Quantum and Nanotechnology Device Laboratory Engineer

Number of Vacancies: 1

Area of Consideration: Open to the Public

Employment Status: Full-Time, Temporary

Pay Plan, Series & Grade: DS0058/5

Salary Range: $80,625.55 - $91,288.72

Closing Date: Open Until Filled

Location: 4200 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008

GENERAL SUMMARY OF DUTIES SPECIFIC TO THE GRANT

The University of the District of Columbia is seeking a highly skilled Laboratory Engineer to support a federally funded five-year Department of Defense quantum-device research program being performed substantially within CNRE laboratory facilities. The incumbent will provide advanced technical support for quantum-device fabrication, micro/nanofabrication, thin-film deposition, vacuum systems, nanoscale characterization, low-temperature electrical measurements, RF/magnetic-resonance measurements, automated instrumentation, experimental-system integration, laboratory infrastructure, and development of specialized quantum-device measurement capabilities. The incumbent is expected to develop, maintain, troubleshoot, and integrate sophisticated equipment and experimental systems required for emerging quantum-device research. A minimum of three years of directly relevant experience is required. For applicants holding a PhD in quantum devices or a directly relevant research discipline, substantive PhD research experience will be considered toward this experience requirement. Accordingly, highly qualified recent PhD graduates whose doctoral work involved quantum devices or closely related experimental technologies are eligible to apply.

Brief Description of Duties

The Quantum Device Research Laboratory Engineer will support development of advanced research capabilities required to fabricate, characterize, control, and evaluate quantum and nanoscale devices. The position involves substantial hands-on laboratory work and requires competence spanning nanofabrication, vacuum systems, materials characterization, electrical measurements, instrumentation, RF/magnetic-resonance methods, automation, and quantum-device research infrastructure. The incumbent will work closely with project leadership, faculty investigators, researchers, graduate and undergraduate students, vendors, University facilities personnel, and other CNRE technical staff. The DoD and CNRE Laboratory Engineers are expected to collaborate and may undertake parallel activities where doing so improves research productivity, equipment utilization, troubleshooting, training, or laboratory sustainability. However, the DoD Lab Engineer is primarily responsible and accountable for supporting the technical objectives, milestones, equipment, personnel, and research activities of the DoD-funded quantum-device research program. The position requires primarily in-person work from CNRE laboratories. Reasonable flexibility in working hours may be considered to support work-life balance when compatible with project milestones, experiments, laboratory operations, safety requirements, meetings, and sponsor commitments.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

A. Quantum-Device Fabrication and Cleanroom Operations

• Operate, maintain, troubleshoot, and perform appropriate minor repairs on photolithography and other micro/nanofabrication equipment.
• Support cleanroom operation and maintain appropriate contamination-control, chemical-safety, and equipment-use practices.
• Facilitate fabrication of thin-film and nanoscale device structures required for quantum-device research.
• Assist investigators and researchers in translating device designs into practical fabrication sequences and laboratory procedures.
• Support development, optimization, and documentation of repeatable device-fabrication processes.

B. Thin-Film Deposition and Vacuum Systems

• Operate, maintain, troubleshoot, and perform appropriate minor repairs on:

• sputtering systems;

• vacuum deposition systems;

• vacuum pumps;

• pressure gauges;

• valves;

• gas-delivery systems;

• vacuum chambers and associated components.

• Diagnose vacuum problems including leaks, pressure instability, pump-performance issues, and contamination.

• Assist with preventive maintenance and coordinate specialized servicing when needed.

• Support optimization of thin-film deposition processes required for magnetic, electronic, molecular-spintronics, and quantum-device structures.

C. Laboratory Utility Infrastructure

• Operate, monitor, troubleshoot, and maintain support infrastructure including:

• air compressors;

• nitrogen generators;

• chillers;

• cooling-water systems;

• vacuum utilities;

• gas-delivery systems;

• associated facility components.

• Develop sufficient understanding of equipment electrical requirements, including voltage, current, phase, circuit capacity, and power consumption, to promote safe equipment operation.

• Prevent inappropriate electrical loading of outlets and coordinate with UDC Facilities or qualified electrical personnel where specialized connections or dedicated circuits are required.

D. Advanced Materials and Device Characterization

• Operate, maintain, troubleshoot, and provide technical support for:
• Raman spectroscopy;
• SEM;
• AFM;
• electrical characterization equipment;
• nanoscale measurement systems;
• temperature-dependent transport systems;
• low-temperature device measurement equipment.
• Assist with development and execution of nanoscale device characterization protocols.
• Support measurements correlating device structure, materials properties, magnetic behavior, electrical transport, and quantum-device performance.

E. RF, Resonance, and Quantum-Device Measurements

• Operate and support RF-based resonance measurement systems, including Ferromagnetic Resonance (FMR) and related magnetic-resonance techniques.
• Assist with integration of RF sources, detectors, electromagnets, field controllers, oscilloscopes, lock-in amplifiers, network-analysis equipment, and other instrumentation used for device testing.
• Support development of experimental capabilities relevant to quantum-device control and characterization.
• Develop competency with newly acquired quantum-computing, quantum-control, quantum-sensing, spin-control, and quantum-education equipment after appropriate training.
• Assist faculty and researchers in configuring customized experimental setups for emerging quantum-device research.

F. Instrument Automation and Integration

• Use LabVIEW, Python, MATLAB, or equivalent instrument-control environments to communicate with scientific instrumentation.

• Integrate multiple instruments into automated or semi-automated measurement systems.

• Develop measurement routines for controlling combinations of:

• current/voltage sources;

• electromagnets;

• RF generators;

• oscilloscopes;

• temperature controllers;

• cryogenic equipment;

• motion/control systems;

• data-acquisition equipment.

• Troubleshoot instrument communications using interfaces such as USB, GPIB, Ethernet, serial connections, or other appropriate communication protocols.

• Develop well-documented and reproducible testing routines for novel quantum-device experiments.

G. Equipment Training and Laboratory Management

• Develop SOPs, operating manuals, quick-reference guides, training materials, and troubleshooting procedures.
• Train students, research staff, faculty, and other approved personnel in safe and responsible equipment use.
• Establish and maintain equipment qualification and training records.
• Monitor and utilize equipment-scheduling systems to facilitate efficient equipment sharing.
• Maintain accurate equipment, accessory, spare-parts, and laboratory-resource inventories.
• Maintain maintenance records, service histories, calibration records, and documentation of equipment failures.
• Enforce applicable CNRE and DoD project policies concerning safe and responsible use of laboratory resources.

H. Research, Prototyping, and Innovation

• Perform experimental work in coordination with DoD project investigators to advance sponsored research objectives.
• Assist with fabrication, troubleshooting, testing, and characterization of quantum-device prototypes and associated nanoscale devices.
• Support experimental proof-of-concept demonstrations.
• Assist investigators in converting novel research concepts into practical experimental configurations and prototypes.
• Contribute technical knowledge to innovation, intellectual-property development, and commercialization activities when appropriate to the project.
• Work with the CNRE Lab Engineer, coordinators, faculty, and researchers to accelerate prototype development and improve equipment utilization.

I. Education and Research Capacity Building

• Facilitate laboratory equipment use in courses, research training, workshops, and quantum-related educational activities.
• Assist with preparation and operation of quantum-computing teaching and experimental resources.
• Help students and researchers acquire hands-on competency in fabrication, characterization, instrumentation, and quantum-device measurement methods.

J. Laboratory Sustainability

• Support long-term sustainability of CNRE and DoD research facilities through creative, technically sound cost-saving measures.
• Where safe and appropriate, develop economical internal solutions for maintenance, experimental fixtures, measurement accessories, equipment integration, and laboratory infrastructure.
• Reduce avoidable vendor-service expenses through preventive maintenance and technically appropriate in-house troubleshooting.
• Promote efficient consumption of gases, cooling resources, consumables, replacement parts, and other operating resources without compromising safety or research quality.

MINIMUM JOB REQUIREMENTS / REQUIRED COMPETENCIES

Education

• Bachelor's degree or higher in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, materials science and engineering, applied physics, nanotechnology, quantum engineering, physics, or a closely related discipline.
• Master's or PhD degree in a field directly related to nanoscale devices, quantum devices, spintronics, semiconductor devices, nanofabrication, condensed-matter physics, or experimental quantum technology is strongly preferred.

Required Experience

• Minimum three years of directly relevant technical/research experience is mandatory.
• Relevant experience may include professional research, laboratory engineering, nanofabrication, semiconductor-device fabrication, quantum-device research, nanoscale measurement, spintronics, magnetic devices, cryogenic measurements, RF measurements, or closely related experimental work.
• For candidates holding a PhD in quantum devices or a directly related experimental field, substantive doctoral research experience will be counted toward the three-year experience requirement.
• Therefore, recent PhD graduates whose doctoral research provided substantial hands-on experience in quantum devices or closely related technologies may qualify.

Information to Applicant

Condition of Employment: Temporary employment may be ended at anytime with or without cause.

Collective Bargaining Unit (Non-Union): This position is not in the collective bargaining unit.

Employment Benefits: Selectee will be eligible for health insurance and annual (vacation) and sick leave only. Part-time selectee will be eligible for annual (vacation) and sick leave on a pro-rated basis.

Equal Opportunity Employer: The District of Columbia Government is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, family responsibilities, matriculation, physical handicap, or political affiliation.

Notice of Non-Discrimination: In accordance with the D.C. Human Rights Act of 1977, as amended, D.C. Official Code, Section 2-1401.01 et. seq., (Act) the University of the District of Columbia does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived: race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, familial status, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, genetic information, disability. Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination which is also prohibited by the Act. In addition, harassment based on any of the above protected categories is prohibited by the Act. Discrimination in violation of the Act will not be tolerated. Violators will be subject to disciplinary action.

Veterans Preference: Applicants claiming veteran's preference must submit official proof at the time of application.

Visa Sponsorship: At this time, the University of the District of Columbia does not provide sponsorship for visas (e.g. H-1B). This job is also ineligible for Optional Practical Training (OPT).

Drug-Free Workplace: Pursuant to the requirements of the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988, the individual selected to fill this position will, as a condition of employment, be required to notify his/her immediate supervisor, in writing, not later than five (5) days after conviction of any criminal drug statute occurring in the workplace.

Background Investigation: Employment with the University of the District of Columbia is contingent upon a satisfactory background investigation. The determination of a "satisfactory background investigation" is made at the sole discretion of the University of the District of Columbia. The University may refuse to hire a finalist, rescind an offer of employment to a finalist or review and may terminate the employment of a current employee based on the results of a background investigation.

Disposition of Resume: Resumes received outside the area of consideration and/or after the closing date will not be given consideration. You must resubmit your resume to receive consideration for any subsequent advertised position vacancies. For the purpose of employment, resumes are not considered job applications. Therefore, if selected for employment a UDC application will be required.

Job Offers: Official Job Offers are made by the University of the District of Columbia, Office of Talent Management only.

Contact Information: All inquiries related to employment and job applications should be directed to UDC Office of Talent Management at (202) 274-5380.

The University of the District of Columbia is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action institution. Minorities, women, veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. For a full version of the University's EO Policy Statement, please visit: https://www.udc.edu/human-resources/equal-opportunity/ .