Manager, Process Engineering

FormFactor Inc.; Farmers Branch (TX); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

401(k) and ESPP

Paid time off

Job summary

FormFactor, Inc. in Farmers Branch, TX, seeks a Manager of Process Engineering to lead a focused team supporting vertically integrated probe card manufacturing. This hands‑on role drives process development, qualification, and sustaining improvements across fab processes and assembly.

You will coach engineers, coordinate priorities, and deliver measurable improvements in safety, quality, yield, cycle time, and cost while partnering with R&D, Quality, and Operations.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 8 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 6 years with a Master’s; or a PhD with 3 years experience.
• Demonstrated leadership through technical lead, project lead, or supervisor responsibilities; formal people management preferred.
• Strong knowledge of semiconductor fab processes, probe card manufacturing, and MEMS or high‑precision environments.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and develop a team of process engineers and technicians across fab processes, probe assembly, SMT operations, and NPI.
• Translate department goals into daily priorities and measurable deliverables.
• Provide feedback, coach skill development, and cross‑train team members.
• Monitor yield, Cp/Cpk, cycle time, OEE, and defectivity; drive corrective actions.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing, Quality, Equipment Engineering, and senior leaders to hit output and cost targets.
• Oversee thin‑film deposition, lithography, etch, metallization, planarization, cleaning, and metrology.
• Lead qualification and integration of new fab equipment, chemistries, and automation.
• Own laser cutting, probe stitching, alignment, and mechanical integration processes.
• Develop capabilities to improve probe coplanarity, electrical performance, and reliability.
• Oversee SMT assembly and vertical probe card manufacturing, ensuring DFM and scalable flows.
• Lead root‑cause analysis for yield excursions and reliability issues; drive 8D/4C problem solving.
• Advance automation, SPC dashboards, digital manufacturing, and analytics in process control.
• Collaborate with R&D to industrialize new probe card tech and with Supply Chain on materials.

Skills

Assembly Processes

Automation Systems

CAD Tools

Change Management

Cleanroom Operations

Coaching Management

Communication

Conflict Resolution

Continuous Improvement

Cross‑Functional Collaboration

Design of Experiments (DOE)

Equipment Qualification

Fabrication Processes

Failure Analysis

Leadership

Lean Manufacturing

MES

Metrology

Microfabrication Techniques

People Leadership

Performance Management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

PhD

Tools

SPC

DOE

FMEA

Control Plans

Job description

Forming Our Future together

FormFactor, Inc. (NASDAQ: FORM), is a leading provider of essential test and measurement technologies along the full semiconductor product life cycle — from characterization, modeling, reliability, and design de-bug, to qualification and production test. Semiconductor companies rely upon FormFactor’s products and services to accelerate profitability by optimizing device performance and advancing yield knowledge. The company serves customers through its network of facilities in Asia, Europe, and North America.

Forming Our Future together

FormFactor, Inc. (NASDAQ: FORM), is a leading provider of essential test and measurement technologies along the full semiconductor product life cycle — from characterization, modeling, reliability, and design de-bug, to qualification and production test. Semiconductor companies rely upon FormFactor’s products and services to accelerate profitability by optimizing device performance and advancing yield knowledge. The company serves customers through its network of facilities in Asia, Europe, and North America.

Rooted in our core values — Focus on the Customer, Ownership & Accountability, Respectfully & Effectively Communicate, and Motivate & Develop People — we foster an environment where diverse perspectives are not only welcomed but celebrated. Everyone can make an impact here. Whether it’s improving products, supporting customers, or positively influencing peers and the community, the contributions of our people matter.

Shift

The regular hours for this position are day shift.

Job Description

FormFactor is launching a large‑scale, high‑impact startup operation in Farmers Branch—an exciting opportunity to help build, define, and lead a cutting‑edge manufacturing environment from the ground up. As part of a collaborative and people‑centered culture, you will shape both the technology and the team that powers our next phase of growth.

The Manager of Process Engineering is a first-level people manager responsible for leading a focused team of process engineers and technicians supporting a vertically integrated probe card manufacturing operation. This hands‑on role provides day‑to‑day direction for process development, optimization, qualification, and sustaining activities across semiconductor‑style fab processes, probe stitching, and SMT‑based vertical probe card assembly. Working under the guidance of senior engineering leadership, the Manager will coach team members, coordinate priorities, resolve manufacturing issues, and deliver measurable improvements in safety, quality, yield, cycle time, and cost.

Key Responsibilities

Team Leadership & Execution

• Supervise, coach, and develop a team of process engineers and technicians supporting fab processes, probe assembly, SMT operations, and new product introduction.


• Translate department goals into clear daily priorities, assignments, and deliverables.


• Provide regular feedback, support skill development, and foster cross‑training within the team.


• Monitor key engineering metrics, including yield, Cp/Cpk, cycle time, OEE, and defectivity, and lead corrective actions when performance falls below target.


• Partner with Manufacturing Operations, Quality, Equipment Engineering, and senior engineering leaders to meet output, quality, and cost objectives.

Semiconductor‑Style Fab Process Ownership

• Oversee processes such as thin‑film deposition, lithography, etch, metallization, planarization, cleaning, and metrology.


• Ensure robust process controls (SPC, DOE, FMEA) and maintain high‑yield, stable wafer‑type production flows.


• Lead qualification and integration of new fab equipment, chemistries, materials, and automation.

Probe Stitching & Micro‑Assembly

• Own all processes related to laser cutting, probe stitching, alignment, and mechanical integration.


• Develop breakthrough process capabilities to improve probe coplanarity, electrical performance, and mechanical reliability.

SMT & Vertical Probe Card Manufacturing

• Oversee SMT assembly processes, including solder paste deposition, component placement, reflow, AOI, underfill, etc.


• Develop and optimize assembly flows for vertical probe cards, integrating substrates, MEMS structures, interposers, connectors, and mechanical fixtures.


• Ensure DFM standards and process scalability for new card architectures.

Continuous Improvement & Operational Excellence

• Lead root‑cause analysis for yield excursions, field returns, and reliability failures.


• Implement structured problem‑solving frameworks (8D, 4C).


• Drive automation, SPC dashboards, digital manufacturing systems, and advanced analytics into process control.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Partner with R&D to industrialize new probe card technologies, ensuring manufacturability and cost competitiveness.


• Work with Supply Chain on material qualification, vendor capability, and risk mitigation.


• Collaborate with Quality Engineering to ensure compliance with industry standards and customer specifications.

Compliance, Safety & Documentation

• Ensure all processes meet EHS, chemical handling, and equipment safety requirements.


• Maintain robust documentation for processes, change control, FMEA, control plans, and work instructions.


• Lead process audits and customer technical reviews.

Preferred Qualifications & Experiences

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Materials, Chemical, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related field; a master’s degree is a plus.


• 5+ years of relevant experience in semiconductor manufacturing, probe card manufacturing, advanced packaging, MEMS, or another high‑precision manufacturing environment.


• Demonstrated leadership through technical lead, project lead, mentor, supervisor, or similar responsibilities; prior formal people‑management experience is preferred but not required.


• Working knowledge of process engineering, statistical analysis, structured problem‑solving, SPC, DOE, FMEA, and control plans.


• Experience in one or more relevant areas, such as probe card manufacturing, MEMS probe technologies, micro‑assembly, wafer fabrication, or advanced packaging.


• Familiarity with SMT, precision alignment, metrology, equipment qualification, reliability testing, factory automation, or MES systems is beneficial.


• Strong technical judgment, organization, communication, and hands‑on manufacturing problem‑solving skills.


• Ability to communicate clearly with technicians, engineers, cross‑functional partners, and management.


• Ability to balance team leadership with hands‑on technical support and timely escalation of complex issues.


• Commitment to employee development, safety, quality, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Farmers Branch, TX

Benefits offered for this role include medical, dental, vision, EAP, short-term and long‑term disability, life insurance, flexible spending and savings accounts, 401(k), ESPP and paid time off.

Skills

Assembly Processes, Assembly Processes, Automation Systems, CAD Tools, Change Management, Cleanroom Operations, Coaching Management, Communication, Conflict Resolution, Continuous Improvement, Cross‑Functional Collaboration, Decision Making, Design of Experiments (DOE), Equipment Qualification, Fabrication Processes, Failure Analysis, Leadership, Lean Manufacturing, Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), Manufacturing Operations, Materials Characterization, Metrology, Microfabrication Techniques, People Leadership, Performance Management (PM) {+ 13 more}

Education & Experience

Minimum of 8 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 6 years and a Master’s degree; or a PhD with 3 years experience; or equivalent experience| Required

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

FormFactor is an equal opportunity employer. FormFactor complies with all national, state, and local laws that seek to promote equal opportunities for any applicant or employee without regard to age, race, color, gender, gender identity/expression, national origin, sexual orientation, religion, disability, marital status, pregnancy or related condition, military service, or any other legally protected characteristics. These protections apply to all aspects of employment, including but not limited to, recruitment, hiring, training, promotions, and compensation.

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