James (Ryan) Pletcher Email and Phone Number

Plasma etch process sustaining and continuous improvement.

Sustained plasma etch and plasma resist strip processes for semiconductor manufacturing:-Monitored SPC, identified poorly controlled parameters, and made changes to processes, testing methods, or limits, to protect quality and maximize output.-Responded to quality escapes with rapid containment, risk assessment, and root cause analysis to return the line to safe production.-Worked with process engineering technicians, equipment technicians, and equipment engineers to attend to downed tools and open safe paths for production.Completed continuous improvement projects, especially process transfers, to improve quality, reduce cost, and increase output during a period of rapid fab expansion:-Designed processes to be more stable, faster, and more robust using features available on newer equipment.-Estimated and communicated project timelines to management and presented all proposed process changes to review board.-Worked with business unit, integration, and yield engineering to split and plug production material, qualifying new process equipment and recipes while protecting quality and meeting customer demand.-Communicated with equipment engineers and external vendors to troubleshoot issues that arose during process qualification.Managed team of 6 process engineering technicians that sustained the plasma etch and plasma resist strip modules (starting in May, 2023):-Communicated with technicians at all hours to handle process issues in the fab, manage absences, and manage overtime requests-Mediated engineering and production requests for technician time, and balanced said requests with fab sustaining need.-Oversaw and participated directly in training of 4 new hires.-Managed schedule changes to better cover the full 24/7 work cycle.-Mentored technicians and gave consistent constructive feedback on job performance.-Drafted and delivered annual performance reviews.-Maintained 100% employee retention during my tenure.

-Sustained Plasma Etch, Plasma Resist Strip, Metals Deposition, and Chemical Vapor Deposition Modules for semiconductor manufacturing:-Made adjustments to process equipment and/or recipes in response to SPC violations.-Safely recovered tools after process interruptions and dispositioned discrepant material.-Communicated with operations technicians, maintenance technicians, operations supervisors, and process engineers to protect product quality and maximize throughput.-Worked with process engineers on continuous improvement projects to improve quality, reduce cost, and increase output.

Research Engineer- Contractor in a small satellite group at NASA Ames Research Center supporting TechEdSat payloads 6 and 7, and assisting in proposal writing for small satellite missions. Researching literature for proposal concepts, writing and editing proposal sections. Assisting in payload integration Communicating with engineers, managers, QA representatives and vendors to identify requirements for satellite components (e.g. provide, Certificate of Conformance, Lot#, Shelf Life etc.) and ensuring that vendors meet those requirements.

Junior Researcher- Contractor in a small satellite group at NASA Ames Research Center supporting two payloads, SOAREX 9 and TechEdSat 5. Communicated with engineers, managers, QA representatives and vendors to identify requirements for satellite components (e.g. provide, Certificate of Conformance, Lot#, Shelf Life etc.) and ensure that vendors met those requirements. Installed ESD sensitive work areas in the group’s lab area. Designed and maintained wiring diagrams for TechEdSat 5.

Set up, operated and troubleshot test equipment used for analysis of diesel motor and cooking emissions to determine the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. A multi-step assay process was required using solvent extraction from powders and filters, HPLC, Rotary Evaporation and GC-MS. Prepared and delivered presentations of the results. Used EPA Method 5 to determine the particulate matter content in cooking samples. Findings were used to develop an air pollution control technology for flame broiling.

Chemical/Environmental Engineering Lab at UC Riverside (2011-2012):Synthesized titanium dioxide nanoparticles for use in water purification. Performed rheology studies with polyvinyl alcohol and titanium dioxide precursors to test the viability of simultaneous synthesis and particle dispersion within a cross-linked polymer.