Product Line Specialist

MKS Instruments; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 108,000; Full time

Job summary

MKS Instruments in Irvine, CA is seeking a Product Line Specialist to join the Product Line Management team. You will coordinate customer programs, drive cross-functional execution, and communicate project status to stakeholders.

This role develops toward a Product Line Manager position, requiring strong organizational skills, multi-project management, and clear customer-facing communication. You will collaborate with Operations, Engineering, Quality, and Commercial teams to deliver on time.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience required.
• 2+ years of related experience; relevant MS or PhD education may count as experience.
• Optical or opto-mechanical background enabling discussions with customers and internal teams.
• Desire to develop into a Product Line Manager with increasing responsibility for customer engagement, strategy, and business leadership.
• Proficiency in PowerPoint, Excel, and MS Project; familiarity with other PM tools.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and support execution of customer projects from opportunity to delivery across multiple functional teams.
• Track project status, identify risks, and ensure on-time execution of commitments.
• Manage action items, maintain accountability, and follow up on deliverables.
• Lead project review meetings, customer status calls, and cross-functional discussions.
• Create project status reports, executive summaries, and customer presentations.
• Present project updates to customers and leadership, communicating progress, risks, and next steps.
• Support customer communications by gathering information and aligning internal teams.
• Assist in tracking milestones, qualification activities, manufacturing readiness, and customer deliverables.
• Collaborate with Product Line Managers to translate customer requirements into actionable plans.
• Monitor schedules and support forecast updates under supervision.
• Support new business opportunities by coordinating proposal development and customer-facing materials.
• Maintain documentation, meeting minutes, and program records for visibility.

Skills

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

2+ years experience

Optical/opto-mechanical

Product Line Management interest

PowerPoint

Excel

MS Project

Project management tools

Customer facing

Education

MS or PhD considered as experience

Tools

PowerPoint

Excel

MS Project

Other PM tools

Job description

A Day in Your Life at MKS:

The Product Line Specialist supports the Product Line Management team by coordinating customer programs, facilitating cross-functional execution, and ensuring timely communication of project status. This role is designed for individuals seeking to develop the skills and experience necessary to progress into a Product Line Manager position. Success in this role requires strong organizational skills, the ability to manage multiple priorities, effective communication, and collaboration across engineering, operations, supply chain, quality, and commercial teams.

You Will Make an Impact By:

• Support the execution of customer projects from opportunity identification through delivery by coordinating activities across multiple functional teams.

• Work closely with Operations, Supply Chain, Engineering, Quality, and Program Management to track project status, identify risks, and support on-time execution of customer commitments.

• Manage project action item lists, maintain accountability across stakeholders, and ensure timely follow-up on key deliverables.

• Coordinate and facilitate project review meetings, customer status calls, and internal cross-functional discussions.

• Create project status reports, executive summaries, customer presentations, and program review materials.

• Present project updates to customers and internal leadership teams, clearly communicating progress, risks, mitigation plans, and next steps.

• Support customer communications by gathering information, preparing updates, and ensuring alignment across internal teams.

• Assist in tracking product development milestones, qualification activities, manufacturing readiness, and customer deliverables.

• Collaborate with Product Line Managers to understand customer requirements and assist in translating those requirements into actionable project plans.

• Monitor project schedules and support forecast updates under the guidance of Product Line Managers and business leadership.

• Support new business opportunities by coordinating proposal development, presentation preparation, and customer-facing materials.

• Maintain project documentation, meeting minutes, action logs, and program records to ensure visibility and organizational alignment.

• Develop a broad understanding of company products, technologies, customer applications, and industry trends to prepare for future Product Line Management responsibilities.

Skills You Bring:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

• 2+ years of related experience - may consider relevant MS or PhD education as part of experience

• Optical or opto-mechanical background that will enable meaningful discussions with customers and internal technical teams.

• Desire to develop into a Product Line Manager role with increasing responsibility for customer engagement, strategy, and business leadership.

• Proficiency in PowerPoint, Excel, and MS Project

  • Other project management tools.

  • Feels confident in Excel to track, get answers from others, outcome

  • Customer facing - quality team, speak with customer about 8Ds,

Other:

• Strong organizational and multitasking abilities.

• Excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills.

• Ability to coordinate activities across multiple functions and priorities simultaneously.

• Strong follow-through and attention to detail.

• Ability to lead meetings, document actions, and drive closure of assigned tasks.

• Customer-facing communication and relationship-building skills.

• Project coordination and program tracking experience.

• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment.

• Because this position involvesthe above material job duties, trustworthiness, reliability, and good judgmentalso arematerial job duties.

In addition to the above responsibilities, the following are considered material job dutiesofthe 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 involvesthe above material job duties, trustworthiness, reliability, and good judgmentalso arematerial job duties.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions:

• 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: $90,000 to $108,000 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.