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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Xenon Specialist

💰 $ - $

Xenon SpecialistGas HandlingProcess EngineeringSafetyR&D

🎯 Role Definition

The Xenon Specialist is a subject-matter expert responsible for the safe procurement, handling, purification, storage, delivery and lifecycle management of xenon gas and xenon-based systems. Working at the intersection of process engineering, analytical chemistry and safety compliance, this role enables high-reliability xenon supply for mission-critical applications — from EUV light sources and ion propulsion to medical imaging and research detectors. The Xenon Specialist partners with operations, R&D, quality, procurement and external vendors to optimize xenon purity, minimize losses, mitigate safety risk, and deliver data-driven improvements to xenon utilization across the organization.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Gas Technician / Gas Systems Technician
  • Process Technician or Chemical Technician with gas handling experience
  • Laboratory Technician (analytical chemistry / mass spectrometry)

Advancement To:

  • Senior Xenon Specialist / Lead Gas Systems Engineer
  • Process Engineering Manager (Gas & Vacuum Systems)
  • Supplier Quality / Strategic Sourcing Lead (rare gases)

Lateral Moves:

  • Applications Engineer (EUV, medical imaging, aerospace)
  • Quality Engineer (materials and gas purity)
  • Safety & Compliance Specialist (pressure systems, hazardous materials)

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Manage end-to-end xenon supply chain activities including demand forecasting, vendor qualification, contract negotiation and timely procurement of xenon cylinders, bulk storage and dispensing systems to ensure uninterrupted production or research operations.
  • Develop, implement and maintain xenon purity specifications and analytical testing protocols using GC, mass spectrometry, residual gas analysis (RGA) and other instrumentation to guarantee gas meets application-specific quality standards.
  • Design, commission and maintain xenon gas distribution and storage systems (cylinders, gas panels, bulk tanks, cryogenic dewars) including valves, regulators, purifiers and leak-detection systems with documented procedures and maintenance schedules.
  • Lead root-cause investigations and corrective action plans for xenon purity deviations, contamination events, leaks or delivery failures, coordinating cross-functional teams to implement CAPA and prevent recurrence.
  • Create and enforce xenon handling and safety protocols covering hazardous materials (compressed gas) procedures, cryogenic operations, pressure system integrity, emergency response and personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements.
  • Optimize xenon utilization and cost per effective unit by developing recovery, recycling and reclamation programs, tracking gas inventory, and implementing process changes that reduce losses and lower operating expenses.
  • Provide technical support for system integration of xenon into downstream equipment (EUV sources, ion thrusters, imaging systems, detectors) including flow control, purity conditioning, and compatibility assessments for materials and seals.
  • Lead experimental design and test campaigns to evaluate new xenon purification technologies, getters, filtration media, and adsorption materials; analyze test data and make recommendations for scale-up or supplier changes.
  • Maintain comprehensive documentation including standard operating procedures (SOPs), safety data sheets (SDS), risk assessments, P&IDs, calibration logs and compliance records to meet internal audit and regulatory requirements.
  • Implement and oversee xenon leak detection programs using helium leak checks, vacuum decay, sniffer methods and continuous monitoring sensors; schedule preventive maintenance and validate system tightness after modifications.
  • Coordinate xenon gas cylinder lifecycle activities including hydrostatic testing tracking, cylinder requalification, labeling, and vendor returns to ensure traceability and regulatory compliance.
  • Train operations, engineering and field service teams on xenon handling, emergency response, purity testing procedures, instrument operation and best practices for minimizing contamination risk.
  • Collaborate with R&D and product development to specify xenon supply requirements for prototypes, pilots and scale-up projects, providing technical input into design reviews and risk analyses.
  • Serve as the primary liaison with xenon suppliers, transporters and third-party reclamation vendors to manage logistics, troubleshoot delivery issues and conduct supplier performance reviews and audits.
  • Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) such as xenon recovery rate, purity yield, downtime attributable to gas issues and cost-per-use to drive continuous improvement and report to leadership.
  • Support regulatory, customs and hazardous materials (DOT/IATA/IMDG) compliance for international shipment of xenon cylinders and reclaimed gas, preparing documentation and coordinating with freight forwarders.
  • Perform materials compatibility and outgassing evaluations for components exposed to xenon — including elastomers, metals and coatings — and recommend design changes to prevent contamination or degradation.
  • Participate in capital equipment procurement and vendor evaluation for xenon-related systems (purifiers, gas cabinets, cryopumps), including drafting specifications, running technical bid evaluations and overseeing FAT/SAT activities.
  • Drive failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) and HAZOP sessions for xenon distribution networks and critical processes to identify hazards, rank risks and implement mitigations.
  • Conduct lab-scale and pilot tests for alternative xenon supply strategies (cylinder swaps, on-site liquefaction, bulk delivery) and present data-backed business cases to stakeholders for adoption.
  • Provide technical input to quality assurance for incoming xenon shipments, establishing acceptance criteria, sampling plans and chain-of-custody procedures to ensure product integrity.
  • Manage cross-functional incident response for xenon-related safety events, including incident investigation, corrective action tracking, regulatory reporting and communication with stakeholders.
  • Advise on environmental considerations related to xenon use and recovery, including waste handling, reclamation options, resource efficiency and reporting for sustainability programs.
  • Maintain up-to-date technical knowledge of xenon market trends, pricing dynamics, alternative gas technologies and emerging purification methods to inform procurement strategy and technical roadmaps.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis.
  • Contribute to the organization's data strategy and roadmap.
  • Collaborate with business units to translate data needs into engineering requirements.
  • Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies within the data engineering team.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Gas supply chain management for specialty gases (xenon preferred) including vendor qualification, contracts, and logistics.
  • Analytical instrumentation proficiency: gas chromatography (GC), mass spectrometry (MS), residual gas analyzers (RGA) and thermal conductivity detectors for gas purity testing.
  • Hands-on experience with compressed gas hardware: regulators, valves, stainless-steel tubing, fittings (VCR, Swagelok), gas panels and manifolds.
  • Expertise in gas purification technologies, getters, adsorption media, and cryogenic purification or liquefaction systems.
  • Vacuum and pressure systems engineering including leak detection methods (helium sniffing, helium mass spec), vacuum pumps, and system tightness validation.
  • Process troubleshooting and root-cause analysis methodologies (5 Whys, fishbone, DMAIC) applied to gas contamination and supply interruptions.
  • Knowledge of hazardous materials transportation and regulatory compliance (DOT, IATA, IMDG) and cylinder requalification processes.
  • Experience with P&IDs, schematics, CAD layouts for gas distribution systems and the ability to update technical drawings.
  • Data analysis skills including use of Excel, Python or R for trend analysis, KPI tracking and cost modeling for xenon consumption and recovery.
  • Familiarity with manufacturing quality systems (ISO 9001, ISO 13485 if medical) and documentation control for SOPs, CAPA and audits.
  • Ability to develop and execute validation plans, FAT/SAT testing and qualification protocols for xenon equipment.
  • Materials compatibility testing knowledge for metals, elastomers and coatings in contact with noble gases.
  • Experience designing and implementing recovery/recycling systems and commercial reclamation processes for noble gases.
  • PLC, SCADA or industrial controls experience for automated gas distribution and monitoring systems (preferred).
  • Strong technical writing skills for creating SOPs, risk assessments, safety procedures and regulatory documentation.

Soft Skills

  • Strong communication and stakeholder management skills to coordinate cross-functional teams, vendors and regulatory bodies.
  • Demonstrated problem-solving mindset with a data-driven approach to process improvement and cost reduction.
  • Excellent organization and project management skills, capable of managing multiple technical projects and capital procurements concurrently.
  • Ability to teach and mentor operations staff on safe xenon handling and analytical testing procedures.
  • Adaptability and continuous-learning orientation to stay current with emerging xenon technologies and market dynamics.
  • Attention to detail and commitment to documentation and quality control in regulated environments.
  • Strong interpersonal skills to build effective working relationships across engineering, operations, procurement and safety teams.
  • Leadership presence for driving change, delivering technical recommendations and presenting findings to senior management.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Chemistry, Physics or a related technical field.

Preferred Education:

  • Master's degree in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Analytical Chemistry, or a technical discipline with coursework in gas handling, vacuum technology or cryogenics.
  • Professional certifications in hazardous materials, pressure systems, or quality management (e.g., ISO lead auditor) are a plus.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Chemical Engineering
  • Materials Science / Engineering
  • Analytical Chemistry
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Physics (applied or experimental)
  • Process Engineering

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 3–8+ years working with specialty gases, gas distribution systems, analytical testing or process engineering roles. Roles in semiconductor, aerospace, medical imaging or national lab environments preferred.

Preferred:

  • 5+ years of direct experience with xenon or noble gases, plus demonstrable experience in gas purification, leak detection, supplier management and safety/regulatory compliance. Prior work supporting EUV, ion propulsion, detector instrumentation, or anesthesia/imaging applications is highly desirable.
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