Senior Systems Engineer - Semiconductor Capital Equipment

Onto Innovation•Wilmington, MA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Onto Innovation is a semiconductor process control capital equipment company focused on enabling our customers to achieve higher yield, improved quality, and smarter manufacturing. Our portfolio spans advanced metrology, inspection, lithography, and process control software—helping the world’s leading semiconductor manufacturers solve their most complex problems. About the Foundational Engineering Group Our Foundational Engineering Group (FEG) develops common platforms, systems, software frameworks, and engineering tools used across all Onto Innovation products. FEO serves as an enabling technology organization, building the core modules and architecture that new products leverage for scale, reliability, and accelerated time‑to‑market. To support our next generation of product platforms, FEO is expanding our Pilot / New Product Introduction (NPI) team with a highly skilled Senior Systems Engineer specializing in module and system characterization. The Senior Systems Engineer, Module & System Characterization will lead characterization, validation, and functional performance assessment of foundational modules and integrated subsystems used across Onto Innovation’s capital equipment portfolio. This role is critical in bridging early engineering concepts with production-ready solutions. You will work hands‑on with mechanical, optical, electrical, and software modules to quantify performance, develop characterization methodologies, and ensure robust integration into next-generation systems. This role requires strong systems thinking, deep analytical capability, and comfort working in an advanced R&D environment where clarity evolves as designs mature.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or higher in Systems Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, Mechatronics, or a related technical discipline.
6+ years of experience in systems engineering roles supporting semiconductor capital equipment or complex electromechanical platforms.
Demonstrated experience leading system, module, or subsystem characterization, validation, and performance assessment across multiple engineering domains.
Strong systems-level thinking.
Hands-on experience working with precision mechanical, optical, electrical, and software-enabled modules within complex integrated systems.
Proven expertise developing test strategies, characterization methods, and validation plans.
Ability to diagnose complex technical issues using data-driven analysis, root-cause methodologies, and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
Experience working in advanced R&D environments.
Strong communication skills.

Responsibilities

Lead characterization, validation, and functional performance assessment of foundational modules and integrated subsystems used across Onto Innovation’s capital equipment portfolio.
Work hands-on with mechanical, optical, electrical, and software modules to quantify performance, develop characterization methodologies, and ensure robust integration into next-generation systems.
Decompose requirements, define interfaces, and translate early concepts into verifiable, production-ready designs.
Develop test strategies, characterization methods, and validation plans to quantify system performance and identify design margins.
Diagnose complex technical issues using data-driven analysis, root-cause methodologies, and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
Clearly convey technical findings and trade-offs to cross-functional stakeholders.
Travel internationally to customer sites at least 20% of the time, with additional travel as business needs require.