Principal Systems Engineer

Onto Innovation•Upton, MA

2d•$144,000 - $216,000

About The Position

Onto Innovation is seeking a Principal Systems Engineer to provide technical leadership in the advancement of existing platforms and the introduction of new complex automated optical inspection and metrology systems for the semiconductor industry. This role spans the full product lifecycle, from early-stage research and concept development through productization, transfer to manufacturing, and field support. This is a hands-on cross-functional leadership role that interfaces closely with hardware, software, system test/verification/validation, manufacturing and service teams. The ideal candidate will bring deep expertise in several of the following areas: systems engineering, optical or imaging instrument development, semiconductor inspection and metrology, and innovation and creative problem-solving.

Requirements

PhD (preferred) or advanced degree in Physics, Engineering, Materials Science, or a related field.
10+ years of experience developing high-precision optical or semiconductor capital equipment, or related complex technical systems.
Proven ability to ideate, prototype, and bring complex products to market.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including structured root cause analysis and solution development.

Nice To Haves

Experience with optical inspection, metrology, spectroscopy, ellipsometry, and reflectometry is a plus.
Knowledge of statistical signal processing and advanced control systems is a plus
Experience with MATLAB, LabVIEW, and ZEMAX is a plus.
Willingness to travel domestically and internationally (up to ~ 10%).

Responsibilities

Provide technical leadership through a full product development lifecycle, from early stage research to implementation.
Own and execute core system engineering activities, including requirement definition and total system solution under technical, project, and business constraints.
Drive early-stage concept development, rapid prototyping, and test iterations in collaboration with cross-functional teams.
Lead technical planning for cross-functionally critical activities, including roadmap development, system integration, verification and validation, transfer to manufacturing and service readiness.
Define system architecture and identify/mitigate technical risks; collaborate with engineers and subject-matter experts to ensure deep understanding of underlying technologies and design decisions.
Evaluate, track, and clearly communicate development maturity and technical readiness level to stakeholders.
Mentor and technically develop members of the engineering team, fostering system-level thinking.