Job Opportunity: Research Technical Professional, Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) 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 technical professional to fabricate devices based on Superconducting Device Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) elements. The objective is to produce deliverable wafers to meet the needs of multiple internal and external collaborations.

SUMMARY OF THE POSITION: The research technical professional will support the production of SQUID devices to enable instruments based on arrays of cryogenic sensors for measurements that span the electromagnetic spectrum from gamma-ray 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 technical professional will produce deliverable wafers using equipment in the Boulder Microfabrication Facility. The research technical professional will also work on improved fabrication process metrology and yield. The research technical professional will perform routine and emergency maintenance on fabrication equipment. Finally, the research technical professional will archive process records and maintain an inventory of consumables. The research technical professional 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:

• M.S degree in Physics, Electrical Engineering, Material Science or a related field.
• Minimum experience: two years in fabrication of superconducting devices.
• Minimum experience: four years in general fabrication including lithography, physical vapor deposition, chemical vapor deposition, plasma etching, and wet etching.
• Ability to perform maintenance on fabrication equipment.
• Ability to work towards a common goal as part of a team with diverse expertise.
• Strong oral and written communication skills including research documentation and inventory maintenance.
• 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).