Automation Engineer (Machine Vision & Inspection)

MKS Instruments; Wilmington (MA); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) with company match

Life and disability insurance

12 paid holidays

Sick time

15 paid vacation days

Parental leave (6 weeks)

Job summary

MKS Instruments, based in Methuen, MA, is seeking a senior engineer to serve as the division's machine vision SME and drive automated inspection initiatives. The role collaborates with manufacturing, quality, and automation teams to improve quality, efficiency, and capacity.

The candidate will design and integrate vision hardware and software, including AI-based approaches, and support data collection and visualization across smart manufacturing systems. A hybrid work model is available.

Qualifications

• BS degree in electrical engineering and/or computer science is required.
• Master's degree specializing in Computer Vision, Image Processing, or a related field is strongly preferred.
• 5+ years of hands-on experience designing and implementing vision systems in an industrial manufacturing environment.
• Expertise in selecting, configuring, and integrating vision system hardware to create optimal imaging conditions.
• Proficiency with Cognex VisionPro/In-Sight and OpenCV.
• Strong programming skills in Python or C++/C# for developing custom inspection algorithms.
• Experience developing fiducial-based alignment and part localization strategies for automated systems.
• Familiarity with industrial networking protocols and data systems.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement machine vision systems to identify, inspect, measure, and evaluate high-precision parts.
• Select and integrate cameras, lenses, lighting, and image acquisition hardware for reliable inspection.
• Develop image processing and inspection applications using vision platforms and custom software.
• Evaluate traditional and AI/deep-learning vision solutions where appropriate.
• Support collection, transformation, and visualization of manufacturing data for monitoring and traceability.
• Assist robotic guidance, alignment, inspection, and measurement with 2D/3D vision.
• Integrate vision systems with robots, networks, HMIs, SCADA, MES, and databases.
• Support startup, validation, commissioning, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement of automated solutions.
• Collaborate across divisions to standardize vision architectures and accelerate implementations.

Skills

Machine vision

Image processing

Cognex VisionPro

Python

C++/C#

2D/3D vision

OCR

OpenCV

Industrial networking

SCADA

Data analytics

Education

BS in Electrical Engineering or Computer Science

MS in Computer Vision or related field

Tools

Cognex VisionPro

In-Sight

Keyence XG-X

OpenCV

Job description

**This is a hybrid role out of our Methuen, MA location

This role will serve as the division's subject matter expert for machine vision and automated inspection technologies while contributing to broader automation initiatives that improve quality, efficiency, cost, and manufacturing capacity. This position reports to the Automation Engineering Manager.

You Will Make an Impact By:

• Designing and implementing machine vision systems that identify, inspect, measure, and evaluate high-precision parts and assemblies.
• Selecting and integrating industrial cameras, lenses, optics, lighting, and image acquisition hardware for reliable, repeatable inspection performance.
• Developing image processing and inspection applications using commercial vision platforms and custom software tools.
• Evaluating traditional image processing and AI/deep learning-based vision solutions where appropriate.
• Supporting the collection, storage, transformation, and visualization of manufacturing data generated by automation and inspection systems to enable process monitoring, traceability, and continuous improvement.
• Supporting robotic guidance, alignment, inspection, and measurement applications using 2D and 3D vision technologies.
• Integrating vision systems with robots, industrial networks, HMIs, SCADA, MES, and manufacturing databases.
• Supporting machine startup, validation, commissioning, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement of automated machine solutions.
• Collaborating with manufacturing, quality, engineering, and automation teams in other divisions to standardize vision architectures and best practices to accelerate implementations across global factories.

Skills You Bring:

• BS degree in electrical engineering and/or computer science is required. Master's degree specializing in Computer Vision, Image Processing, or a related field is strongly preferred.
• 5+ years of hands-on experience designing and implementing vison systems in an industrial (clean) manufacturing environment
• Expertise in selecting, configuring, and integrating vision system hardware to create optimal and repeatable imaging conditions (with high uptime)
• Mastery of core vision techniques, including image filtering, blob analysis, edge detection, pattern matching, Optical Character Recognition (OCR), and 2D/3D code reading.
• Proficiency with industry-standard vision software packages (e.g., Cognex VisionPro/In-Sight, Keyence XG-X) and open-source libraries like OpenCV
• Strong programming skills in Python or C++/C# required for developing custom inspection algorithms and scripting communication between the vision system and other machine controls
• Experience developing and implementing fiducial-based alignment, position correction, and part localization strategies for automated manufacturing systems.
• Familiarity with industrial networking protocols (EtherNet/IP, EtherCAT, etc.) and automated data collection systems (SCADA, MES)
• Experience working with manufacturing data systems, databases, data pipelines, and analytics tools (SQL, Power BI/Fabric, Python, AWS).

Compensation and Benefits:

Salary Pay Range: $ 75,000.00 - 110,000.00 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.

MKS is an equal opportunity employer, including disability, veteran status and all categories protected by law. Please review our EOE statements for additional details. MKS is generally only hiring candidates who reside in states where we are registered to do business.

Globally, our policy is to recruit individuals from wide and diverse backgrounds. However, certain positions require access to controlled goods and technologies subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) or Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Applicants for these positions may need to be "U.S. persons." "U.S. persons" are generally defined as U.S. citizens, noncitizen nationals, lawful permanent residents (or, green card holders), individuals granted asylum, and individuals admitted as refugees.

MKS Inc. and its affiliates and subsidiaries ("MKS") is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer: diverse candidates are encouraged to apply. We win as a team and are committed to recruiting and hiring qualified applicants regardless of race, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions), religion, age, ancestry, physical or mental disability or handicap, marital status, membership in the uniformed services, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, or any other category protected by applicable law. Hiring decisions are based on merit, qualifications and business needs. We conduct background checks and drug screens, in accordance with applicable law and company policies. MKS is generally only hiring candidates who reside in states where we are registered to do business.

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

MKS is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or interview process due to a disability, please contact us at: [e-mail].