The Equipment Integration / Automation Engineer is responsible for integrating manufacturing equipment with the Computerized Manufacturing Manufacturing Execution System (CM MES) to enable real-time factory automation, equipment communication, and data collection. This role develops and maintains equipment connectivity using SEMI standards, industrial communication protocols, and middleware platforms to support highly automated semiconductor manufacturing operations.
Key Responsibilities
Equipment Integration
- Integrate shop-floor manufacturing equipment (e.g., lithography systems, etchers, laser drilling machines, wet benches, inspection tools, and metrology equipment) with the CM Manufacturing Execution System (MES).
- Configure and validate equipment communication interfaces to enable automated production workflows.
- Develop equipment communication specifications and interface documentation.
- Support equipment installation, qualification, and production release activities.
SECS/GEM & GEM300 Implementation
- Develop, configure, and maintain equipment communication based on SEMI standards:
- SECS-I / HSMS
- SECS/GEM (SEMI E4, E5, E30)
- GEM300
- Configure equipment status reporting, event collection, alarms, remote commands, and recipe management interfaces.
- Support implementation of EDA (Equipment Data Acquisition) / Interface A solutions for advanced equipment monitoring and analytics.
Middleware & Equipment Automation
- Deploy and maintain equipment middleware platforms.
- Develop equipment adapters and communication interfaces between manufacturing equipment and enterprise systems.
- Troubleshoot communication issues across equipment, middleware, and MES environments.
Industrial Communication Protocols
- Configure and integrate industrial communication protocols including:
- PLC messaging (Siemens, Rockwell Automation)
- Support communication between equipment controllers, PLCs, sensors, and factory automation systems.
- Ensure secure and reliable real-time data exchange across manufacturing systems.
Manufacturing Systems Integration
- Collaborate with MES, Process Engineering, IT, and Equipment Engineering teams to implement factory automation solutions.
- Support recipe download/upload, equipment state management, material tracking, and automated production execution.
- Develop interface testing procedures and perform Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) and Site Acceptance Testing (SAT).
- Ensure compliance with semiconductor automation standards and manufacturing best practices.
Troubleshooting & Continuous Improvement
- Investigate equipment communication failures and perform root cause analysis.
- Monitor interface performance, communication latency, and system availability.
- Recommend improvements to equipment connectivity, automation architecture, and production efficiency.
- Maintain technical documentation, interface specifications, and standard operating procedures.
Qualifications
Education
- Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, Automation Engineering, Computer Science, or a related discipline.
Experience
- Minimum 3 years of experience in semiconductor equipment integration, factory automation, or industrial automation.
- Experience integrating semiconductor manufacturing equipment with Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES).
- Hands-on experience implementing SECS/GEM, GEM300, or EDA communication standards.
Technical Skills
- Strong knowledge of SEMI communication standards:
- SECS-I / HSMS, SECS/GEM (SEMI E4, E5, E30), GEM300 (E87, E84, E40, E94)
EDA / Interface A
- Experience with equipment automation middleware
- Knowledge of industrial communication protocols
- Experience with scripting or programming languages such as C#, C++, Java, Python, or VB.NET.
- Familiarity with SQL databases, Windows Server, Linux environments, and networking concepts is an advantage.