JOB CODE:       5261-5266                                 FUNCTIONAL:            Product Development

 JOB TITLE:      Process Development Engineer    SUBFUNCTIONAL:     Design

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY:

Process Development Engineer (Levels 1 through 6):

Survey Tip: This job is a benchmark job family within the semiconductor and/or medical devices/scientific instruments industries.

Semiconductor Industry: Develops new or modified process formulations, defines processing or handling equipment requirements and specifications, and reviews processing techniques and methods applied in the manufacture, fabrication, and evaluation of semiconductors. Reviews product requirements with design staff to ensure compatibility of processing methods. Compiles and evaluates test data to determine appropriate limits and variables for process or material specifications. May conceive and plan projects involving definition and selection of new concepts and approaches in the processing or development of new or improved processes in photomasking, diffusion, deposition, wafer fabrication, and device physics.

Medical Devices/Scientific Instruments Industry: Performs the design and implementation of manufacturing processes, instrumentation, and equipment from the laboratory through pilot plant and manufacturing scale-up.  Provides expertise in engineering, design, and process and/or scale-up. Assists the manufacturing operation in problem solving regarding equipment and systems. Develops, plans, and recommends new process formulas and technologies to achieve cost effectiveness and improved product quality. Recommends processes for the production of therapeutic products. Establishes operating equipment specifications and improves manufacturing techniques.  Involved in new product scale-up, process optimization, technology transfer, and process validation activities.  Works with various departments to ensure processes and designs are compatible for new product technology transfer and to establish future process and equipment automation technology

NOTE: This job has been placed in a professional category for orientation purposes only. This placement should not be considered a recommendation from Radford Surveys concerning employee exemption status. Participants are reminded to apply appropriate FLSA salary and duties tests to determine overtime eligibility. Do not rely upon job title or reported market practices for guidance.

LEVELING REQUIREMENTS:

Level 1:

·          KNOWLEDGE: Learns to use professional concepts.  Applies company policies and procedures to resolve routine issues.            

·          JOB COMPLEXITY:  Works on problems of limited scope.  Follows standard practices and procedures in analyzing situations or data from which answers can be readily obtained.  Contact with others is primarily internal.

·          SUPERVISION:  Normally receives detailed instructions on all work.

·          EXPERIENCE:  Typically requires no previous professional experience.

Level 2:

·          KNOWLEDGE:  Uses professional concepts; applies company policies and procedures to resolve a variety of issues.               

·          JOB COMPLEXITY:  Works on problems of moderate scope where analysis of situations or data requires a review of a variety of factors.  Exercises judgment within defined procedures and practices to determine appropriate action.  Has internal and some external contacts.

·          SUPERVISION:  Normally receives general instructions on routine work, detailed instructions on new projects or assignments.

·          EXPERIENCE:  Typically requires a minimum of 2 years of related experience.  In some companies, the requirement will be less.

Level 3:

·          KNOWLEDGE:  Uses skills as a seasoned, experienced professional with a full understanding of industry practices and company policies and procedures; resolves a wide range of issues in imaginative as well as practical ways.  This job is the fully qualified, career-oriented, journey-level position.

·          JOB COMPLEXITY:  Works on problems of diverse scope where analysis of data requires evaluation of identifiable factors.  Demonstrates good judgment in selecting methods and techniques for obtaining solutions.  Interacts with senior internal and external personnel.  

·          SUPERVISION:  Normally receives little instruction on day-to-day work, general instructions on new assignments.

·          EXPERIENCE:  Typically requires a minimum of 5 years of related experience.  In some companies, the requirement will be less.

Level 4:

·          KNOWLEDGE:  Having wide-ranging experience, uses professional concepts and company objectives to resolve complex issues in creative and effective ways. Some barriers to entry exist at this level (i.e., dept/peer review).       

·          JOB COMPLEXITY:  Works on complex issues where analysis of situations or data requires an in-depth evaluation of variable factors.  Exercises judgment in selecting methods, techniques and evaluation criteria for obtaining results. Internal and external contacts often pertain to company plans and objectives.

·          SUPERVISION:  Determines methods and procedures on new assignments, and may provide guidance to other personnel.

·          EXPERIENCE:  Typically requires a minimum of 8 years of related experience.  In some companies, the requirement will be less.  At this level, graduate coursework may be desirable.

Level 5:

·          KNOWLEDGE:  Having broad expertise or unique knowledge, uses skills to contribute to development of company objectives and principles and to achieve goals in creative and effective ways.  Barriers to entry such as technical committee review exist at this level.       

·          JOB COMPLEXITY:  Works on significant and unique issues where analysis of situations or data requires an evaluation of intangibles.  Exercises independent judgment in methods, techniques and evaluation criteria for obtaining results.  Contacts pertain to significant matters often involving coordination among groups.

·          SUPERVISION:  Acts independently to determine methods and procedures on new or special assignments.  May supervise the activities of others.

·          EXPERIENCE: Typically requires a minimum of 12+ years of related experience.  In some companies, the requirement will be less.  At this level, graduate coursework may be expected.

Level 6:

·          KNOWLEDGE:  As an expert in the field, uses professional concepts in developing resolution to critical issues and broad design matters.  Significant barriers to entry (i.e., top management review approval) exist at this level.       

·          JOB COMPLEXITY:  Works on issues that impact design/selling success or address future concepts, products or technologies.  Often serves as consultant to management and external spokesperson for the organization.

·          SUPERVISION:  Exercises wide latitude in determining objectives and approaches to critical assignments.  

·          EXPERIENCE:  Typically requires a minimum of 15+ years of related experience.  In some companies, the requirement will be less.  At this level, a graduate degree may be expected.