Principal Equipment Engineer

Gyga Force; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

Paid time off

Company shares eligibility

Job summary

Gyga Force, a fast-growing advanced-technology manufacturer, seeks a hands-on principal engineer to lead back-end equipment stewardship—from definition to production support and reliability. You will own critical tools, drive uptime, and manage complex failures in a high-volume setting.

You will mentor maintenance staff, guide equipment engineers, and ensure compliance with ISO 9001 while coordinating with global sites.

Qualifications

• 10+ years directly supporting and owning production equipment in high-volume semiconductor, advanced-materials, or other precision manufacturing operations.
• Deep practical knowledge of electro-mechanical platforms including motion systems, PLC/HMI controls, pneumatics, vacuum hardware, and fluid-delivery subsystems.
• Demonstrated success improving OEE, MTBF, and MTTR through measured data and documented results.
• Ability to manage several priorities with limited oversight and influence teams without formal authority.
• Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Take full engineering responsibility for an assigned group of back-end systems, including laser, cleaning, thermal, metrology, and material-handling equipment; improve uptime, process capability, and lifecycle cost.
• Lead resolution of electrical, mechanical, and controls problems using 8D and 5-Why methods to strengthen MTBF and MTTR per SEMI E10.
• Create equipment requirements, compare supplier solutions, oversee factory/site acceptance testing, and assemble technical packages for deployment at international locations.
• Set consistent maintenance expectations, CMMS records, engineering changes, and ISO 9001 documentation while maintaining controls around Class IV lasers, chemicals, and elevated-temperature systems.
• Serve as a senior technical advisor to maintenance personnel and coach engineers through design reviews and fault-isolation efforts.

Skills

OEE optimization

Root-cause analysis

Cross-functional influence

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Tools

Python

JMP

SQL

SolidWorks

Teamcenter

CMMS

Job description

Our client, a fast-growing advanced technology manufacturer, develops next-generation materials and production methods for high-performance computing, power electronics, and emerging wireless applications.

They are hiring a hands-on principal engineer to lead the technical stewardship of back-end manufacturing equipment, from initial definition and acceptance through production support and long-term reliability. Reporting to the Equipment Engineering and Maintenance Manager, this person will work independently to solve difficult failures, eliminate recurring risks, and keep critical tools operating at peak availability.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Take full engineering responsibility for an assigned group of back-end systems, including laser, cleaning, thermal, metrology, and material-handling equipment; improve uptime, process capability, and lifecycle cost
• Lead resolution of the most difficult electrical, mechanical, and controls-related problems, applying 8D and 5-Why methods to strengthen MTBF and MTTR performance in accordance with SEMI E10
• Create equipment requirements, compare supplier solutions, oversee factory and site acceptance testing, and assemble complete technical packages for deployment at international locations
• Set consistent expectations for preventive maintenance, CMMS equipment records, engineering changes, and ISO 9001 documentation while maintaining strict controls around Class IV lasers, chemicals, and elevated-temperature systems
• Serve as a senior technical advisor to maintenance personnel and coach developing equipment engineers through design reviews, fault-isolation efforts, and documentation assessments

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• 10+ years directly supporting and owning production equipment in high-volume semiconductor, advanced-materials, or other precision manufacturing operations
• Deep practical knowledge of integrated electro-mechanical platforms, including motion systems, PLC/HMI controls, pneumatics, vacuum hardware, and fluid-delivery subsystems
• Demonstrated success improving OEE, MTBF, and MTTR through measured data and documented results
• Ability to manage several priorities with limited oversight, guide cross-functional decisions, and influence teams without formal reporting authority
• Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field highly desirable

'BONUS' QUALIFICATIONS (NOT REQUIRED):

• Military background
• Background with Class IV laser equipment, CMP or polishing tools, and/or automated robotic cells
• Working knowledge of Python, JMP, SQL, or another analysis environment beyond standard spreadsheet tools
• Experience applying LOTO, NFPA 79, CE/UL, or SEMI S2 requirements, together with familiarity using SolidWorks, Teamcenter, and CMMS platforms

INCENTIVES & BENEFITS:

• Base salary $150K-$180K, with eligibility for company shares
• Medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance programs
• Flexible spending and retirement savings options
• Paid time off and company holidays
• Opportunity to own mission-critical equipment within a rapidly scaling advanced-technology organization

Final compensation is determined by the role's scope and the selected candidate's experience. Candidates at a more senior level may also be considered, with compensation adjusted as appropriate.

For a list of all our openings, please visit www.gygaforce.com