FIB/TEM Sample Prep Engineer

Role Overview Covalent Metrology is seeking a FIB/TEM Sample Preparation Engineer to support advanced semiconductor materials characterization and failure-analysis workflows. This role will be responsible for preparing high-quality TEM lamellae using Focused Ion Beam (FIB) systems while maintaining throughput, repeatability, and strict sample-quality requirements.

The engineer will work closely with TEM analysts, operations, and engineering teams to execute customer projects, develop preparation methods for challenging materials, and continuously improve sample-preparation quality, cycle time, and yield.

Key Responsibilities

Perform FIB-based TEM sample preparation, including site targeting, protective deposition, trenching, lift-out, mounting, thinning, and final polishing. Interpret SEM/FIB images, device layouts, customer instructions, and target features to accurately locate regions of interest. Work with TEM analysts to correlate preparation quality with imaging and analytical results.

Support development and qualification of new sample-preparation methods through structured experiments and DOEs. Participate in root-cause analysis and corrective actions for sample-preparation failures and redo events. Identify opportunities to improve throughput, automation, batching, consumable usage, and overall cycle time.

Support high-volume production workflows while maintaining quality and customer delivery requirements. Required Qualifications Hands-on experience operating FIB/SEM equipment. Understanding of ion-beam milling, SEM imaging, and electron microscopy fundamentals. Ability to independently manage multiple samples and priorities in a fast-paced laboratory environment.

Strong documentation and communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with Thermo Fisher Helios, Scios, or similar dual-beam FIB/SEM systems. Experience preparing semiconductor cross sections and site-specific TEM samples. Familiarity with low-kV polishing, low-damage preparation techniques, and artifact reduction. Familiarity with TEM/STEM analytical techniques such as EDS Experience working in a high-throughput commercial laboratory or semiconductor environment.

Covalent is a modern analytical services and engineering consulting company based in the San Francisco Bay Area (Sunnyvale). Our mission is to accelerate materials science innovation by serving as a problem-solving partner for technology leaders of all sizes and providing access to outstanding data generated quickly and cost-effectively.

Covalent provides cutting-edge tools and expertise to equip our customers with the high-quality experimental data and insights they need to achieve their goals.