QUALIFICATIONS AND EDUCATION

1. Degree / NVQ 4 or equivalent Professional membership / experience

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

1. Substantial experience in development of superconducting device fabrication in a nanofabrication environment
2. Extensive knowledge of superconductor/thin film device fabrication methods and tools
3. Able to demonstrate professional knowledge within this specialist discipline and to give advice and guidance to internal and external researchers.
4. Experience of advanced superconductor material growth and characterisation.
5. Extensive knowledge of safety regulations and requirements

KEY DUTIES

• Creatively develop device fabrication processes and complete device fabrication process flows to service the needs of the Astronomy Instrumentation Groups (AIG) detector development program, and collaborative research.
• Assist with the management of day-to-day cleanroom operations; overseeing operations and coordination of mission critical tools and processes, ensuring that all the cleanroom objectives are communicated and engaged with; planning, organising and delegating work, monitoring progress and intervening as required to ensure the processing requirements of the AIG are met and standards maintained.
• Collaborate with others, including internal and external researchers to develop processes and procedures used within the cleanroom and to pursue the implementation of new techniques needed for industry / research using existing equipment.
• Make recommendations on the acquisition of new equipment and parts to execute processes developments more effectively, efficiently, and accurately for the emerging capability of superconducting device fabrication at Cardiff.
• To supervise and develop other research staff and students within the cleanroom environment and provide guidance in your own specialist area and develop and deliver training within the cleanroom environment
• Gather and analyse data to inform decisions, establishing basic trends and patterns in data and creating reports as appropriate.
• Assist with defining the technical specifications and price for new equipment and oversee installation of such equipment, and to ensure that the required facilities are in place prior to new equipment installation
• Ensure safe operation of the cleanroom and compliance with School and University Health and Safety and Equality and Diversity requirements
• Contribute to the long-term strategic planning and management of the AIG’s detector development and fabrication program, interpreting school/directorate strategy into work priorities and setting the standards for the group.
• Establish working relationships with key contacts; industrial, commercial, public-sector organisations, professional institutions and other academic institutions etc., to raise awareness of the device fabrication capabilities at Cardiff
• Undergo personal and professional development that is appropriate

GENERAL DUTIES

• Ensure that an understanding of the importance of research integrity and standards are applied when undertaking all duties
• Ensure safe operation of the cleanroom and compliance with School and University Health and Safety and Equality and Diversity requirements
• Perform other duties occasionally which are not included above, but which will be consistent with the role

JOB PURPOSE

The key purpose of this role is to lead and develop fabrication techniques to realise the next generation of superconducting devices for astronomy instrumentation. Through the development of robust device fabrication processes and complete device process flows for both existing and new devices, the post will bring new capability to the Astronomy Instrumentation Group’s on-going research and development of state-of-the-art superconducting detectors and microwave signal processing.