Principal Manufacturing Process Engineer

High Precision Devices, Inc. a FormFactor company; Boulder (CO); On-site; USD 94,000 - 123,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision benefits

401(k) with company match

Employee stock purchase plan (ESPP)

Paid time off

Profit-sharing bonuses

Job summary

FormFactor, Inc. in Boulder is seeking a Principal Manufacturing Process Engineer to lead complex process development and design transfer for cryogenic and semiconductor test products.

This role owns production-ready manufacturing processes and mentors engineers across cross-functional teams. The ideal candidate has 5+ years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree and a strong background in PFMEA, DMAIC, DFMs, and process validation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related engineering field required, or higher.
• Experience leading process development and design transfers in manufacturing.
• Strong knowledge of DFx, PFMEA, root cause analysis, and validation.
• Proven ability to develop and document manufacturing instructions and SOPs.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex process development and transfer to production for cryogenic and semiconductor test products.
• Define validation plans, readiness gates, and SOPs for new processes.
• Own assigned process areas, ensuring repeatability and scalability.
• Mentor junior engineers and drive Lean/6S/PDCA improvements.
• Conduct DFMs with Product Engineering and participate in design reviews.

Skills

Continuous Improvement

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Cryogenic Systems

Data Analysis

Design for Manufacturing

ECO

GD&T

Manufacturing Process Design

Manufacturing Process Engineering

Manufacturing Process Validation

New Product Introduction

PFMEA

Root Cause Analysis

Process Flow Documentation

RCA

Semiconductor Manufacturing

Writing Work Instructions

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

PhD

Job description

Principal Manufacturing Process Engineer

Salary: $94,100.00 - $123,480.00 Annually

Application Deadline: N/A

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:

We are seeking a Principal Manufacturing Process Engineer to join our Boulder Operations team supporting the manufacturing of our Quantum Cryogenic product portfolio. This role independently owns complex manufacturing process development, design transfer, and technical risk reduction across cryogenic and semiconductor test product lines.

Drawing on deep process engineering expertise, this position converts R&D and prototype knowledge into controlled, scalable manufacturing processes. The role provides technical guidance to junior engineers and leads cross-functional problem solving that directly impacts production quality, repeatability, and schedule. This engineer serves as a recognized technical authority within Manufacturing Engineering and contributes to advancing overall manufacturing readiness and process maturity.

Key Responsibilities:

Process Development & Design Transfer

• Lead complex process development and design transfer activities, converting R&D and prototype builds intovalidated, production-ready manufacturing processes.
• Define and executeprocess validation plans, readiness gate deliverables, and SOP development.
• Establish manufacturing methods fortechnically complex assemblieswhere processes are not yet fully defined.

Process Ownership & Execution

• Own assigned manufacturing process areas withminimal oversight, including process definition, tooling/fixture requirements, documentation, and validation.
• Ensure processes are controlled, repeatable, and scalable across product lines.

Problem Solving & Root Cause Analysis

• Independently solve manufacturing challenges ofdiverse scope and moderate-to-high complexity.
• Lead structured root cause investigations using methodologies such as8D, 5 Whys, and Fishbone/Ishikawa diagrams.
• Drive corrective and preventive actions for recurring or complex process issues.
• Analyze manufacturing, quality, and yield data to identify trends and improvement opportunities.
• Leadcontinuous improvement initiativesusing Lean/6S/PDCA methodologies.
• Establish and track KPIs; deliver measurable improvements in First-pass yield, Defect reduction, Cycle time, and Rework rates.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & DFM

• ConductDesign for Manufacturability (DFM)reviews with Product Engineering.
• Provide structured feedback on process risk, assembly complexity, and production feasibility.
• Represent Manufacturing Engineering in design reviews and technical forums.

Risk Identification & Mitigation

• Identify and communicate manufacturing risks impacting quality, repeatability, or schedule.
• Partner cross-functionally to proactively develop and implement mitigation strategies.

Documentation & Standards

• Develop and maintain comprehensive manufacturing documentation, including Process flow maps, Work instructions and travelers, and Process qualification records.
• Establish and standardize best practices across product lines.

Leadership & Technical Guidance

• Provide mentorship and technical guidance to junior engineers.
• Promote best practices in process engineering, documentation, and manufacturing standards.

Combination of office andlaboratory/manufacturingfloor environment.

Ability to lift up to 25 lbs as needed.

Use of standard office and lab equipment (computers, test setups, tools).

Travel:

Up to 15%.

Skills:

Continuous Improvement, Cross-Functional Collaboration, Cryogenic Systems, Data Analysis, Design for Manufacturing (DFM), Engineering Change Order (ECO), Geometric Dimensioning And Tolerancing (GD&T), Manufacturing Process Design, Manufacturing Process Engineering, Manufacturing Process Validation, New Product Introduction (NPI), Process Development (PD), Process Failure Mode Effects Analysis (PFMEA), Process Flow Documentation, Root Cause Analysis (RCA), Semiconductor Manufacturing, Writing Work Instructions

Education & Experience:

Minimum of 5 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 3 years and a Master’s degree; or a PhD without experience; or equivalent work| Required

Pay Range:

$94,100.00 - $123,480.00

Pay Range Explained:

This role in Boulder, Colorado pays between $94,100.00 and $123,480.00 per year, depending on your experience, skills, and background. Pay may vary in other locations. We offer a full benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability coverage, a 401(k) with company match, employee stock purchase plan (ESPP), and paid time off. You’ll also be eligible for quarterly profit-sharing bonuses and flexible spending or savings accounts.

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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