Senior Systems Architect, Precision Stage V (E5)
$163,000 - $224,000 USD yearly
Own the end-to-end architecture and mechatronic co-design of nanometer-class precision motion stages and multi-axis servo loops.
Originally posted 30 October 2026 by the employer.
About the role
This role owns the end-to-end architecture of high-precision motion stages and their mechatronic subsystems, spanning mechanical structure, actuation, sensing, metrology, and motion control. You will set the technical direction for stage performance by translating positioning, dynamic, and throughput requirements into mechanical and control co-designs.
What you'll do
- Define and design complex precision-stage mechanical components, modules, and mechatronic subsystems using a mechanical and control co-design approach.
- Establish the control system architecture for precision stages, including servo loop topology, loop partitioning, feedforward strategy, and error budgets for nanometer-class positioning.
- Develop dynamic models of stage mechanics encompassing structural dynamics, resonances, mass/stiffness budgets, and active vibration isolation or damping strategies.
- Specify and integrate position feedback metrology—including laser interferometers, encoders, and capacitive sensors—with real-time control hardware such as motion controllers, FPGA/DSP systems, drives, and amplifiers.
- Define, tune, and validate multi-axis servo loops, feedforward controls, and trajectory profiles under production conditions.
- Lead root-cause troubleshooting for engineering challenges involving servo instability, control-loop tuning, vibration, and dynamic error sources.
What you'll need
- BS in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, or Controls with 10–15+ years of experience.
- Demonstrated knowledge of control theory, servo/feedback control design, and multi-axis motion control applied to high-precision motion stages and stage subsystems.
- Hands-on experience with mechatronic co-design, including system identification, dynamic modeling, control-loop tuning, feedforward design, and active vibration isolation/damping.
- Familiarity with motion controllers, FPGA/DSP-based real-time systems, drives, amplifiers, and position feedback sensors such as interferometers, encoders, and capacitive sensors.
- Mechanical engineering experience selecting components, building, testing, troubleshooting, and releasing semiconductor or similar capital equipment.
- Proficiency in modeling, simulation, and data analysis tools including MATLAB/Simulink or Python, as well as 3D/2D CAD tools such as Inventor, Siemens NX Unigraphics, or AutoCAD.
- Knowledge of tool safety standards, including SEMI S2/S8/S14, NFPA 79, F47, CE, and EMI/EMC.
Nice to have
- MS in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, or Controls.
- Managerial experience.
Skills: motion control, precision stages, mechatronics, servo loop, error budget
More semiconductor jobs: Applied Materials jobs · Equipment engineering jobs · Santa Clara jobs
This role has been open 0 days — well below the 42-day median for Semiconductor Equipment Engineering roles.
Semiconductor Equipment Engineering · Motion Control Systems
|
Open roles in category
35
|
Median days open
42 d
|
Category median salary (all employers)
$146k
|
See the full market breakdown ▾Category comparison, skills in demand, and who else is hiring
| Metric | Applied Materials | All employers we track in this specialty (35 roles · 9 employers) |
|---|---|---|
| Open roles in this specialty | 8 | 35 |
| Open roles in the wider Process, Fab & Equipment family | 1174 | 10156 · 105 employers |
| Median days open | 66 d | 42 d (+24 d vs this employer) |
| Median salary (USD postings) | — | $146k |
Skills observed across this category: motion control, precision stages, mechatronics, servo loop, error budget
Who's hiring in this category
- ASML · 10 open roles · median 10 d
- KLA Corporation · 8 open roles · median 94 d
- Applied Materials (this employer) · 7 open roles · median 78 d
- Onto Innovation · 3 open roles · median 63 d
- FormFactor · 2 open roles · median 30 d
- Kulicke & Soffa · 2 open roles · median 5 d
How we counted: 35 open Semiconductor Equipment Engineering (Motion Control Systems) roles from 9 employers tracked in the SemiconductorJobs index, counted 30 Oct 2026. Specialty figures count only roles carrying this exact specialty label, so an employer's related work in neighbouring specialties is not included there — it is counted in the wider Process, Fab & Equipment family row. Figures refresh nightly.