Mechanical Engineer Substrate Handling (all genders)

The group you’ll be a part of

In the Global Products Group, we are dedicated to excellence in the design and engineering of Lam’s wet chemistry process equipment for panel-level packaging. We develop substrate holder (chucks/frames) and handling solutions that enable high-yield, high-throughput processing of large-format substrates across advanced semiconductor applications. 

The impact you’ll make

As a Mechanical Engineer specializing in substrate holder design and panel handling, you will define and develop critical core hardware for wet chemistry processing tools. Your work will directly influence process performance, yield, and reliability by ensuring safe, repeatable, and contamination-controlled handling of substrates throughout the process flow.You will play a key role in advancing chuck concepts, sealing technologies, and handling interfaces, driving improvements in throughput, defectivity, robustness, and cost efficiency.

What you’ll do

Substrate holder (Chuck) design

• Design and develop substrate holders (chucks) for wet chemistry processes, including plating, cleaning, and etching applications
• Define sealing concepts, panel support strategies, clamping mechanisms, and chemical exposure interfaces
• Optimize designs for uniform process conditions, minimal particle generation, and high substrate integrity (e.g. low breakage, controlled deformation)

Panel and substrate handling

• Design mechanical interfaces between substrate holders and tool automation (transfer systems, process chambers)
• Develop concepts for loading/unloading, alignment, gripping, and secure transport of panels
• Ensure safe interaction between handling systems and substrate holders to avoid damage and contamination
• Collaborate with multiple teams, e.g. automation teams on end effector and handling strategy development, and process teams on optimising process performance

Engineering development & validation

• Own full product lifecycle from concept through productization for chuck assemblies
• Perform detailed mechanical design including tolerance stack-ups, sealing interfaces, and alignment concepts
• Conduct analysis including structural, FEA, thermal effects, deformation, and vibration
• Develop and execute validation plans focusing on:
  • Chemical compatibility (materials, coatings, seals)
  • Lifetime and wear (seals, surfaces, interfaces)
  • Process robustness (repeatability, alignment, uniformity)
• Drive root cause analysis and design improvements for field issues (e.g., leakage, breakage, handling failures, process failures)
• Build and support testing of prototypes in lab and tool environments
• Execute test plans to evaluate performance such as sealing, leakage, and handling robustness
• Document results and support analysis of issues and design improvements

Materials & process environment

• Select and qualify materials such as polymers, elastomers (e.g., FKM/FFKM), ceramics, metals, and coatings for harsh wet chemistry environments
• Ensure compatibility with plating chemistries, acids, solvents, and DI water processes
• Design for cleanability, maintainability, and minimal chemical retention

Manufacturing & productization

• Collaborate with suppliers and manufacturing to ensure high-quality, cost-effective, and scalable designs
• Drive DFM/DFA improvements for complex assemblies such as substrate holders and handling interfaces
• Define and release complete documentation including drawings, specifications, and assembly concepts
• Perform technical design reviews and work in cross-functional project teams
• Drive standardization of substrate holder platforms and modular design concepts

Who we’re looking for

Minimum qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field
• 3–5 years of experience in mechanical design or product development
• Strong experience in precision mechanical design, ideally in complex equipment or capital systems
• Proficiency in 3D CAD tools (Siemens NX, SolidEdge, or similar)
• Solid foundation in GD&T, tolerance analysis, and assembly design
• Hands-on experience in testing, debugging, and validating mechanical systems

Preferred qualifications

• Exposure to semiconductor equipment, wet processing, or plating systems
• Experience with substrate holders, chucks, or wafer/panel handling systems
• Strong understanding of:
  • Sealing technologies (static and dynamic seals)
  • Chemical compatibility and material selection
  • Precision alignment and handling of fragile substrates
• Experience working with automation systems

What we're offering

This position is subject to the Austrian Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) for Employees in the Metal Technology Industry in occupation group F, depending on your educational background.  A higher payment is negotiable depending on expertise and skills.

Our commitment

We believe it is important for every person to feel valued, included, and empowered to achieve their full potential. By bringing unique individuals and viewpoints together, we achieve extraordinary results.

Lam Research ("Lam" or the "Company") is an equal opportunity employer. Lam is committed to and reaffirms support of equal opportunity in employment and non-discrimination in employment policies, practices and procedures on the basis of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions), gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, or military and veteran status or any other category protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. It is the Company's intention to comply with all applicable laws and regulations. Company policy prohibits unlawful discrimination against applicants or employees.

Lam offers a variety of work location models based on the needs of each role. Our hybrid roles combine the benefits of on-site collaboration with colleagues and the flexibility to work remotely and fall into two categories – On-site Flex and Virtual Flex. ‘On-site Flex’ you’ll work 3+ days per week on-site at a Lam or customer/supplier location, with the opportunity to work remotely for the balance of the week. ‘Virtual Flex’ you’ll work 1-2 days per week on-site at a Lam or customer/supplier location, and remotely the rest of the time.