Principal Measurement & Test Engineer

MKS Instruments, Inc.; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 115,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) with company match

Life and disability insurance

12 paid holidays

15 paid vacation days

Parental leave

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

MKS Systems Irvine is seeking a Principal Measurement & Test Engineer to advance measurement solutions across development, qualification and manufacturing of optical, laser, and photonic products. You will design and deploy robust measurement architectures, automate data acquisition, and drive test methodologies with a data-driven mindset.

Ideal candidates bring a strong background in metrology, optical characterization, and statistics, plus hands-on experience with measurement automation and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Optical Engineering, Physics, Photonics, Applied Physics, Mechanical or Electrical Engineering.
• 8+ years of industry experience in measurement systems, metrology, or related engineering disciplines.
• Strong understanding of calibration methodologies, uncertainty analysis, and error budgeting.
• Hands-on experience with optical instrumentation and precision measurement systems.

Responsibilities

• Define, design, and deploy measurement methodologies and calibration strategies.
• Develop measurement architectures, automation, and data analysis solutions.
• Support product development, qualification, and manufacturing with robust test solutions.
• Collaborate across engineering, quality, and manufacturing teams to ensure measurement objectives.

Skills

Measurement systems

Test engineering

Metrology

Optical characterization

DOE / statistics

Python

MATLAB

LabVIEW

Interferometry

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Optical Engineering, Physics, Photonics, or related field

Tools

LabVIEW

MATLAB

JMP

Minitab

Python

Job description

A Day in Your Life at MKS: MKS Systems Irvine is growing rapidly through strategic investments in the development and fabrication of advanced optics, opto-mechanical assemblies, fiber optic modules, laser systems, photonic products, and precision-engineered solutions. MKS Systems Irvine is seeking individuals like you to join our team as a Principal Measurement & Test Engineer. In this position, you will support the development, characterization, verification, qualification, troubleshooting, and sustaining of advanced optical, laser, fiber optic, opto-mechanical, and precision-engineered products through the development and deployment of robust measurement and test solutions. If you enjoy solving complex measurement challenges, developing innovative test methodologies, and working across the product lifecycle from concept through manufacturing, this is the role for you.

You Will Make an Impact By:

• Define, design, develop, and deploy measurement methodologies, calibration strategies, correlation methods, and measurement solutions supporting product development, qualification, and manufacturing.
• Define measurement system capability requirements, uncertainty budgets, performance targets, and acceptance criteria to support accurate, repeatable, and traceable measurements.
• Develop and support characterization, verification, and qualification methodologies used to evaluate product performance against requirements.
• Develop measurement architectures, instrumentation strategies, automated data acquisition systems, and analysis solutions that improve measurement capability, efficiency, and scalability.
• Develop correlation methodologies and support implementation and troubleshooting of measurement and test solutions across development, qualification, and manufacturing environments.
• Participate in design reviews, DfX activities, risk assessments, and process development efforts to establish robust measurement and test strategies throughout the product lifecycle.
• Investigate and resolve measurement, correlation, test, and manufacturing issues through data-driven root-cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Partner with engineering, quality, and manufacturing teams to ensure measurement and test solutions support product performance, qualification, and manufacturing objectives.
• Develop technical documentation and provide guidance on measurement and test methodologies, equipment, and best practices.

Travel Requirements: Up to [Please Insert] % of Travel is required.

Skills You Bring:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Optical Engineering, Physics, Photonics, Applied Physics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or equivalent technical discipline.
• 8+ years of industry experience in measurement systems, test engineering, metrology, optical characterization, product verification, qualification, or related engineering disciplines.
• Understanding of calibration methodologies, uncertainty analysis, correlation studies, error budgeting, and measurement system performance.
• Experience developing and deploying measurement systems for optical, opto-mechanical, photonic, semiconductor, or precision-engineered products.
• Experience developing characterization, verification, qualification, and test methodologies for complex products and assemblies.
• Hands‑on experience with optical instrumentation, optical metrology, laser beam analysis, optical characterization, interferometry, imaging systems, spectroscopy, fiber optic systems, precision positioning systems, or related precision measurement systems.
• Experience with measurement automation, data acquisition systems, and data analysis tools.
• Experience applying quantitative and statistical analysis methods, including design of experiments (DOE), process capability analysis, and related problem‑solving approaches.
• Proficiency with Python, MATLAB, JMP, LabVIEW, Minitab, or equivalent software tools.
• Effective troubleshooting, communication, collaboration, and technical documentation skills.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions:

Office and laboratory work is required, with regular work in a cleanroom environment. Wearing of Personal Protective Equipment as well as cleanroom garb is required Must be able to lift, move, or position equipment up to 35 pounds while working in a laboratory environment Noise level in the laboratory environment can temporarily be elevated, but does not typically require PPE

Compensation and Benefits:

• Salary Pay Range: $115,000 to $180,000 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. At MKS, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for the role.
• 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 and 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 will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act and the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers.

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.

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] .

If applying for a specific job, please include the requisition number (ex: RXXXX), the title and location of the role

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. MKS Inc, Product Overview