Principal Systems Engineer - Microwave

MKS; Wilmington (MA); On-site; USD 139,000 - 231,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) with company match

Parental leave

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

MKS is seeking a Principal Microwave Systems Engineer to lead the development of next‑generation microwave technologies. You will guide cross‑functional teams through design, verification, and packaging of complex microwave components and systems.

The role requires strong leadership, hands‑on engineering, and collaboration with marketing and applications teams to align with market needs. Responsibilities include defining system specifications, managing budgets and timelines, performing tradeoff

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical or systems engineering or similar.
• 7+ years of experience in microwave systems or related fields.
• Experience with analog and digital design circuitry and testing.
• Ability to manage tradeoffs between cost, performance, and schedule.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, modeling, testing, and packaging of complex microwave components and systems.
• Communicate effectively with cross-functional teams.
• Scope market requirements with product marketing and applications teams.
• Create system-level engineering design specifications and project scope documents.
• Collaborate with project management on budgets, schedules, and specs.
• Develop verification plans, report results, and justify engineering tradeoffs.
• Ensure designs meet industry and regulatory requirements and standards.
• Identify and implement quality, reliability, and cost improvements.

Skills

System engineering

Cost-performance tradeoffs

System integration & DVT planning

Product development

Analog & digital design

Waveguides & coax cables

FMEA

Technical communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in electrical or systems engineering

Job description

A Day in Your Life At MKS: (Summary & Objectives)

As a Principal Microwave Systems Engineer, you will lead the development of the next generation of technologies that enable new market applications. The successful candidate should be highly self-motivated, able to operate independently with minimal supervision in a fast-paced, dynamic, highly technical environment while working collaboratively on cross-functional projects. You will provide technical leadership across a variety of disciplines including conventional and solid-state microwave generation, electronic control systems, mechanical subsystems, signal acquisition, and data processing.

You Will Make an Impact By: (Responsibilities)

• Work as the lead of a technical team driving the design, modeling, testing, and packaging of highly complex microwave components and systems
• Communicate effectively in both oral and written forms while interfacing with product engineering and other cross-functional teams as required.
• Work closely with Product Marketing and applications team to scope market requirements and customer needs
• Create system level engineering design specifications and project scope documents
• Work with Project Management on project budgetary costs, schedule, and technical specifications
• Develop, document, and execute design verification plans. Report on results and present appropriate engineering tradeoffs to optimize functional performance, reliability, and product cost
• Ensure product design meets industry and regulatory compliance requirements and standards
• Analyze and implement continuous improvements in quality, reliability, and cost reduction

Skills You Bring: (Required Skills)

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical or systems engineering or similar with 7+ years of experience
• Ability to understand and manage tradeoffs between cost, performance, and schedules
• Experienced in the development and testing of system integration & DVT plans
• Track record of successful new product releases, with experience in the entire product development process.
• Experience with analog and digital design circuitry, proper test methodology, and systems integration.
• Competency in the selection of waveguides/coaxial cables, impedance matching, VSWR calculations, and other analysis needed to develop microwave delivery systems which deliver energy to a dynamic load.
• Strong technical communication (verbal, written, presentation) skills
• Skilled with Failure Analysis (FMEA)

Compensation and Benefits:

Salary Pay Range : $ 138,825.00 - 231,375.00 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.

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 is generally only hiring candidates who reside in states where we are registered to do business.

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.

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

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].