Maintenance Lead (Tyndall)

Maintenance Lead (Tyndall)
 

About Tyndall
Tyndall National Institute is an international leader in semiconductors, photonics and deep-tech research and innovation. As a leading collaborative European research institute, Tyndall is a key actor and hosting partner in the delivery of the ‘Chips for Europe Initiative’ (EU Chips Act).

Tyndall is Ireland’s leading research and innovation organisation and it is the national focal point for excellence in deep-tech research, development and graduate training at the convergence of nanotechnology, microelectronics, photonics, electronics and AI. Tyndall is recognised as an international research leader in semiconductor, chip and digital technologies, particularly as applied to the fields of Information & Communications, Health & Life Sciences, Agritech & Food Security, Energy and Climate Mitigation, emerging fields such as quantum, and novel computing paradigms.

The Institute’s key objective is to see frontier research activities having a significant impact on economic development and societal challenges in Ireland, Europe and beyond. Central to Tyndall’s mission is delivering economic impact through research excellence in partnership with industry and academia. With an annual turnover of more than €50m, the Institute has a community of over 600 researchers, engineers, support staff, postgraduate students, interns and industry researchers-in-residence.

With significant committed Irish government support, Tyndall will grow to be 1,000 people by 2030, with approximately 750 researchers, including 250 PhD students. A new 17,000 m2 research building is under development adjacent to the Cork headquarters and there are developing plans to expand Tyndall’s existing Dublin research labs and to establish other research sites within Ireland.

Tyndall’s expansion is also supported by recent national and EU funding wins for significant (M€10’s) additional research equipment across a range of areas such as semiconductor processing, microscopy, quantum technologies, heterogeneous integration, ultra-high speed optical communications and RF through THz characterisation.

Purpose of the role
Tyndall National Institute (Tyndall) is Ireland’s leading centre for semiconductor deep-tech research, development, and innovation, specialising in areas such as integrated ICT, microelectronics, photonics, quantum engineering and advanced materials. Based in Cork and operating as part of UCC, Tyndall plays a central role in advancing Ireland’s position in the global technology landscape. It is one of Ireland’s five national laboratories and is internationally recognised for its ability to translate academic research into industrial  applications across multiple sectors, including healthcare, energy, communications, agri-tech, and environmental monitoring.

The Tyndall Campus includes semiconductor wafer fabrication cleanrooms with associated sub-fab facilities as well as the many related processing, test and metrology laboratories.  The Tools and Equipment within these laboratories are maintained by the Tyndall Equipment Maintenance Group

The volume of infrastructure has grown significantly over recent years, and we now wish to recruit a Maintenance Lead responsible for directing and coordinating all technical and maintenance activities in support of the Tyndall facilities in a safe, cost-effective and environmentally friendly manner, assuring capacity and achieving performance metrics.

Key Responsibilities
Reporting to the Reporting to the Tyndall Senior Equipment Maintenance Manager, the successful candidate will
be responsible for the leadership, operation and management of a multidisciplinary team within the III-V, MEMS and Silicon Fabrication Cleanrooms and Sub Fabs, managing vendor and stakeholder relationships, and providing strategic oversight for cleanroom and lab infrastructure in a high-tech semiconductor environment.

Strategic Leadership & Team Management

• Work with the Tyndall Senior Equipment Maintenance Manager to establish an effective team structure, clear roles, and streamlined workflows aligned with organisational goals.
• Lead and develop a multidisciplinary technical team, ensuring timely completion of PMs, calibrations, and equipment downtime recovery.
• Manage vendor and stakeholder relationships and act as primary point of contact for on-site service and support activities.
• Support safety and installation reviews for equipment as required.
• Lead technical communication and reporting for Tyndall operations, ensuring alignment on maintenance priorities, schedules, and resources.
• Support audits, customer visits, and develop/track departmental KPIs (MTBF, MTTR, OEE, schedule attainment, work order backlog, labour utilisation, spare usage/costs).

Maintenance Execution & Equipment Performance

• Take ownership of tool performance, driving efficient maintenance, continuous improvement and equipment reliability enhancements.
• Define and manage maintenance schedules, SOPs, calibration plans, and preventive maintenance strategies (including optimised PM/calibration frequencies).
• Ensure maintenance documentation—including manuals, drawings, specifications, SOPs—is complete, current, and organised in shared systems.
• Develop procedures for work orders, calibrations, PMs, spare setup, purchasing, and cost tracking.
• Drive root-cause analysis and structured troubleshooting using all available resources (schematics, manuals, vendor support).

Downtime & Escalation Management

• Own tool-down events, ensuring rapid recovery and efficient deployment of technical resources.
• When downtime exceeds 48 hours with no root cause identified, take ownership for initiating a structured focus team on the issue. Each day review progress on last 24-hour plan and define next 24 hours of activity.
• Escalate issues to vendors and coordinate onsite support when needed.

Shutdown & Emergency Response

• Develop and lead planned and unplanned shutdown activities, including communication, preparation, safe shutdown sequencing, restart procedures, and lessons learned.
• Ensure emergency shutdown procedures are executed safely and communicated to relevant personnel.
• Act as single point of contact (SPOC) for all Planned Site Shutdowns.

Inventory, Spares & Procurement

• Implement risk-based spare-parts strategy to ensure critical spares availability and manage ongoing inventory control.
• Raise purchase orders for equipment and spares and oversee SLA setup where required.
• Manage departmental discretionary and capital budgets, avoiding overspend.

Project Support & Continuous Improvement

• Plan, organise, and lead maintenance projects in line with operational objectives.
• Use equipment performance data (OEE, reliability metrics) to identify improvement actions and justify capital investment.
• Drive continuous improvement and reliability programmes based on data analysis.
• Support FATs, development work, and training activities as required.
• Ensure contractor management, including permit preparation and review of RAMS (risk assessments & method statements).
• Act as SPOC for all tool moves/introductions.

Additional Duties

• Ensure compliance with Tyndall’s Quality Management Systems, Health and Safety standards, and other regulations.
• Perform other duties as reasonably required within the general scope and level of the role
• Provide support and advice to the Tyndall Equipment Maintenance team as required.

Qualifications & Experience
The successful candidate is expected to demonstrate the following qualifications, skills, and experience

Essential Criteria

• A third-level qualification in a scientific or engineering discipline relevant to Semiconductor Processing, Fabrication, and Testing, or equivalent experience.
• Typically, 10+ years of significant hands-on experience in semiconductor equipment maintenance within commercial and/or R&D fabrication environments.
• Proven track record in equipment installation, project management, maintenance, and process support across a wide range of semiconductor tools.

• In-depth, practical experience with a broad range of semiconductor processing equipment, including but not limited to:
  • CVD, ICPCVD, PECVD, Dry Etch, PVD, E-Beam Deposition
  • Thermal Deposition, Wet Processing, Lithography
  • Vacuum Systems, Special Gas Delivery Systems
  • De-Ionised Water Plants
• Strong working knowledge of electronics, RF systems, vacuum technology, mechanical and pneumatic systems.
• Hands on experience in special gas system layout, piping, valving, and control.
• Hands-on experience working safely with hazardous gases, chemicals, and residues.
• Expertise in the design, layout, and installation of semiconductor processing tools and supporting infrastructure.
• Expert knowledge of cleanroom design, operation, and technology.
• Demonstrated experience working with and managing relationships with equipment vendors, research collaborators, and industrial clients.
• Communication Skills: Excellent written and verbal communication abilities, able to convey information clearly and confidently.

Desirable Criteria

• The ability to mentor and guide students, graduates, and technical staff.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and negotiation skills, with the ability to engage effectively across all levels of academia and industry.
• Organisational Skills: Capable of managing diverse tasks, prioritising effectively, and meeting deadlines under competing demands.
• Leadership and Team Management: Proven experience leading teams, fostering high performance, and developing staff through training and mentoring.
• Results-Oriented Management: Accountable for achieving objectives, effectively organizing and delegating work, with a strong focus on delivering quality customer service.
• Interpersonal Skills: Builds strong relationships with colleagues and management, promotes open communication, and handles challenging situations with diplomacy and respect.
• Specialist Knowledge and Commitment: Deep expertise relevant to the role, with a commitment to the values of UCC and Tyndall National Institute and ensuring customer-centric services.

What We Offer
Apart from offering a position in a successful and positive research environment, with a collaborative ethos full of diverse competencies to boost your career, we offer the following:
 

• Impactful Work: Opportunities to contribute to ground-breaking research and innovation that shape Ireland’s economy and the society at large.
• Continuous Learning: Strong support for formal training, further study and professional development.
• Interdisciplinary Environment: Where academia, industry, and innovation intersect - supported by cutting-edge infrastructure and expert knowledge.
• Blended Working: Flexibility to work remotely and on-site, where the role allows.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Access to UCC pension, long-term illness benefit, life assurance, and more.
• Generous Leave: Competitive annual leave entitlements.
• Equity & Inclusion: Athena Swan Bronze award holder, with ongoing initiatives led by a dedicated People and Culture team to ensure equity for all.
• Core Values: A culture grounded in Ambition, Collaboration, Diversity, Excellence, and Integrity.
• Entrepreneurial Spirit: A proactive, innovation-driven environment that welcomes entrepreneurial and creative thinkers, including those with start-up experience.
• Supportive Onboarding: Structured induction and mentoring to help new hires integrate and thrive.
• Vibrant Culture: A collaborative, people-first workplace with a strong sense of community.

Terms of Employment
Contract Category: Full-Time
Contract Type: Fixed Term

Appointment may be made at the Admin II (Grade 6A) B salary scale: €73,492 - €93,094 per annum.  Salary placement on appointment will be in accordance with public sector pay policy.

For further information, please contact to Feargal Nolan
Closing date of applications is 1pm, 15th October 2026.

Application Instructions
Please make sure to attach an up to date CV/Resume AND a brief motivation letter outlining how you meet the ‘Essential Criteria’ for this role.

A full candidate information pack is available to download by clicking here.
Please note that Garda vetting and/or an international police clearance check may form part of the selection process.
At this time, Tyndall National Institute does not require the assistance of recruitment agencies.
Tyndall National Institute at University College, Cork is an Equal Opportunities Employer