Principal Firmware Engineer

MKS Inc.; Andover (MA); Hybrid; USD 155,250 - 258,750; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

401(k) with company match

Discretionary annual bonus

12 paid holidays

15 paid vacation days

6 weeks fully paid parental leave

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

MKS Inc. in Andover, Massachusetts is seeking a Senior Principal Firmware Engineer to lead the design and development of embedded firmware for advanced throttle valve products used in semiconductor manufacturing. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in embedded firmware development and technical leadership.

This role involves collaborating closely with teams to enhance product performance, while offering a comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance and 401(k) with company match.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of experience in embedded systems and firmware development, including control algorithms.
• Demonstrated technical leadership with strong communication and cross‑functional collaboration skills.
• Expertise in debugging and system bring‑up, using tools such as emulators and oscilloscopes.

Responsibilities

• Leading the architecture, design, implementation, verification, and validation of embedded firmware.
• Collaborating closely with cross‑functional teams to understand customer requirements.
• Driving continuous improvement in firmware quality and development efficiency.

Skills

Embedded systems and firmware development

C and C++ programming

Technical leadership

Collaboration skills

Education

BS, MS or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field

Tools

Emulators

Oscilloscopes

Communication bus analyzers

Job description

Overview

A Senior Principal Firmware Engineer on MKS’s Valves Engineering team will lead the design and development of embedded firmware that powers advanced throttle valve products used in semiconductor manufacturing and other high-performance vacuum applications.

You Will Make an Impact By

• Leading the architecture, design, implementation, verification and validation of embedded firmware for complex control systems.
• Collaborating closely with cross‑functional teams to understand customer requirements and deliver innovative solutions that enhance product performance and customer success.
• Establishing and driving firmware development best practices, including coding standards, design reviews, and automated test frameworks.
• Providing technical leadership, mentorship and guidance to firmware engineers across the organization.
• Driving continuous improvement in firmware quality, reliability, and development efficiency.

Skills You Bring

• BS, MS or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
• 12+ years of experience in embedded systems and firmware development, including control algorithms.
• Demonstrated technical leadership with strong communication and cross‑functional collaboration skills.
• Strong proficiency in C and C++ programming for real‑time embedded systems.
• Expertise in debugging and system bring‑up, using tools such as emulators, oscilloscopes, and communication bus analyzers.
• Experience with version control systems and structured software release processes.

Preferred Qualifications (Nice to Have)

• Experience with industrial fieldbus protocols such as EtherCAT, DeviceNet, or similar.
• Experience with motion control systems, including stepper motors and BLDC motors.
• Strong understanding of feedback control theory, including PID control and tuning.
• Experience with SPI, I2C, UART and other communication protocols.

Compensation and Benefits

Salary Pay Range: $155,250.00 - $258,750.00 USD per year. This range is a good faith estimate of the expected salary range for this position.

Bonus: This position is eligible for a discretionary annual bonus.

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.

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.