Meet Guy, FIRST® alum, mentor, and Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) Senior Equipment Engineer at FIRST supporter GlobalFoundries. Starting his STEAM journey as a participant on FIRST® Robotics Competition Team 1099, “The DiscoTechs” from 2013 – 2017, Guy found that most traditional STEAM skills come more naturally to him. What he really learned from FIRST were skills that helped take his career to the next level – such as communication, teamwork, goal setting, and managing time and stress.
Today, Guy applies his FIRST-gained skills in his career and shares his knowledge and experiences as a FIRST event volunteer and a mentor of FIRST Robotics Competition Teams 9101 “Green Mountain Robotics” and 11269 “Batteries Not Included.”
Keep reading to learn more about Guy and his STEAM journey.
FIRST Staff: Can you share some information about your current role at GlobalFoundries?
Guy: I manage the “tooling” for a fleet of Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) semiconductor manufacturing tools. In short, the CVD process takes volatile gasses like Silicon Tetrahydride (or Silane) under vacuum, high heat (350+ degrees C) and sometimes plasma-enhanced conditions to react and build microscopic-thin film layers of insulating dielectrics or conductive paths on a wafer surface.
My focus is primarily on the equipment/tool itself rather than the process or recipes. Think managing costly spare parts, facility upgrades, preventative maintenance, risk management, and sensorizing older equipment for better signal detection.
FIRST Staff: What is your favorite part of your current role as a Senior Equipment Engineer at GlobalFoundries?
Guy: Problem solving. I have a constant stream of repeated and new types of fail modes for my tools, all with similar or dissimilar root causes. I love being able to sit down, research, identify, plan, coordinate, and execute a game plan to solve a given issue with the right subject matter experts, short timeline, limited budget, and rigid process parameters and constraints.
FIRST Staff: What is the hardest part of your job?
Guy: The needs of semiconductor manufacturing constantly fluctuate several times a day. The ability to adapt to a change of priorities on a moment’s notice with quick, critical thinking is crucial. Personal safety, product quality, tool and chamber health, as well as the entire manufacturing line are all affected; from performing maintenance on a tool, recovering an errored tool that has faulted, to qualifying new technologies.
FIRST Staff: How do you use STEAM skills in your everyday work?
Guy: FIRST exposed me to several technical skills through STEAM and beyond. I have always been mechanically inclined, so learning how to use any kind of tool or software comes naturally. Instead, I feel I have benefited more from professional skills such as being more empathetic to those around me and effectively communicating with my colleagues and coworkers. I also exercise patience, set goals, and manage time and stress daily. These skills help my whole team and me in our group objectives.
FIRST Staff: Can you share your thoughts on the impact of your personal/professional work in STEAM?
Guy: I continued my journey with FIRST after graduating from high school. Since college, I have volunteered at numerous New England FIRST Robotics Competition District events, mentored four FIRST Robotics Competition teams across both Connecticut and Vermont and continued to drive the importance of FIRST through GlobalFoundries and the state of Vermont.
I wanted to be able to share my own experiences from a FIRST team with the next generation of students and communities to better the world ahead of us.
FIRST Staff: Who is a “Person of STEAM” who inspires you?
Guy: Sara Skloss - my coworker and fellow alum and mentor. Her dedication to the CFM/Metrology team here at GlobalFoundries is astounding. She presents such a deep understanding of the measurement tool software processes as well as a drive to ensure everything is correct. Her attention to detail is matched only by her ability to think of creative and out-of-the-box ways to get students involved with FIRST. Not to mention, she is a phenomenal photographer!
FIRST Staff: If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be?
Guy: Do not be afraid to fail. Failing is how we learn the most from any given circumstance. It is better to try and fail than not to try at all.
FIRST Staff: Do you have a message you want to share for students who are participating in FIRST today?
Guy: FIRST provides the opportunity to try so many different things outside your comfort zone. On any team, do not be afraid to give support to an area that is struggling or you were not initially interested in. I was able to pick up so many professional skills by supporting the business aspects of a team that were not focused on robots! Ask questions, make mistakes, and learn! Cherish your time on any FIRST team, because there is truly nothing else like it.
Are you a person of STEAM? Share your story with #PeopleofSTEAM on social media or send us your story at marketing@firstinspires.org.