Sr. Principal Lithography Engineer

FormFactor Inc.•Livermore, CA

5d•$136,200 - $178,815•Onsite

About The Position

FormFactor, Inc. (NASDAQ: FORM), is a leading provider of essential test and measurement technologies along the full semiconductor product life cycle — from characterization, modeling, reliability, and design de-bug, to qualification and production test. Semiconductor companies rely upon FormFactor’s products and services to accelerate profitability by optimizing device performance and advancing yield knowledge. The company serves customers through its network of facilities in Asia, Europe, and North America. Rooted in our core values — Focus on the Customer, Ownership & Accountability, Respectfully & Effectively Communicate, and Motivate & Develop People — we foster an environment where diverse perspectives are not only welcomed but celebrated. Everyone can make an impact here. Whether it's improving products, supporting customers, or positively influencing peers and the community, the contributions of our people matter. The Sr. Principal Lithography Engineer (MEMS R&D) is recognized as a technical authority responsible for driving innovation, strategy, and execution of advanced photolithography technologies across MEMS product development and manufacturing. This role requires deep expertise in semiconductor lithography processes, photoresist materials, optics, and microfabrication techniques, combined with the ability to solve highly complex technical challenges that have significant impact on business objectives and future technology roadmaps. As a senior technical leader, you will define lithography development strategies, lead breakthrough process innovations, mentor engineering teams, and collaborate across R&D, Product Development, Design Engineering, Operations, and Executive Leadership to enable next-generation MEMS technologies. The successful candidate will serve as a key contributor to FormFactor’s long-term technology differentiation and intellectual property development.

Requirements

Minimum of 8 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 6 years and a Master’s degree; or a PhD with 3 years experience; or equivalent experience
Electron Microscopy
Laser Lithography
Photolithography
Photolithography Equipment
Semiconductor Development
Semiconductor Engineering
Semiconductor Fabrication
Semiconductor Manufacturing

Nice To Haves

Two-Photon Polymerization (2PP)
Direct Laser Writing (DLW)
Nanoimprint Lithography (NIL)
Advanced maskless lithography solutions

Responsibilities

Develop and execute long-range technology roadmaps for advanced MEMS photolithography processes and capabilities.
Lead the research, development, characterization, and implementation of next-generation lithographic technologies for advanced probe card applications.
Serve as the organization's subject matter expert in photolithography and related microfabrication technologies.
Identify emerging industry trends and evaluate advanced lithography techniques, including: Two-Photon Polymerization (2PP), Direct Laser Writing (DLW), Nanoimprint Lithography (NIL), and Advanced maskless lithography solutions
Drive innovation through invention disclosures, patent generation, technical publications, and technology strategy development.
Lead complex Design of Experiments (DOE) initiatives to develop and optimize advanced lithography processes across multiple substrate platforms.
Develop scalable processes for high-resolution MEMS features, critical dimension control, and overlay optimization.
Establish process windows and manufacturing-ready solutions for next-generation vertical probe technologies.
Perform advanced statistical analysis and process characterization to improve yield, repeatability, and process capability.
Define process control methodologies, metrology requirements, and qualification standards.
Lead root cause investigations for highly complex lithography, patterning, and integration challenges.
Analyze MEMS structures using optical microscopy, SEM, FIB cross-sections, and other advanced characterization techniques.
Apply first-principles engineering and data-driven methodologies to solve novel technical challenges.
Provide expert guidance on resolving critical manufacturing and development issues.
Partner with R&D, product design, process integration, manufacturing, equipment engineering, and quality teams to enable successful technology development.
Evaluate design feasibility and ensure lithography requirements are incorporated during product development.
Influence technical decisions across multiple projects and product generations.
Present technical findings and recommendations to senior leadership and executive stakeholders.
Mentor and develop engineers, scientists, and technicians across the organization.
Establish technical standards, best practices, and engineering methodologies.
Provide leadership in developing organizational lithography expertise and succession planning.
Lead technical reviews and serve as a key decision-maker for critical engineering initiatives.