Development Engineer - Automation and Control

VAT GROUP; Sennwald; On-site; CHF 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

VAT Group seeks engineers with MSc/PhD in mechanical or electrical engineering to design automation for R&D test rigs and lab systems. You will develop data acquisition, test automation, and advanced control algorithms for gas sensing and control, collaborating with VAT R&D and external partners.

Experience with PLC programming (Beckhoff/Siemens), industrial protocols, Matlab/Simulink, and Python is essential. On-site support for new applications may be required.

Qualifications

• Engineering degree required (MSc/PhD).
• Strong control systems and automation knowledge.
• 3+ years in automated testing setups.

Responsibilities

• Define and implement automation for R&D test rigs and lab systems.
• Develop data acquisition and experiment automation for gas sensing and control.
• Create advanced control algorithms for gas control systems.
• Plan, perform and document experiments (DoE) with structured results.
• Collaborate across VAT R&D and external partners.
• Occasional on-site support at customer sites.

Skills

Automation theory

Industrial automation

Data acquisition

DoE experiments

Cross-functional collaboration

Problem solving

Education

MSc or PhD in mechanical or electrical engineering

Control engineering or mechatronics

Tools

Beckhoff

Siemens

Matlab/Simulink

Python

Job description

About VAT Group

At VAT, we change the world with vacuum solutions. As the world's leading supplier of high-performance vacuum valves, we have been driving innovation for more than 60 years. With over 3,200 employees worldwide, we operate from our headquarters in Haag, Switzerland, with manufacturing sites in Switzerland, Malaysia and Romania, as well as sales and service hubs around the world. We guided by our passions integrity, teamwork, customer centricity, and innovation – always working together as #oneVAT.

Joining us means becoming part of a passionate, international team where your voice is heard, your ideas matter, and your career growth is supported.

Your Challenge

The manufacturing of a high-end microchip requires over 1000 production steps. Vacuum valves are considered to be critical components as they are in proximity to the semiconductor wafer and impact the process performance. Semiconductor fabs like Intel, Samsung or TSMC have increasing expectations for productivity and production yield. These fabs are increasingly using data generated along the manufacturing process to improve production performance. Smart, connected vacuum components are required for smart semiconductor manufacturing fabs enabling predictive maintenance, increasing performance and productivity.

Our products are key components in any semiconductor processing tool worldwide. To extend our market leadership in advanced pressure control for sub-2 nm chip production we want to strengthen our team with experienced engineers with a passion for automation and control systems.

Your responsibilities:

• Concept definition and implementation of automation systems for R&D test rigs and laboratory systems
• Develop data acquisition and experiment automation functions to test gas sensing and control technology
• Development of advanced control algorithms for high performance gas control systems
• Develop, perform and document experiments (DoE) including results in organized and structured way
• Cooperate among cross-functional teams of experts within VAT R&D organization and external technology partners
• Occasional on-site support of newly developed applications/products at customer site.

Your profile:

• Engineering Degree (MSc or PhD) in mechanical or electrical engineering, control engineering, mechatronics or similar
• Strong skills and knowledge in control system theory and industrial automation
• 3+ years of industry experience in design and implementation of (semi or fully) automated testing setups
• Experience with PLC programming, e.g. Beckhoff, Siemens or similar automation software
• Experience with industrial communication protocols
• Programming skills in Matlab Simulink or Python
• Work experience in vacuum technology / semiconductors beneficial
• System engineering knowledge is beneficial
• Hands on, systematic approach, creative thinker with problem solving skills and team spirit