Staff Mechanical Engineer

Onto Innovation; Milpitas (CA); On-site; USD 144,000 - 216,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental & vision

Life & disability insurance

PTO

401(k) with employer match

Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP)

Wellness initiatives

Cutting-edge tools

Job summary

Onto Innovation, a leader in semiconductor process control, seeks a senior mechanical/mechatronics engineer to design and validate precision motion control systems for capital equipment. You will drive servo tuning, multi-axis stage control, and dynamic analysis across cross-functional teams, with international travel up to 20%.

The role emphasizes integrating encoders, interferometers, and high-resolution feedback to meet strict performance and safety standards, while collaborating with

Qualifications

• BS/MS/PhD in Mechanical Engineering or related field with emphasis on dynamics, controls, or mechatronics.
• 7+ years of hands-on motion control experience in precision mechanical/mechatronic systems.
• Strong fundamentals in dynamics, vibration analysis, system identification and frequency-domain analysis.

Responsibilities

• Apply product development process from concept through manufacturing release with emphasis on control architecture and validation.
• Lead mechanical/mechatronic design for high-performance motion control and thermal stability.
• Develop and support motion control systems including servo loop design and stage control architectures.
• Collaborate with controls, electrical, and software teams to ensure alignment of design and performance.
• Provide field support, root cause analysis, and improvements for motion performance.

Skills

Dynamics

Controls

Mechatronics

System identification

Vibration analysis

Multi-axis motion

Cross-functional teamwork

Travel international

Education

BS/MS/PhD in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

FEA software

Servo tuning tools

Sensors & encoders

Modal analysis tools

Job description

Onto Innovation is a leader in process control, combining global scale with an expanded portfolio of leading-edge technologies that include: 3D metrology spanning the chip from nanometer-scale transistors to micron-level die-interconnects; macro defect inspection of wafers and packages; metal interconnect composition; factory analytics; and lithography for advanced semiconductor packaging. Our breadth of offerings across the entire semiconductor value chain helps our customers solve their most difficult yield, device performance, quality, and reliability issues. Onto Innovation strives to optimize customers’ critical path of progress by making them smarter, faster and more efficient.

Job Summary & Responsibilities

• Apply the Onto Innovation product development process from concept through manufacturing release, with strong emphasis on control system architecture, integration, and validation for precision semiconductor capital equipment.
• Lead mechanical and mechatronic design with a focus on dynamics-informed design to enable high-performance motion control (stiffness, damping, eigenfrequency management, thermal stability).
• Develop and support motion control systems including:
• Servo loop design, tuning, and optimization (PID, feedforward, notch filtering)
• Stage control architectures (single-axis, multi-axis, coordinated motion)
• Integration of encoders, interferometers, and high-resolution feedback systems
• Perform dynamic system analysis including:
• Modal analysis and frequency response (Bode/Nyquist)
• Vibration characterization and mitigation aligned to VC standards
• Identification and mitigation of structural resonances impacting control bandwidth and stability
• Tolerance stack-up with impact on control performance (following error, settling time)
• FEA with focus on dynamic behavior (mode shapes, compliance paths)
• Thermal-mechanical interactions affecting control accuracy and drift
• Define and validate control performance requirements, including:
• Positioning accuracy, repeatability, settling time, and throughput
• Stability margins and robustness to disturbances
• System-level error budgeting (mechanical + control contributions)
• Participate in system integration and commissioning, including:
• Servo tuning and optimization on hardware
• Prototype bring-up, system identification and parameter extraction
• Debugging control instabilities, noise, and cross-axis coupling
• Support system-level characterization and validation:
• Frequency response measurement (FRF), step response, tracking performance
• Vibration sensitivity and environmental coupling
• Compliance with SEMI and other performance standards
• Collaborate cross-functionally with controls, electrical, and software teams to:
• Define control architectures and interfaces
• Translate system requirements into control specifications
• Ensure alignment between mechanical design and control performance
• Support multiple programs by delivering controls-aware designs that meet schedule, cost, and performance targets.
• Provide technical support to manufacturing, service, and customers for motion performance issues, root cause analysis, and field improvements.

Qualifications

• Controls-Relevant Qualifications
• BS/MS/PhD in Mechanical Engineering or related field with strong emphasis on dynamics, controls, or mechatronics
• 7+ years of experience in precision mechanical/mechatronic systems with hands-on motion control and servo tuning experience
• Strong fundamentals in:
• Structural dynamics and vibration analysis
• System identification and frequency-domain analysis
• Experience with:
• Servo tuning tools and motion controllers
• Multi-axis stage systems and precision motion platforms
• Sensors and feedback systems (encoders, interferometers, capacitive sensors)
• Proficiency in:
• FEA tools for dynamic and thermal modeling
• Troubleshooting complex system-level performance issues
• Familiarity with semiconductor equipment or similar high-precision, high-bandwidth motion systems
• Understanding of compliance standards (SEMI, CE, UL) with respect to system performance and safety
• Strong ability to:
• Diagnose and resolve control-performance limitations (mechanical vs control root cause)
• Work at system level across mechanical, electrical, and software domains
• Communicate complex control concepts clearly to cross-functional teams
• Must be able to travel internationally to customer sites at least 20% of the time, with additional travel as business needs require.

Why Join Onto Innovation?

At Onto Innovation, we believe your work should matter—and so should your well-being. That’s why we offer competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits package designed to support you and your family.

• health, dental, and vision coverage
• life and disability insurance
• PTO
• 401(k) with employer match
• Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP)
• wellness initiatives
• cutting-edge tools

Compensation & Growth

Base Salary Range:

$144,000.00 - $216,000.00, offered in good faith and based on experience, location, and qualifications.

• Additional Rewards: Annual bonus opportunities and potential long-term incentives tied to both company and individual success.

Empowering Every Voice to Shape the Future:

Onto Innovation is committed to creating a workplace where every qualified candidate has an equal opportunity to succeed. We evaluate applicants based on skills, experience, and potential - without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We believe diversity of thought and background drives innovation and strengthens our team.

Important Note on Export Compliance

For certain positions requiring access to technical data, U.S. export licensing review may be necessary for applicants who are not U.S. Citizens, Permanent Residents, or other protected persons under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).