Job Opportunity: Research Associate, Superconducting Bolometer Fabrication

LOCATION: NIST (Boulder, Colorado), Quantum Sensors Division (687), Device Fabrication Group (11)

The Quantum Sensors Division of NIST located in Boulder Colorado is currently seeking a full-time research associate to fabricate bolometric power sensing elements based on superconducting devices. The objective is to produce deliverable wafers to meet the needs of multiple internal and external collaborations and to research and evolve device design including the integration of bolometers with other types of devices.

SUMMARY OF THE POSITION: The research technical professional will support the production of bolometric devices to enable instruments based on arrays of cryogenic sensors for measurements that span the electromagnetic spectrum from gigahertz to millimeter wavebands¹. These instruments use arrays of TESs that are read out using multiplexing techniques such as Time Division SQUID Multiplexing (TDM) or Microwave SQUID Multiplexing (uMUX)². The research associates will produce deliverable wafers using equipment in the Boulder Microfabrication Facility. The research associate will also work on improved fabrication process metrology, yield and device design. Integration of multiple device types is a research priority. The research associate will be required to perform routine and emergency maintenance on fabrication equipment. The research associate will work as part of a team of scientists and engineers that build instruments and deploy them to telescopes, light sources, particle accelerators, and nuclear facilities³.

The work location for this position is at the NIST campus in Boulder, Colorado. The research associate will also be encouraged to travel to present results at scientific conferences and for commissioning new fabrication equipment.

REFERENCES:

1. Kelsey M. Morgan, “Hot science with cool sensors,” Physics Today 71 (2018) 28-34.
2. Detector Readout Project
3. Quantum Sensors Division

QUALIFICATIONS:

• PhD in Physics, Electrical Engineering, Material Science or a related field.
• Minimum experience: two years in fabrication of superconducting devices for bolometry.
• Minimum experience: four years in general fabrication including lithography, physical vapor deposition, chemical vapor deposition, plasma etching, wet etching, and micro-machining.
• Experience with CAD tools for 2D wafer layout (WRCAD Xic preferred) and 3D solid model design (SolidWorks preferred).
• Ability to perform maintenance on fabrication equipment.
• Experience with ultra-low temperature cryogenics and low-noise electrical measurements.
• Ability to work towards a common goal as part of a team with diverse expertise.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• U.S. Citizenship is required for this position.

INQUIRIES FOR THE POSITION: Qualified candidates should submit a letter of interest describing their research background and a CV with complete list of publications to dan.schmidtt [at] nist.gov (dan[dot]schmidt[at]nist[dot]gov).