Director, Advanced Development

MKS Instruments, Inc.; Wilmington (MA); On-site; USD 194,000 - 323,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) with company match

6 weeks paid parental leave

Job summary

MKS Instruments, Inc. is seeking a Director of Advanced Development for the Plasma, Reactive Gas, and Controls businesses to lead a portfolio of breakthrough technologies and guide multidisciplinary teams.

You will partner with business, engineering, product management, operations, sales, customers, and partners to mature technologies from concept to commercialization, while shaping IP strategy and strategic roadmaps.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or Master’s degree in Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, Chemistry, Applied Science, or a related technical discipline.
• 12+ years of progressive experience in technology development, product development, R&D, or advanced engineering leadership.
• Proven success leading advanced technology programs from concept through commercialization.
• Experience developing technology roadmaps and translating objectives into executable programs.
• Strong understanding of product development processes, TRLs, and innovation management.
• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary technical teams in a complex global environment.
• Experience applying structured problem-solving and root-cause analysis methodologies (8D, Kepner-Tregoe, fault tree analysis).
• Experience managing budgets, investment prioritization, and technology portfolios.
• Strong executive communication and stakeholder management.
• Track record of innovation demonstrated through patents/publications/new products.

Responsibilities

• Lead advanced development programs from concept through proof-of-concept to commercialization.
• Build and lead a high-performing team of scientists, engineers, and technical leaders.
• Develop and execute a multi-year technology roadmap aligned with business strategy.
• Identify disruptive technologies and opportunities to accelerate growth.
• Partner with Product Management and Engineering to transition technologies into products.

Skills

Executive communication

Leadership

Multidisciplinary teams

Technology roadmaps

Budget & portfolio mgmt

IP and patents

AI-enabled tooling

Education

Ph.D. or Master’s in Engineering/related

Job description

Plasma, Reactive Gas, and Controls Businesses Key Mission of the Role

Lead the advanced development technology portfolio for the Plasma, Reactive Gas, and Controls businesses by setting direction, aligning resources, developing technical leaders, and driving measurable outcomes across technology roadmaps, innovation programs, intellectual property strategy, and competitive technology assessment. This role is expected to provide strong technical judgment, challenge assumptions, and enable disciplined decision‑making across expert teams—not personally own every technical specialty—to create sustainable technical differentiation in targeted growth segments.

A Day in Your Life at MKS. As Director of Advanced Development at MKS Inc., you will partner with business, engineering, product management, operations, strategic marketing, sales, customers, and external technology partners to identify, mature, and transition breakthrough technologies that enable future growth. You will lead scientists and engineers responsible for advanced development programs, proof‑of‑concept validation, intellectual property development, and technology incubation. In this role, you will report to the Vice President & General Manager of the Plasma, Reactive Gas, and Controls businesses.

You Will Make an Impact By:

• Bringing high intellectual curiosity to the role and instilling that mindset throughout the team to encourage deeper questioning, external learning, technical exploration, and continuous pursuit of better solutions.
• Defining and executing a multi‑year technology roadmap aligned with business strategy, customer needs, and emerging industry trends.
• Leading advanced development programs from concept through proof‑of‑concept, demonstrating technical feasibility and commercial viability.
• Building and leading a high‑performing team of scientists, engineers, and technical leaders responsible for next‑generation technology development.
• Building and developing strong structured problem‑solving capabilities across the team, applying proven methodologies such as 8D, Kepner‑Tregoe, fault tree analysis, and related root‑cause analysis tools to drive disciplined technical issue resolution.
• Identifying disruptive technologies, market inflections, and innovation opportunities that create sustainable competitive advantage and accelerate growth.
• Partnering with Product Management and Engineering leaders to transition emerging technologies into product development and commercialization.
• Establishing strategic collaborations with customers, suppliers, universities, research institutions, and industry partners to accelerate innovation.
• Contributing to the intellectual property strategy for advanced development, including invention harvesting, supporting patent portfolio growth, freedom‑to‑operate awareness, competitive patent landscaping, and development of sustainable technical differentiation.
• Managing advanced development investments to ensure resources are focused on programs with the highest strategic, technical, and financial impact.
• Serving as a technical leader within the Plasma, Reactive Gas, and Controls businesses, influencing portfolio decisions, growth investments, technology direction, and long‑term growth strategy.
• Communicating technology strategy, program status, investment opportunities, intellectual property developments, and technical risks to executive leadership.

Travel Requirements: Up to 20% of travel required.

Skills You Bring

• Ph.D. or Master's degree in Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, Chemistry, Applied Science, or a related technical discipline.
• 12+ years of progressive experience in technology development, product development, research and development, or advanced engineering leadership.
• Demonstrated success leading advanced technology programs from concept through commercialization.
• Experience developing technology roadmaps and translating strategic objectives into executable development programs.
• Strong understanding of product development processes, technology readiness levels (TRLs), and innovation management methodologies.
• Proven ability to build and lead multidisciplinary technical teams in a complex global technology environment.
• Demonstrated expertise applying structured problem‑solving and root‑cause analysis methodologies, such as 8D, Kepner‑Tregoe, fault tree analysis, and related tools, to resolve complex technical and product development challenges.
• Experience managing budgets, investment prioritization, and technology portfolios.
• Strong executive communication, business acumen, and stakeholder management skills.
• Track record of innovation demonstrated through patents, publications, new product introductions, or successful commercialization of advanced technologies.

Preferred Skills

• Experience in semiconductor capital equipment, plasma technologies, gas analysis, contamination control, particle metrology, vacuum systems, microwave power systems, process instrumentation, or advanced manufacturing.
• Experience building and leading advanced development organizations within industrial technology companies.
• Strong understanding of semiconductor technology roadmaps, future process inflections, and adjacent growth opportunities.
• Experience establishing university partnerships, government‑funded research programs, industry consortiums, or strategic technology alliances.
• Experience contributing to intellectual property portfolios, generating patents, analyzing patent landscapes, or leveraging protected technologies to establish competitive advantage.
• Familiarity with patent intelligence tools, competitive technology assessment methodologies, technology scouting, invention review boards, or business‑level technology strategy initiatives.
• Proficiency and practical experience using AI‑enabled tools to accelerate technology scouting, technical analysis, engineering productivity, knowledge management, and data‑informed decision‑making.

Reporting Relationships: Direct management responsibility for Principal Engineers, Principal Scientists, Staff Engineers, Advanced Development Managers, and technical project leaders. Responsible for developing future technical leaders and building organizational capability in emerging technologies.

Team Leadership and Development

• Build, mentor, and develop a high‑performing engineering organization with strong technical depth and leadership capability.
• Promote a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Support succession planning and career development for technical and managerial talent across the team.

Financial Responsibilities: Ownership of advanced development budgets, laboratory and capital investments, external research funding, strategic technology partnerships, intellectual property investments, and innovation initiatives.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions: Ability to work across office, laboratory, manufacturing, and customer‑site environments. Ability to enter laboratory and manufacturing environments while complying with all safety requirements and PPE guidelines. Frequent interaction with senior executives, technical experts, customers, universities, research partners, and industry leaders. May be involved in the evaluation of experimental systems, advanced prototypes, emerging technology platforms, and technology due diligence or strategic partnership evaluations.

Compensation and Benefits

Salary Pay Range: $193,550.00 - 322,575.00 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
• 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].

At MKS, it's all about courage, big ideas, and a serious passion for innovation. Winning here is about exploring possibilities, taking action, and solving our customers’ toughest challenges. It's not just a job – it's what you make of it. While you shape your role and make it unique, we invest in you with on‑the‑job and formal training, as well as educational assistance.

Curiosity is key at MKS - ask questions, own your path. Our success comes from celebrating the unique skills, diverse perspectives, and lived experience of employees from over 100 countries. The goal is to make sure that everyone feels that they belong. Diversity isn't just a nice‑to‑have; making sure everyone feels included is a big deal for us.

Our group of ~10,000 employees serves semiconductor manufacturing, electronics and packaging, and specialty industrial markets. With over 3,800 patents, our products are enabling advancements in 5G, renewable energy & storage, artificial intelligence, cloud technology, and big data. We're the behind‑the‑scenes support for some amazing technology. MKS Inc., enables technologies that transform our world.