Application Engineer

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The Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering (PME) at the University of Chicago and Fermilab are seeking highly motivated Application Engineers to support the Advanced Chip Enablement, 3D Hub (ACE-3D), part of the NSF Chip Design Hub initiative. ACE-3D builds national capabilities in 3D heterogeneous integration and design enablement for the research and education community. Application Engineers will play a central role in enabling faculty, students, and collaborators to design, prototype, and test 3D integrated circuits (3D ICs), chiplets, and advanced packaging solutions. This appointment is based at both UChicago and Fermilab, with engineers working across both institutions to ensure seamless tool access, design flow development, and technical support for multi-project wafer (MPW) and advanced packaging runs.

• Facilitates and promotes advanced technical/scientific research projects including data analysis. Recognizes the need for innovation and develops or incorporates advances in research concepts to help disseminate the results of research projects. Provides day-to-day operational oversight in support of the same.
• Trains new laboratory personnel.
• Develops, deploys, and maintains 3D IC design flows, including floor planning, partitioning, TSV/micro-bump design, and thermal/mechanical analysis.
• Provides hands-on support and training for researchers and students using industry-standard EDA tools (Cadence, Synopsys, Siemens) for 2.5D/3D design, heterogeneous integration, and packaging.
• Collaborates with foundries and OSATs, such as NHanced, to coordinate design submissions for 3D IC MPWs, ensuring compliance with planarity, size, and placement requirements.
• Automates workflows using scripting/programming (Python, TCL, shell) to streamline verification, simulation, and design-for-test methodologies.
• Interfaces with other NSF teams to support installation, licensing, and maintenance of EDA tools and PDKs.
• Documents methodologies and contributes to shared design enablement resources for the ACE-3D community.
• Supports cross-institutional collaborations, workshops, and tutorials that expand national workforce development in semiconductor design.
• Provides technical input for project deliverables, reports, and presentations to NSF and partner institutions.
• Collaborates and coordinates with other researchers in the group and joint research efforts.
• Uses solid understanding of construction to install and repair new and existing electronic systems. Analyzes equipment to establish operating data and conduct experimental tests.
• Conducts engineering studies and assigns work to technical staff. Plans own resources effectively to ensure projects are delivered on time, to standard and to budget.
• Performs other related work as needed.

• Minimum Qualifications: A college or university degree in a related field.
• Work Experience: 25 years of work experience in a related job discipline.
• Certifications: Preferred qualifications listed below.

• Bachelors or Masters degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or a related field.
• A minimum of 3 years of significant work experience.
• Chip design and testing; experience in academic and laboratory environments.
• Experience training or mentoring in design tools and workflows.
• Extensive understanding of EDA tools for IC design, packaging, and verification.
• Familiarity with 3D IC design concepts (stacking, interposers, TSVs, bump-level integration).
• Familiarity with MPW submissions and foundry/OSAT interactions.
• Familiarity with advanced packaging technologies and verification methodologies.
• Strong programming and instrumentation interface skills in Python and C; Linux operating systems are desirable.
• Strong organizational and communication skills; ability to manage multiple tasks and collaborate across teams.

• Resume/CV (required)
• Professional References (required) (3)

When applying, upload documents via the My Experience page, in the Application Documents section.

• Job Family: Research
• Role Impact: Individual Contributor
• Scheduled Weekly Hours: 40
• Drug Test Required: No
• Health Screen Required: No
• Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required: No
• Pay Type: Salary
• FLSA Status: Exempt
• Pay Range: $100,000.00 - $120,000.00
• Benefits Eligible: Yes

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the Universitys Notice of Nondiscrimination. A background check is required for offers of employment.