Job Description

For more than 50 years, Photronics has been a global leader in photomask technology, powering the innovation behind the world’s most advanced devices. Our success is built on collaboration, quality, and the dedication of our people.

We are hiring an IRP RDA Engineer is responsible for driving defect detection, classification, and reduction across photomask manufacturing processes. This role owns the inspection, review, and repair (IRP) workflow and leverages real-time reticle defect analysis (RDA) to identify root causes, improve yield, and enhance process capability. The engineer partners with lithography, metrology, equipment, and manufacturing teams to ensure high-quality mask output and stable production performance through data-driven decision making and continuous improvement.

Location: Boise, ID. This is an on-site position, and we are not open to remote candidates currently.

Responsibilities 

• Own and optimize the inspection–review–repair (IRP) workflow for photomask manufacturing.
• Analyze inspection data to identify defect trends, paretos, and excursion drivers.
• Develop and maintain real-time defect monitoring (RDA) systems and dashboards.
• Drive root cause analysis and corrective actions for yield and defect excursions.
• Partner with inspection and metrology teams to improve defect detection sensitivity and classification accuracy.
• Evaluate defect printability and impact to support disposition decisions (repair vs accept vs scrap).
• Support qualification and optimization of inspection, review, and repair tools.
• Apply SPC, DOE, and statistical analysis to improve process robustness.
• Collaborate with process, equipment, and manufacturing teams to improve yield, cycle time, and cost.
• Document defect mechanisms, control strategies, and process improvements.

Travel:
Less than 5%

QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Hands-on experience with lithography process development and troubleshooting in a cleanroom or manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of photolithography and patterning processes
• Ability to interpret large datasets and drive actionable insights

Experience

• 5-7 years of hands-on experience in semiconductor manufacturing, photolithography, photomask engineering.
• 3+ years of experience in semiconductor, photomask, or advanced microfabrication manufacturing, with direct experience in photolithography or patterning processes.
• Experience with inspection, defect analysis, or yield engineering
• Experience with SPC, data analysis, and root cause methodologies.
• Familiarity with Cleanroom operations.
• Experience qualifying new tools, materials, or recipes in R&D and/or high-volume manufacturing, a plus.
• Experience with scripting, automation, or data analysis tools, a plus.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, Chemical Engineering, or related field

Why Photronics

• Be part of a global technology leader driving innovation for the world’s biggest tech companies.
• Work in a collaborative, growth-focused environment where your expertise will have a real impact.
• Develop your leadership skills by mentoring and guiding a talented accounting team.
• Enjoy stability, challenge, and opportunity at a company with more than 50 years of proven success
• Competitive salary and annual bonus program.
• Equity compensation eligibility.
• Full suite of health and welfare benefits.
• 401k with company match.

Equal Opportunity Statement: We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression, or veteran status. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodation for team members’ disabilities and religious beliefs or practices.

Agency Notice: Photronics does not accept unsolicited resumes or outreach from search firms or employment agencies. Please, no phone calls or emails to any employee regarding this opening. Resumes submitted outside of our approved agency engagement process will be considered the sole property of Photronics, and no fees will be paid if such candidates are hired. Only agencies with a valid agreement in place with Photronics and assigned to this role may submit candidates.