Principal Machine Control Engineer-Semiconductor Automation

Halo Industries

Santa Clara (CA)

On-site

USD 200,000 - 220,000

Full time

14 days+

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Benefits offered by this job

Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental &amp

Retirement Plan (401k, IRA)

Bonus Plan eligible

Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & P

Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary &

Family Leave (Maternity, Paternity)

Free Food & Snacks

Stock Option Plan

Short Term & Long Term Disability

Job summary

Halo Industries is transitioning from R&D to high-volume manufacturing and seeks a Principal Machine Control Software Engineer to lead the development and integration of equipment control systems for semiconductor production tools.

You will work with cross-functional teams to build reliable, scalable automation, focusing on SECS/GEM, TCP/IP, EtherCAT, Modbus, and RS232/RS485 interfaces, and to deliver high-performance C# software with WPF UI.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in software engineering, computer science, or a related field.
20+ years of experience in machine control, automation, or industrial software development.
Hands-on experience with industrial communication protocols (Modbus, TCP/IP, serial interfaces).
Experience developing software in C# for hardware control and UI applications.
Experience with Industrial automation hardware.
Understanding of motion control concepts, including PID loop control and state machine design.

Responsibilities

Lead the design, development, and lifecycle management of advanced machine control software for semiconductor manufacturing equipment, ensuring scalability, reliability, and performance in high-precision environments.
Architect and oversee implementation of industrial communication frameworks, including SECS/GEM, TCP/IP, EtherCAT, Modbus, Ethernet/IP, and RS232/RS485, establishing robust and extensible interfaces across complex systems.
Drive development of high-performance software solutions in C# (including WPF), defining standards for graphical user interfaces, device communication layers, and real-time system monitoring.
Own the integration strategy for hardware subsystems such as robotics, motion control systems, lasers, and data acquisition devices, ensuring seamless coordination between software and physical components.
Define and guide the development of operator control systems, automation logic, and state machines for sophisticated equipment, emphasizing maintainability, fault tolerance, and operational efficiency.
Lead system-level debugging, testing, and validation efforts, establishing best practices and mentoring engineers in root cause analysis and issue resolution across hardware-software boundaries.
Collaborate cross-functionally with mechanical, electrical, and systems engineering teams to drive end-to-end system integration, influencing design decisions and resolving complex technical challenges.
Establish and enforce software architecture standards, control methodologies, and safety practices aligned with industry regulations and internal quality benchmarks.
Champion engineering excellence through code reviews, documentation standards, version control strategies, and continuous improvement of development processes.
Provide technical leadership and mentorship to engineering teams, contributing to strategic planning, technology roadmaps, and innovation initiatives within the organization.