Position Details
Position Information
Announcement Number STAFF - VA - 26278
For questions regarding this position, please contact:
Andrew Lingley
Research Engineer
andrew.lingley@montana.edu
Classification Title Research Scientist and/or Research Engineers
Working Title Electron Beam Lithography Engineer
Brief Position Overview
The Montana Microfabrication Facility ( MMF ) is an open-access Core Facility located on Montana State University's campus and is a vibrant, growing community serving students, academic researchers, small businesses, and large companies. We plan to fill a full-time technical position primarily responsible for overseeing our new Raith Voyager 6 Electron Beam Lithography tool, purchased through the QCORE (Building Quantum Capacity, Operational Resilience and Equity: https://www.montana.edu/research/qcore/q-core.html). As a staff member of the MMF , you will help to develop standard processes and procedures, train new EBL users, consult with internal and external customers, manage undergraduate assistants, and manage remote projects. Additionally, you will be expected to become familiar with the other tools and processes available in our facility to better serve our customers.
Please consider this wonderful opportunity to develop technical and professional skills that are relevant to industries expanding both locally and nationally, namely quantum, optics, photonics, and semiconductors. Working at a Core Facility is a great avenue to expand your technical skills and knowledge, gain exposure to a variety of research fields and technical disciplines, and learn about business and management. This position is hands-on, practical, and will surely set you up for future success. At the MMF , we work to create a strong, happy, and productive work environment with shared values and a commitment to excellence.
Position Number 4C0477
Department Electrical Engineering
Division College of Engineering
Appointment Type Professional
Contract Term Fiscal Year
Semester
If other, specify From date
If other, specify End date
FLSA Exempt
Union Affiliation Exempt from Collective Bargaining
FTE 1.0
Benefits Eligible Eligible
Salary Salary commensurate with experience, education, and qualifications.
Contract Type LOA
If other, please specify
Recruitment Type Open
Position Details
General Statement
The job responsibilities are primarily the operation, maintenance, and management of electron beam lithography equipment. It also includes training new users, working with academic and industrial customers, and managing undergraduate assistants.
This position may be classified as a Senior Research role based on the educational background and relevant experience of the hired candidate.
Duties and Responsibilities
Operate and maintain our new Raith Voyager 6 electron beam lithography ( EBL ) tool.
Develop training materials and train local users on EBL .
Develop an EBL short course (~2-3 days of content) to be administered periodically.
Develop EBL processes for atypical materials like lithium niobate.
Manage and train undergraduate student employees to assist with EBL .
Collaborate closely with researchers and lead complex projects requiring customized EBL solutions.
Communicate regularly with lab users (e.g., students, faculty, external corporate users).
Stay updated with emerging research trends and technologies. Participate in professional development activities and scientific conferences, representing the research core at conferences and events.
Ensure the lab is well organized and clean.
Assist, when necessary, in operating and maintaining related MMF cleanroom equipment, including lithography, etch, and deposition equipment.
Assist, when necessary, with MMF -related operational issues such as purchasing, ordering supplies, and general laboratory operation and maintenance.
Ensure that the MMF is a welcoming facility that supports success for all users.
Required Qualifications - Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills
Master's degree in physics or electrical engineering and applicable experience.
Coursework or experience with electron beam equipment (e.g., EBL tools, scanning electron microscopes, Auger electron spectroscopy, etc.) and lithography equipment (e.g., UV contact photolithography, stepper/scanner lithography, etc.).
Coursework or experience with other unit processes in micro- and nanofabrication (e.g., photolithography, etching, deposition, etc.).
Preferred Qualifications - Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills
Doctorate in a relevant field and experience working with electron beam lithography equipment.
Experience in pathfinding microfabrication projects in an R&D environment.
Experience in troubleshooting a variety of processing problems.
Experience in diagnosing instrument problems and undertaking or arranging for their repair.
The Successful Candidate Will
Possess written and oral communication skills with internal and external users and with private sector individuals.
Possess the dedication and commitment to consistently deliver high-quality service to MMF and QCORE users.
Be highly curious and motivated to learn new technical and professional skills.
Be willing to learn and adapt to new organizational and managerial systems.
Continually improve our facility.
Maintain great relationships with coworkers and customers.
Have extremely good attention to detail.
Position Special Requirements/Additional Information
This position requires U.S. citizenship status.
This position is not eligible for sponsorship.
Continuation of employment is contingent upon the availability of funding.
All QCORE employees may be required to meet NIST 800-53 requirements for access to Controlled Unclassified Information ( CUI ). This position may require the ability to obtain a DoD Security Clearance.
This position is contingent upon continued grant funding; the current appointment is expected to include approximately 18 months of research funding, subject to change based on funding availability.
This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements, but a general description of the job. Nothing contained herein restricts Montana State University's rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.
Physical Demands
Ability to perform work in a cleanroom environment, including wearing required personal protective equipment.
Ability to safely ascend and descend ladders.
Ability to work in environments with noise-producing equipment.
Ability to move materials weighing up to 50 pounds on an occasional basis.
Ability to move or remain stationary for extended periods as required by job duties.
Ability to use and handle small, delicate equipment.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
This position has supervisory duties? Yes
Posting Detail Information
Number of Vacancies 1
Desired Start Date Upon completion of a successful search.
Position End Date (if temporary)
Open Date
Close Date
Applications will be:
Screening of applications will begin on February 20, 2026; however, applications will continue to be accepted until an adequate applicant pool has been established.
Special Instructions
This position requires U.S. citizenship status.
This position is not eligible for sponsorship.
EEO Statement
Montana State University is an equal opportunity employer. MSU does not discriminate against any applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, political ideas, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, national origin, physical or mental disability, or any other protected class status in violation of any applicable law.
In compliance with the Montana Veteran's Employment Preference Act, MSU provides preference in employment to veterans, disabled veterans, and certain eligible relatives of veterans. To claim veteran's preference, please complete the veteran's preference information located in the Demographics section of your profile.
