Senior Software Engineer

Onto Innovation is a leader in process control, combining global scale with an expanded portfolio of leading-edge technologies that include: 3D metrology spanning the chip from nanometer-scale transistors to micron-level die-interconnects; macro defect inspection of wafers and packages; metal interconnect composition; factory analytics; and lithography for advanced semiconductor packaging. Our breadth of offerings across the entire semiconductor value chain helps our customers solve their most difficult yield, device performance, quality, and reliability issues. Onto Innovation strives to optimize customers’ critical path of progress by making them smarter, faster and more efficient.

Job Summary & Responsibilities

Position Summary

This position is within the Analysis Software Division and is part of the core software development team for AiDiffract, a complex analysis software system for optical critical dimension (OCD) metrology. The role participates in all phases of the software development life cycle, including requirements engineering, design, implementation, testing, deployment, and maintenance. If you are passionate about delivering high-quality software products, improving software development processes, and developing innovative solutions for complex metrology challenges in the semiconductor industry, you would be a great fit for our team.

Job Description

We are seeking a Senior Software Engineer to join the AiDiffract core software development team within the Analysis Software Division. This role will contribute to the design, development, testing, and maintenance of advanced software for optical critical dimension metrology in the semiconductor industry. The ideal candidate has strong software engineering skills, experience with C/C++, C#, or Python, and a solid foundation in data structures, object-oriented design, and DevOps practices. Experience with AI-assisted software development tools is expected, including the ability to responsibly evaluate AI-generated code and apply AI to improve productivity, testing, and documentation. Candidates with hands-on experience in either physics-based modeling or machine learning, especially for metrology, semiconductor, or scientific software applications, are strongly preferred.

Job Summary & Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and maintain software features for semiconductor device metrology

• Improve software quality through disciplined engineering practices, including design reviews, code reviews, unit testing, and refactoring

• Collaborate with applications engineers, algorithm developers, software engineers, SQA engineers, and users throughout the software product development life cycle

• Participate in software quality initiatives, including test automation in CI/CD pipelines, re-architecting and refactoring legacy systems, and implementing static and dynamic analysis tools

• Identify gaps and inefficiencies in software processes and CI/CD toolchains, and continuously drive operational excellence within the team

• Apply AI-assisted software development tools responsibly to improve productivity in coding, debugging, refactoring, documentation, and test generation while maintaining strong engineering judgment and code ownership

• Develop and maintain secure, reliable workflows for evaluating AI-generated code, including human review, automated testing, static analysis, security scanning, and validation against product requirements

Qualifications

• BS degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, Applied Mathematics, or a related discipline
• Proficiency in at least one of the following programming languages: C/C++, C#, or Python
• 2+ years of professional software development experience
• Strong understanding of data structures, design patterns, and object-oriented design methodologies
• Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills for complex software systems
• Passionate about delivering quality software products to customers
• Good written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to conduct independent research and solve complex technical problems
• Familiarity with agile software development processes and DevOps practices
• Experience developing software on Windows using Visual Studio and Azure DevOps
• Hands-on experience using AI-assisted development tools such as GitHub Copilot, ChatGPT, or similar coding assistants for software design, implementation, testing, debugging, and documentation
• Ability to write clear technical prompts, critically review AI-generated output, identify hallucinations or incorrect assumptions, and convert AI suggestions into maintainable, production-quality code
• Strong understanding of software security, intellectual property, data privacy, and responsible AI considerations when using AI tools in enterprise software development workflows

Preferred Education and Experience

• MS or PhD degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, Applied Mathematics, or a related discipline
• Experience with physics-based modeling, numerical simulation, computational modeling, or related scientific computing methods
• Experience with machine learning, data-driven modeling, model training and evaluation, or applying AI/ML techniques to engineering or scientific problems
• Strong preference for candidates with hands-on experience in either physics-based modeling or machine learning, with the ability to apply these methods to complex metrology, semiconductor, or scientific software applications
• Experience with parallel computing or high-performance computing (HPC)
• Experience with semiconductor metrology applications
• Experience integrating AI capabilities into software development processes, including AI-assisted code review, automated test creation, requirements analysis, and developer productivity improvements

Why Join Onto Innovation?

At Onto Innovation, we believe your work should matter—and so should your well-being. That’s why we offer competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits package designed to support you and your family. From health, dental, and vision coverage to life and disability insurance, PTO, and a 401(k) with employer match, we’ve got you covered. You’ll also enjoy access to our Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP), wellness initiatives, and cutting-edge tools—all within a collaborative, inclusive culture where your contributions are valued and recognized.

Compensation & Growth

• Base Salary Range:

$115,200.00 - $172,800.00, offered in good faith and based on experience, location, and qualifications.

• Additional Rewards: Annual bonus opportunities and potential long-term incentives tied to both company and individual success.

Empowering Every Voice to Shape the Future:

Onto Innovation is committed to creating a workplace where every qualified candidate has an equal opportunity to succeed. We evaluate applicants based on skills, experience, and potential - without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We believe diversity of thought and background drives innovation and strengthens our team.

Important Note on Export Compliance

For certain positions requiring access to technical data, U.S. export licensing review may be necessary for applicants who are not U.S. Citizens, Permanent Residents, or other protected persons under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).