.

Hub leadership, Distinguished Professors John Muth and Fred Kish, are dedicated to the “lab to fab” journey—translating laboratory advancements into fabrication capabilities for wide bandgap semiconductors. The hub brings together a dynamic partnership with N.C. A&T State University and industry leaders, including Wolfspeed, Coherent Corp., General Electric, Bluglass, Adroit Materials, and Kyma Technologies, Inc. This collaborative effort will propel the development of semiconductors crucial for national defense, electric vehicles, power grid technologies, 5G/6G, quantum technologies, and artificial intelligence applications

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 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 Education and Experience:

• 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.

Other 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.