Senior Equipment Maintenance Technician (Morning Shift)
Rigetti Computing
Fremont, CA, USA
USD 50-60 / hour
Posted on Dec 12, 2025
Rigetti is seeking an experienced, hands-on Equipment Maintenance Technician to join the team at our Fremont Fab-1. This critical role involves the maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair of semiconductor processing tools within an R&D cleanroom, supporting the fabrication of wafers for quantum computing.
Key Responsibilities
- Perform both Preventive Maintenance (PM) and Corrective Maintenance on a variety of wafer fab equipment, including:
- Vacuum/Process Tools: PVD, ALD, evaporation/deposition, plasma/dry etch.
- Wet Processing Systems: Wet etch, solvent benches, wet benches, and chemical handling.
- Auxiliary Tools: Lithography (mask aligner, dispense/develop), metrology (e.g., SEM), wafer/wire bonding, and e-test.
- Quickly and safely troubleshoot equipment issues to return tools to production status.
- Maintain accurate tool documentation, specifications, and calibration records following SOPs/PM procedures.
- Assist with general fab support tasks, such as chemical waste coordination/disposal, restocking of consumables, and gowning supply management (as assigned).
- Support engineering efforts by assisting with metrology and data collection during tool excursions or issues.
- Uphold and adhere to all EHS protocols (cleanroom etiquette, LOTO, hazmat, chemical safety); participate in safety programs and incident response.
- Serve as a member of the site Emergency Response Team (ERT) and respond to incidents per training and site procedures (may include off-hours response as needed).
Minimum Qualifications
- 7+ years of practical experience maintaining semiconductor or MEMS fab equipment, with a strong preference for vacuum tool specialization, or an equivalent combination of training and experience demonstrating strong relevant tool ownership.
- Proficient in reading and interpreting electrical schematics and process gas/liquid piping diagrams.
- Proven ability to execute equipment repairs, upgrades, and hardware modifications.
- Comfortable working in a cleanroom environment and strictly following hazmat/chemical safety procedures.
- Excellent communication skills, meticulous attention to detail, and robust documentation habits.
Preferred Qualifications
- Relevant technical training (AA/BS degree, vocational certificate, or military technical training).
- Experience across multiple core fab areas (e.g., dry etch, wet etch, vacuum deposition, lithography, metrology, bonding).
- Previous experience in both R&D and production settings; comfortable operating in a small-team/startup environment.
- Experience with manual wafer handling.
Shift Details:
- Shift Hours: 6:00am–2:30pm
- Training: Initial training will generally follow the morning shift schedule.
- Overtime: Availability may vary based on business needs.
As engineering leaders, we value diversity and are committed to building a culture of inclusion to attract and engage innovative thinkers. Our technology, meant to serve all of humanity, cannot succeed if those who built it do not mirror the diversity of the communities we serve. Applications from women, minorities, and other under-represented groups are encouraged.
About Rigetti
Rigetti Computing is a pioneer in full-stack quantum computing. The company has operated quantum computers over the cloud since 2017 and serves global enterprise, government, and research clients through its Rigetti Quantum Cloud Services platform. The company’s proprietary quantum-classical infrastructure provides ultra-low latency integration with public and private clouds for high-performance practical quantum computing. Rigetti has developed the industry’s first multi-chip quantum processor for scalable quantum computing systems. The company designs and manufactures its chips in-house at Fab-1, the industry’s first dedicated and integrated quantum device manufacturing facility. Rigetti was founded in 2013 and today employs more than 150 people with offices in the United States, U.K., and Australia. Learn more at www.rigetti.com.
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Export Licensing Compliance
Rigetti is committed to full compliance with applicable anti-discrimination laws. We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We strive to create an inclusive work environment and will not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
50 - 60 USD
Rigetti complies with all local and state regulations in regards to displaying salary ranges. Final compensation for this role will be determined by various factors such as a candidate’s relevant work experience, skills, and geographic location. Rigetti offers a full slate of benefits from competitive salaries, equity, medical, dental and vision for employees as well as a 401(k) plan, a paid parental leave program, rejuvenation days, and a vacation policy that aligns with local regulations and industry standards.