Nicholas Ash Email & Phone Number

Tualatin, Oregon

• Hardware and System engineer that provides technical support to field engineers, technicians, and product support personnel who are diagnosing, troubleshooting, repairing and debugging complex electromechanical equipment, computer systems, complex software, or networked and/or wireless systems.• Responds to situations where first-line product support has failed to isolate or fix problems in malfunctioning equipment or software.• Involved in equipment installation and training at customer sites.• Reports design, reliability and maintenance problems or bugs to design or software engineering.

• Conduct engineering tests and detailed experimental testing to collect design data or assist in research work. Work closely with Mechanical, Electrical, and RF Engineers to create design prototypes and models. Troubleshoot prototype and model failures.• Perform concept and feasibility studies on equipment for cutting edge thin film chemistries and processes, and improve characteristics for currently field deployed systems.• Remote diagnose and troubleshoot customer hardware and manufacturing process escalations.

• Performed assembly and test of newly developed, high complexity, semiconductor equipment, using mechanical drawings, technical work instructions, and electrical schematics. Works to resolve issues related to new product introduction such as manufacturability and form, fit, and function for future builds.• Determined and assisted in developing methods and procedures to control or modify the manufacturing process in order to improve the quality of products for customers.• Identified and resolved bill of material, technical discrepancies, and troubleshoot advanced semiconductor process equipment.• Used sophisticated programs and diagnostic equipment to collect and evaluate operating data to conduct real time adjustments to products, instruments or equipment.

• Managed Manufacturing Technicians to run operations, perform maintenance and troubleshoot module issues. Optimized tool availability and output by prioritizing based on shift team head count, individual technician training and certification, and factory requirements.• Coached and mentored technicians by developing training plans, lead brainstorming sessions during maintenance troubleshooting, help drive and implement experiments, and clarify ambiguous or conflicting directions and procedures.• Designed and implemented cost reduction projects to meet yearly cost reduction targets. Optimized operations and maintenance procedures to reduce work load to match lowering headcount without sacrificing quality limits.

• Improved operations by discovery, containment, documentation, and response to quality excursions. Participated in root cause follow-up and analysis with hands on knowledge of process flow, tool functionality, and documented procedure.• Performed scheduled and unscheduled tool maintenance, troubleshooting and error recovery. Highlighted improvement areas and helped implement updates to maintenance procedures that were clear, concise, correct, and unambiguous.• Role modeled adhering to the standard procedure to improve team and shift communication, improve cost-effective output, and work effectively with little or no supervision.