Automation Engineer (Machine Vision & Inspection)

MKS Instruments•Methuen, MA

5d•$75,000 - $110,000•Hybrid

About The Position

This role will serve as the division's subject matter expert for machine vision and automated inspection technologies while contributing to broader automation initiatives that improve quality, efficiency, cost, and manufacturing capacity.

Requirements

BS degree in electrical engineering and/or computer science is required.
5+ years of hands-on experience designing and implementing vision systems in an industrial (clean) manufacturing environment
Expertise in selecting, configuring, and integrating vision system hardware to create optimal and repeatable imaging conditions (with high uptime)
Mastery of core vision techniques, including image filtering, blob analysis, edge detection, pattern matching, Optical Character Recognition (OCR), and 2D/3D code reading.
Proficiency with industry-standard vision software packages (e.g., Cognex VisionPro/In-Sight, Keyence XG-X) and open-source libraries like OpenCV
Strong programming skills in Python or C++/C# required for developing custom inspection algorithms and scripting communication between the vision system and other machine controls
Experience developing and implementing fiducial-based alignment, position correction, and part localization strategies for automated manufacturing systems.
Familiarity with industrial networking protocols (EtherNet/IP, EtherCAT, etc.) and automated data collection systems (SCADA, MES)
Experience working with manufacturing data systems, databases, data pipelines, and analytics tools (SQL, Power BI/Fabric, Python, AWS).

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree specializing in Computer Vision, Image Processing, or a related field is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Designing and implementing machine vision systems that identify, inspect, measure, and evaluate high-precision parts and assemblies.
Selecting and integrating industrial cameras, lenses, optics, lighting, and image acquisition hardware for reliable, repeatable inspection performance.
Developing image processing and inspection applications using commercial vision platforms and custom software tools.
Evaluating traditional image processing and AI/deep learning-based vision solutions where appropriate.
Supporting the collection, storage, transformation, and visualization of manufacturing data generated by automation and inspection systems to enable process monitoring, traceability, and continuous improvement.
Supporting robotic guidance, alignment, inspection, and measurement applications using 2D and 3D vision technologies.
Integrating vision systems with robots, industrial networks, HMIs, SCADA, MES, and manufacturing databases.
Supporting machine startup, validation, commissioning, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement of automated machine solutions.
Collaborating with manufacturing, quality, engineering, and automation teams in other divisions to standardize vision architectures and best practices to accelerate implementations across global factories.