Principal Test Engineer

MKS Inc.; Wilmington (MA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 183,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance (medical, dental, and

401(k) with company match

12 paid holidays

Sick time

15 paid vacation days

Parental leave (6 weeks)

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

MKS Inc. is seeking a Principal Test Engineer in our Massachusetts facilities to lead particle metrology activities across development, manufacturing, and reliability programs. You will oversee a lab, maintain equipment, and drive testing excellence within ISO-class environments.

The role requires 8+ years in labs, strong expertise in particle metrology and contamination control, and the ability to lead cross-functional teams while ensuring safety and compliance. Up to 10% travel may be required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in a technical discipline.
• 8+ years of experience managing complex labs.
• Extensive experience operating and maintaining particle metrology, contamination control, or analytical lab equipment.
• Strong understanding of cleanroom operations and lab safety management.
• Experience developing, validating, and documenting test methods and measurement procedures.
• Troubleshooting and root-cause analysis of lab equipment and contamination issues.
• Proven ability to lead technical projects and influence cross-functional teams.
• Strong written and verbal communication for technical reporting and results presentation.

Responsibilities

• Lead particle testing, characterization, and analysis supporting development, manufacturing, and reliability programs.
• Manage day-to-day operations of the particle metrology lab to ensure uptime and accuracy.
• Maintain laboratory equipment, particle counters, metrology systems, and cleanroom infrastructure.
• Develop and validate test methods and laboratory standards for repeatable results.
• Serve as technical authority for contamination control and failure investigations.
• Support engineering labs, test stations, and test plans.
• Ensure compliance with cleanroom protocols, safety requirements, and regulations.
• Lead equipment qualification, preventive maintenance, and calibration programs.
• Collaborate with engineering, manufacturing, and quality teams to solve contamination challenges.
• Travel up to 10% of time.

Skills

Lab management

Particle metrology

Contamination control

Test method development

Root cause analysis

Cross-functional leadership

Technical reporting

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline

Tools

Particle metrology equipment

Cleanroom equipment

Laboratory instrumentation

Job description

A Day in Your Life at MKS:
As a Principal Test Engineer at MKS Inc., you will partner with Engineering, Product Development, Advanced Development, Manufacturing, Quality, Operations, and Customers to execute particle testing, provide technical leadership for particle metrology activities, and ensure the reliable operation of the particle metrology laboratory, cleanroom environment, and engineering labs. You will serve as the subject matter expert for particle measurement technologies, laboratory methods, and contamination control while driving continuous improvement in testing capability, safety, and operational excellence. In this role, you will report to the Director of Advanced Development.

You Will Make an Impact By:

• Leading particle testing, characterization, and analysis activities supporting product development, manufacturing, customer investigations, and reliability programs.
• Managing day-to-day operations of the particle metrology laboratory, ensuring testing capabilities are available, accurate, and operating at peak performance.
• Maintaining laboratory equipment, particle counters, metrology systems, cleanroom infrastructure, and supporting systems to maximize uptime and reliability.
• Developing, validating, and continuously improving test methods, procedures, and laboratory standards to ensure accurate and repeatable results.
• Serving as the technical authority for contamination control, particle generation studies, cleanliness verification, and failure investigations.
• Supporting engineering labs, test stations, test set-up, and test plans.
• Ensuring compliance with cleanroom protocols, laboratory safety requirements, environmental regulations, and company policies.
• Leading equipment qualification, preventive maintenance, calibration programs, and laboratory expansion initiatives.
• Collaborating with engineering, manufacturing, and quality teams to identify root causes, solve complex contamination challenges, and improve product performance.
• Travel Requirements: Up to 10% of travel is required.
  

Skills You Bring:

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 8+ years of experience managing complex labs
• Extensive experience operating and maintaining particle metrology, contamination control, or analytical laboratory equipment.
• Demonstrated expertise in cleanroom operations, contamination control practices, and laboratory safety management.
• Experience developing, validating, and documenting test methods and measurement procedures.
• Strong troubleshooting and root cause analysis skills related to laboratory equipment, instrumentation, and contamination-related issues.
• Proven ability to lead technical projects and influence cross-functional teams.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including technical reporting and presentation of test results.
  

Preferred Skills: (Optional)

• Experience supporting semiconductor capital equipment, vacuum systems, gas delivery systems, plasma products, or advanced manufacturing environments.
• Knowledge of ISO cleanroom standards, contamination control methodologies, and particle measurement technologies.
• Experience with statistical data analysis, Design of Experiments (DOE), and measurement system analysis.
• Experience managing laboratory budgets, capital equipment planning, and vendor relationships.
• Familiarity with automated data acquisition systems and laboratory information management systems (LIMS).
• Experience mentoring engineers, technicians, and laboratory personnel.
  

Supervisory Scope: (Optional)

• Reporting Relationships: May provide technical leadership and direction to engineers, technicians, contractors, and laboratory support personnel.
• Financial Responsibilities: Responsible for laboratory equipment investments, maintenance expenditures, calibration programs, and operational budgets associated with the particle metrology laboratory.
  

Physical Demands and Working Conditions:

• Ability to work within ISO-classified cleanroom environments while following gowning and contamination control procedures.
• Ability to stand, walk, bend, and perform laboratory activities for extended periods.
• Ability to occasionally lift and move equipment, instruments, and materials up to 50 pounds.
• Frequent operation of laboratory instruments, particle detection equipment, and analytical systems.
• Regular exposure to laboratory and manufacturing environments requiring adherence to safety protocols and use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Responsibility for maintaining a safe working environment and ensuring compliance with laboratory, cleanroom, and environmental health and safety procedures.
• Availability to respond to critical laboratory equipment failures or facility issues to minimize disruption to testing operations.
  

Compensation and Benefits:
Salary Pay Range: $ 109,750.00 - 182,900.00 USD 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.