Research Officer, Semiconductor Fabrication in Ottawa

Priority may be given to the following designated employment equity groups: women, Indigenous Peoples (First Nations, Inuit and Métis), persons with disabilities and racialized persons. Candidates are asked to self-declare when applying to this hiring process.

City: Ottawa

Organizational Unit: Quantum and Nanotechnologies

Classification: RO

Tenure: Term Duration: 2 years

Language Requirements: English

Work arrangements: Due to the nature of the work and operational requirements, this position will require full-time physical presence at the NRC work location identified. At the NRC, we recognize that Indigenous candidates may have important connections to their communities and you may be eligible for an exception to this work arrangement. Alternative work arrangements may also be considered to accommodate candidates as required. To learn more about these options, please contact the NRC Hiring team using the contact information below.

The role involves supporting the Advanced Technology Fabrication (ATF) facility at the Quantum Nanotechnology Research Centre. The Research Officer would be someone who shares our core values of Integrity, Excellence, Respect and Creativity. Working with clients and partners, the National Research Council Canada provides strategic research, innovation support, scientific, and technical services to develop and deploy solutions to meet Canada’s current and future industrial and societal needs. The ATF offers our clients and partners access to cutting-edge semiconductor research and fabrication capabilities providing simulation, design, fabrication, testing, characterization, and prototyping.

The key activities of the Research Officer in Semiconductor Fabrication are to:

• Lead and manage full III-V and Si-based fabrication projects which support the objectives of NRC’s Quantum and Nanotechnologies Research Centre;
• Develop, optimize and validate new fabrication processes (lithography, metallization, thin film deposition and etch, process metrology and materials characterizations);
• Collaborate with team members to establish and validate “process blocks and process flows” for optoelectronic, electronic and quantum devices and components fabrication;
• Function as the engineering prime for the metallization systems available within the ATF (thermal, electron beam, ion-assist and sputtering) and create and oversee metal stack contact technologies, as well as fully explore the nitridation capabilities of reactive sputtering for next generation devices.

Screening criteria:

Applicants must demonstrate within the content of their application that they meet the following screening criteria in order to be given further consideration as candidates:

• Education: Master’s degree in Physical, Chemical, Materials Sciences, or equivalent Engineering disciplines. A PhD in one of these disciplines will be considered an asset.
• Experience: Significant recent hands-on experience in cleanrooms and semiconductor fabrication environments; Significant recent hands-on experience in semiconductor process development and optimization (lithography, metallization, wet-and dry-etch, metal contact alloying, materials and devices electrical and structural characterization); Significant recent hands-on experience with metallization tools/systems: thermal, electron beam and sputtering. Hands-on experience in the operation of five (5) or more of the following semiconductor front-and back-end processing tools will be considered an asset: Mask and maskless optical aligners, Electroplating, Rapid thermal annealers, PECVDs Wet-and dry-etch (RIE & ICP-RIE) Electrical probe stations, LabVIEW automation software development, Materials characterization (EDX, XRD) Metrology (VASE, reflectometry, SEM) equipment, Automated or semi-automated Scribers/dicers Lappers/polishers. Significant recent experience is defined as at least two (2) years of experience gained within the last 5 years.

Condition of employment: Reliability Status. For a Reliability Status, verification of background information over a period of 5 years is required.

Language requirements: English

Assessment criteria:

Candidates will be assessed on the basis of the following criteria:

• Technical competencies: Solid knowledge of semiconductor processing principles (lithography, metallization, thin film deposition and etch, materials and electrical characterization techniques, and partial back-end processing); Demonstrated ability in the operation and programming of thermal, electron beam and/or sputtering metallization systems. Demonstrated ability of qualifying and maintaining semiconductor processes. Demonstrated ability to integrate semiconductor fabrication process in the fabrication of functional semiconductor-based devices; and Solid knowledge of safe working practices in a semiconductor device fabrication environment; including working with chemicals, compressed gases, liquid nitrogen, and electrical, mechanical and vacuum systems.

Behavioural competencies:

• Research - Communication (Level 2)
• Research - Creative thinking (Level 2)
• Research - Partnering (Level 1)
• Research - Results orientation (Level 2)
• Research - Teamwork (Level 2)

Compensation: This position is classified as a Research Officer (RO), a group that is unique to the NRC. Candidates are remunerated based on their expertise, outcomes and impacts of their previous work experience relative to the requirements of the level. The salary scale for this group is vast, from $64,739 to $183,010 per annum, which permits for employees of all levels from new graduates to world renowned experts to be fairly compensated for their contributions. NRC employees enjoy a wide-range of competitive benefits including a robust pension plan, comprehensive health and dental coverage, disability and life insurance, office closure at the end of December, and additional supports to enhance your well-being throughout your career and beyond.

Notes: Relocation assistance will be determined in accordance with the NRC’s directives. A pre-qualified list may be established for similar positions for a one-year period. Preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada. Please include citizenship information in your application. The incumbent must adhere to safe workplace practices at all times. We thank all those who apply, however only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

Please direct your questions, with the requisition number (26008) to: E‑mail: NRC.NRCHiring-EmbaucheCNRC.CNRC@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca Telephone: 343-548-2032 Closing Date: 27 October 2026 - 23:59 Eastern Time.