Equipment Technician at Forge Nano in Thornton, CO

Position Summary

Forge Nano is seeking a motivated and hands-on Equipment Technician to support the reliability, maintenance, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement of our Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) tool fleet. Reporting to the R&D Cleanroom Lead Engineer, this role is responsible for supporting equipment operation, preventative maintenance activities, technical documentation, spare parts management, and operational excellence initiatives across Forge Nano's semiconductor equipment platforms.

The Equipment Technician will serve as a key technical resource for ALD equipment operation and maintenance while helping standardize maintenance practices and support manufacturing and engineering activities. This individual will work closely with Process Engineering, Operations, Service, and Product Development teams to maximize equipment uptime, reliability, and overall system performance.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on technical professional with strong troubleshooting skills and a passion for maintaining complex electromechanical systems. This role offers the opportunity to contribute directly to the performance and scalability of Forge Nano's advanced semiconductor equipment while supporting continuous improvement initiatives in a fast-paced research, development, and manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities

Equipment Reliability & Maintenance

· Perform preventative and corrective maintenance activities on ALD toolsets and supporting equipment.

· Troubleshoot and resolve issues related to vacuum systems, gas delivery systems, thermal systems, automation, and controls.

· Support equipment uptime, availability, and operational readiness objectives.

· Assist with root cause investigations and implementation of corrective actions for recurring equipment failures.

· Monitor equipment performance and identify opportunities for reliability and process improvements.

· Maintain equipment history records and maintenance documentation.

Maintenance Program Support

· Support the development and execution of preventative and predictive maintenance programs.

· Create and update maintenance procedures, checklists, and standardized service processes.

· Assist with establishing maintenance intervals based on equipment performance and reliability data.

· Support continuous improvement initiatives focused on equipment reliability and serviceability.

· Ensure maintenance activities are performed safely and consistently.

Documentation & Technical Procedures

· Create, revise, and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for equipment operation, maintenance, troubleshooting, and recovery.

· Develop and maintain technical documentation, maintenance guides, and work instructions.

· Support document control activities and ensure documentation aligns with engineering changes and equipment updates.

· Assist with maintaining compliance-related records and documentation requirements.

Inventory & Spare Parts Management

· Support management of critical spare parts inventories for ALD tool systems.

· Monitor inventory levels, component usage trends, lead times, and reorder requirements.

· Assist with inventory tracking and maintenance-related reporting metrics.

· Coordinate with internal teams and suppliers to ensure spare parts availability.

Training & Technical Support

· Assist in training Equipment Technicians, Manufacturing Technicians, Field Service Engineers, and other technical personnel on equipment operation and maintenance.

· Support the development and delivery of technical training materials and qualification processes.

· Share troubleshooting knowledge and best practices across technical teams.

· Provide hands-on support during equipment installations, startup activities, and maintenance activities.

Operational & Cross-Functional Support

· Collaborate with Process Engineering to minimize equipment-related process variation.

· Partner with Product Development teams to improve equipment maintainability and reliability.

· Support commissioning, qualification, and acceptance testing of new ALD systems.

· Participate in operational excellence and continuous improvement initiatives.

· Provide occasional remote support for technical issues and equipment troubleshooting activities.

The following responsibilities represent the primary duties of this role and are not intended to be an exhaustive list.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

· Associate degree, technical certification, military technical training, or an equivalent combination of education and hands-on industry background in electronics, mechanical systems, industrial maintenance, or a related technical discipline.

· 3+ years supporting semiconductor manufacturing equipment, vacuum systems, ALD, CVD, PVD, or similar advanced manufacturing equipment.

· Demonstrated ability to perform preventative maintenance and troubleshoot complex electromechanical systems.

· Proficiency in interpreting technical drawings, schematics, maintenance procedures, and equipment documentation.

· Strong technical writing skills for maintenance procedures, SOPs, and equipment records.

· Familiarity with maintenance scheduling and reliability improvement initiatives.

· Knowledge of spare parts management and inventory control practices.

· Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and root cause investigation capabilities.

· Effective verbal and written communication skills with the ability to support technical training activities.

· Ability to work independently while collaborating across multiple departments and teams.

Preferred Qualifications

· Direct familiarity with Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) systems and associated process equipment.

· Background supporting semiconductor capital equipment in manufacturing, laboratory, or field service environments.

· Knowledge of vacuum technology, gas delivery systems, pneumatic systems, PLCs, sensors, thermal systems, and industrial controls.

· Experience utilizing CMMS, ERP, or computerized maintenance management systems.

· Familiarity with semiconductor cleanroom operations and safety protocols.

· Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or reliability-centered maintenance knowledge.

· Previous involvement developing training programs, technical documentation, or maintenance standardization initiatives.

· Experience supporting equipment installation, commissioning, qualification, or startup activities.

Work Environment

Work is carried out within a research and development laboratory and semiconductor cleanroom environment. Employees may work with hazardous chemicals, specialty gases, and advanced manufacturing systems. Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), including eye protection, respiratory protection, gloves, steel-toed footwear, cleanroom attire, and other required safety equipment must be worn as necessary. Strict adherence to environmental, health, and safety procedures is required at all times.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of the position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job duties.

This position regularly requires standing, walking, reaching, bending, climbing, working with tools, and handling equipment components. The employee must be able to use hands for detailed assembly, maintenance, and troubleshooting tasks and occasionally lift and move materials weighing up to 40 pounds.

Travel

Limited travel may be required to support equipment installations, training activities, customer support requirements, or operational initiatives.

Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $70,000 - $90,000 annually, commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Benefits Offered:

· Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance

· Life and Disability Insurance

· LTD and STD Insurance

· FSA and HSA

· 401(k) Retirement Match

· Paid Time Off (PTO) & Floating Holidays

· Paid Holidays

· Paid Parental Leave

Forge Nano Inc. is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable law.