MES Automation Engineer - Fremont GLES Development

Lam Research • Fremont, CA

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

As a Software Engineer at Lam in the Product Support group, you will be at the forefront of delivering customer ready software by serving as a critical bridge between the field and other engineering teams. Through deep technical troubleshooting, hands on validation in the lab, simulator testing, and close collaboration with cross functional engineering teams, you will ensure software readiness, resolve complex customer issues, and support new product and feature introductions at customer sites across products and platforms. In this role, you will make a meaningful impact across Lam’s global installed base and product portfolio by delivering high quality outcomes where it matters most—at the customer.

As an Automation Developer at Lam, you will contribute directly to the innovation pipeline by enabling advanced equipment connectivity, data acquisition, and automation capabilities at Lam’s R&D labs in the United States (Fremont). You will design and implement SECS/GEM‑based equipment interfaces, communication frameworks, and IoT‑enabled solutions that support early‑stage tool development and next-generation process engineering.

Working closely with multidisciplinary R&D teams, you will build robust automation components that accelerate prototype validation, experiment execution, and system characterization. Your expertise in C#, .NET, and web technologies will help bridge hardware–software interactions, enhance tool diagnostics, and enable deeper insights into complex equipment behavior. Through your work, you will help advance Lam’s technology roadmap and contribute to the creation of future semiconductor process platforms.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering, Electronics, Computer Science, or related field with 5+ years of experience; or equivalent hands‑on experience in equipment automation
• Direct experience implementing SECS/GEM‑based equipment integration in R&D or manufacturing equipment environments.
• Proficiency with C#, .NET, and modern web technologies for automation and tool connectivity
• Strong software engineering fundamentals including OOP, design patterns, data structures, and finite state machine‑based control flows.
• Experience with multithreading, asynchronous processes, and real‑time communication handling
• Prior hands‑on experience implementing IoT connectivity, data ingestion, and equipment sensor integration

Nice To Haves

• Experience integrating equipment with engineering test systems or R&D data acquisition platforms
• Familiarity with GEM300, EDA/Interface A, or other semiconductor industry automation standards
• Exposure to MES/MOM platforms
• Experience with REST APIs, message-based communication (MQTT, AMQP), and IoT/edge connectivity patterns
• Ability to work with simulators, protocol analyzers, and diagnostic tools for SECS/GEM validation
• Understanding of semiconductor subsystems
• Strong analytical, debugging, and problem-solving skills in an R&D environment
• Experience supporting cross‑site engineering teams and contributing to globally distributed development
• Critical Manufacturing Automation Developer Certification
• Critical Manufacturing Back‑end Certification

Responsibilities

• Support and manage customer facing software activities for Lam Etch and Deposition products and associated software applications, including escalation management, upgrades, patch creation and testing, and maintenance of install base health at customer sites.
• Investigate, troubleshoot, debug, and resolve software and system level issues by analyzing logs, reviewing code where needed, and collaborating with cross functional engineering teams to identify root causes and drive issues to closure.
• Partner with development, program management, and cross functional engineering teams to support new product and feature introductions by understanding product roadmaps and driving Alpha, Beta, and customer readiness.
• Validate new products, features, and fixes by creating and executing test plans, performing hands on validation on tools, and documenting results to ensure customer readiness.
• Participate in technical and program reviews including Concept & Feasibility (C&F), FMEA, Alpha/Beta Readiness, design reviews, and escalation reviews, providing technical input and readiness assessments.
• Collaborate across cross functional teams to ensure timely issue resolution and continuous improvement in software quality.
• Drive effective customer communication by creating customer facing documentation and notification packages related to software fixes, upgrades, and feature introductions.
• May visit customer sites to provide hands on software support and validation; travel up to ~15% may be required.
• Design, develop, troubleshoot, and debug automation software modules that support tool bring‑up, experimental workflows, and R&D diagnostics
• Implement SECS/GEM communication interfaces and IoT connectivity layers for prototype and development-stage equipment
• Enhance and maintain existing automation frameworks by identifying improvement areas and resolving complex integration issues
• Produce clear interface specifications, documentation packages, architecture diagrams, and structured code to support global R&D users
• Collaborate with R&D engineers, equipment designers, controls engineers, and software architects to develop new automation capabilities
• Support lab equipment integration activities, including on‑site testing and hands-on validation, with limited travel (<10%) to global Lam R&D sites

Benefits

• We believe it is important for every person to feel valued, included, and empowered to achieve their full potential. By bringing unique individuals and viewpoints together, we achieve extraordinary results.
• Lam Research ("Lam" or the "Company") is an equal opportunity employer. Lam is committed to and reaffirms support of equal opportunity in employment and non-discrimination in employment policies, practices and procedures on the basis of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions), gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, or military and veteran status or any other category protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. It is the Company's intention to comply with all applicable laws and regulations. Company policy prohibits unlawful discrimination against applicants or employees.
• Lam offers a variety of work location models based on the needs of each role. Our hybrid roles combine the benefits of on-site collaboration with colleagues and the flexibility to work remotely and fall into two categories – On-site Flex and Virtual Flex. ‘On-site Flex’ you’ll work 3+ days per week on-site at a Lam or customer/supplier location, with the opportunity to work remotely for the balance of the week. ‘Virtual Flex’ you’ll work 1-2 days per week on-site at a Lam or customer/supplier location, and remotely the rest of the time.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level