Product Line Manager

MKS Instruments; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 145,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary annual bonus

Comprehensive benefits package

401(k) with company match

Paid holidays

Job summary

MKS Instruments is seeking a Product Line Manager to partner with engineering, sales, operations, and customers to drive early-stage engagement and translate technical capabilities into market-driven solutions.

You will report to the Director of Product Marketing and shape growth by connecting customer needs, market insights, and technical innovation—from concept to execution.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Physics, Optics, Materials Science, Business, or related field.
• 5+ years in technical marketing, business development, product management, applications engineering, or related role.
• Experience in optics/photonics is a must have for success in the role.
• Strong ability to connect technical concepts to customer value and business outcomes.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills with both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Ability to evaluate opportunities from both technical and commercial perspectives.

Responsibilities

• Lead customer engagement activities, building relationships and guiding technical and commercial discussions.
• Identify new growth opportunities through Voice of Customer insights, market trends, and strategic alignment.
• Evaluate opportunities using real-win-worth analysis, including technical feasibility, business value, and risk.
• Translate complex technical concepts into clear value propositions for customers and internal stakeholders.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with engineering, operations, and commercial teams to align on scope, timelines, and execution.
• Support proposal development, presentations, and early-stage program coordination.
• Travel requirements: Up to 30% travel required.

Skills

Engineering degree

5+ years exp

Optics/Photonics

Customer value

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Physics/Optics

Job description

A Day in Your Life at MKS:

As a Product Line Manager, you will partner with engineering, sales, operations, and customers to drive early-stage customer engagement, evaluate new business opportunities, and translate technical capabilities into market-driven solutions. In this role, you will report to the Director of Product Marketing. You will play a key role in shaping growth by connecting customer needs, market insights, and technical innovation—helping bring new opportunities from concept to execution.

You Will Make an Impact By:

• Leading customer engagement activities, building strong relationships, and guiding technical and commercial discussions
• Identifying new growth opportunities through Voice of Customer insights, market trends, and strategic alignment
• Evaluating opportunities using real-win-worth analysis, including technical feasibility, business value, and risk
• Translating complex technical concepts into clear value propositions for customers and internal stakeholders
• Collaborating cross-functionally with engineering, operations, and commercial teams to align on scope, timelines, and execution
• Supporting proposal development, presentations, and early-stage program coordination
• Travel Requirements: Up to 30% travel required

Skills You Bring:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Physics, Optics, Materials Science, Business, or related technical field
• 5+ years of experience in technical marketing, business development, product management, applications engineering, or a related technical-commercial role
• Experience in optics/photonics is a must have for success in the role (changed 7.31)
• Strong ability to connect technical concepts to customer value and business outcomes
• Excellent communication and presentation skills with both technical and non-technical audiences
• Ability to evaluate opportunities from both technical and commercial perspectives

Preferred Skills (Optional):

• Experience with semiconductor capital equipment or subsystems
• Background in optics, photonics, lasers, imaging, or precision engineering
• Experience with RFQs, proposal development, and customer roadmap alignment
• Exposure to new product introduction (NPI) or early-stage development programs
• Experience supporting strategic accounts or complex technical sales cycles

In addition to the above responsibilities, the following are considered material job duties of the position:

• Ability to take and follow directions and instructions.

• Ability to interact with other employees, customers, suppliers, vendors, or the public, in a safe, professional, and respectful manner.

• Access to sensitive and confidential business systems and software, personally identifying information, the company's financial information, and/or the ability to maintain physical security and safety.

• Because this position involves the above material job duties, trustworthiness, reliability, and good judgment also are material job duties.

Physical Demands and Working Condition s:

• Ability to work in office, lab, and customer environments
• Occasional travel required (domestic and/or international)
• Ability to sit, stand, and use a computer for extended periods
• May require participation in on-site customer meetings and technical reviews

We are interested in a qualified candidate who is eligible to work in the United States. However, we will not be sponsoring work visas for this position, at this time.

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.

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.

Compensation and Benefits:

Salary Pay Range: $120,000 to $145,000 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.].

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.