Principal Test Engineer

• Leading particle testing, characterization, and analysis activities supporting product development, manufacturing, customer investigations, and reliability programs.
• Managing day-to-day operations of the particle metrology laboratory, ensuring testing capabilities are available, accurate, and operating at peak performance.
• Maintaining laboratory equipment, particle counters, metrology systems, cleanroom infrastructure, and supporting systems to maximize uptime and reliability.
• Developing, validating, and continuously improving test methods, procedures, and laboratory standards to ensure accurate and repeatable results.
• Serving as the technical authority for contamination control, particle generation studies, cleanliness verification, and failure investigations.
• Supporting engineering labs, test stations, test set-up, and test plans.
• Ensuring compliance with cleanroom protocols, laboratory safety requirements, environmental regulations, and company policies.
• Leading equipment qualification, preventive maintenance, calibration programs, and laboratory expansion initiatives.
• Collaborating with engineering, manufacturing, and quality teams to identify root causes, solve complex contamination challenges, and improve product performance.

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 8+ years of experience managing complex labs
• Extensive experience operating and maintaining particle metrology, contamination control, or analytical laboratory equipment.
• Demonstrated expertise in cleanroom operations, contamination control practices, and laboratory safety management.
• Experience developing, validating, and documenting test methods and measurement procedures.
• Strong troubleshooting and root cause analysis skills related to laboratory equipment, instrumentation, and contamination-related issues.
• Proven ability to lead technical projects and influence cross-functional teams.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including technical reporting and presentation of test results.

• Experience supporting semiconductor capital equipment, vacuum systems, gas delivery systems, plasma products, or advanced manufacturing environments.
• Knowledge of ISO cleanroom standards, contamination control methodologies, and particle measurement technologies.
• Experience with statistical data analysis, Design of Experiments (DOE), and measurement system analysis.
• Experience managing laboratory budgets, capital equipment planning, and vendor relationships.
• Familiarity with automated data acquisition systems and laboratory information management systems (LIMS).
• Experience mentoring engineers, technicians, and laboratory personnel.

• Reporting Relationships: May provide technical leadership and direction to engineers, technicians, contractors, and laboratory support personnel.
• Financial Responsibilities: Responsible for laboratory equipment investments, maintenance expenditures, calibration programs, and operational budgets associated with the particle metrology laboratory.

• Ability to work within ISO-classified cleanroom environments while following gowning and contamination control procedures.
• Ability to stand, walk, bend, and perform laboratory activities for extended periods.
• Ability to occasionally lift and move equipment, instruments, and materials up to 50 pounds.
• Frequent operation of laboratory instruments, particle detection equipment, and analytical systems.
• Regular exposure to laboratory and manufacturing environments requiring adherence to safety protocols and use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Responsibility for maintaining a safe working environment and ensuring compliance with laboratory, cleanroom, and environmental health and safety procedures.
• Availability to respond to critical laboratory equipment failures or facility issues to minimize disruption to testing operations.

Compensation and Benefits:  

Salary Pay Range: $109,750.00 - 182,900.00 USD per year. This range is a good faith estimate of the expected salary range for this position, based on a wide range of factors including qualifications, experience and training, operational and business needs and other considerations permitted by law. 

Bonus: This position is eligible for a discretionary annual bonus, in an amount to be determined by MKS [or as applicable].

Benefits: MKS offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance coverage (medical, dental and vision), 401(k) with company match, life and disability insurance, 12 paid holidays, sick time, 15 paid vacation days, [6 weeks fully paid] parental leave, adoption assistance and tuition reimbursement [and for participation in any stock programs, signing bonus, etc.