Staff Development Engineer - Milpitas-CA, United States
$144,000 - $216,000 USD yearly
Originally posted 16 October 2026 by the employer.
This role involves hardware integration and characterization of metrology sub-systems.
About the role
This role involves owning hardware integration and characterization of metrology sub-systems. You will also perform system error budget analyses and ensure hardware design requirements are met.
What you'll do
- Own hardware integration and characterization of metrology sub-systems
- Perform system error budget analyses
- Establish sub-system specifications and define processes to measure key performance metrics
- Work with cross functional teams within and outside Onto Innovation
- Travel to vendor and customer sites within and outside US, up to approximately 30%
What you'll need
- Bachelor’s degree or higher in science or engineering with 10+ years of relevant experience
- Proficient in motion control, including servo tuning, stage control, and automation mapping
- Deep understanding of vibration analysis, modal analysis, and VC (Vibration Criteria) standards
- Experience with isolation systems for micron- and nanometer-level accuracy
- Familiarity with system architecture, design requirements, and technical specifications for high-performance systems
- Experience with the characterization and use of sensors (e.g., accelerometers, thermocouples, strain gauges, cap gauges, encoders, torque sensors, gyroscopes)
- Development and integration of prototype systems and leading them into production
- Experience characterizing and implementing motion control systems
- Experience with microcontrollers, Arduino, Pi
- Proficient with accelerometers and spectrum analyzer to quantify and diagnose a vibration
- Excellent troubleshooting skills and ability to diagnose issues with electromechanical systems
- Experience designing mechanical systems for very clean environments (semiconductor, biotech, food systems are all applicable)
- Skill using mathematical modeling software
- Ability to justify and quantify performance-based metrics that led to design decisions
- Demonstrated ability to create clear reports and documentation
- Strong background in precision mechanics, mechatronics, and electromechanical system design
- Ability to lead a technical team of junior engineers
Nice to have
- Experience with 3D CAD design and finite element analysis (SolidWorks preferred)
Skills: hardware integration, metrology sub-systems, motion control, vibration analysis, electromechanical systems
This role has been open 0 days — well below the 51-day median for Semiconductor Equipment Engineering roles.
Semiconductor Equipment Engineering · Metrology Inspection
|
Open roles in category
192
|
Median days open
51 d
|
Median salary
$159k
|
See the full market breakdown ▾Category comparison, skills in demand, and who else is hiring
| Metric | Onto Innovation | All employers we track in this specialty (192 roles · 23 employers) |
|---|---|---|
| Open roles in this specialty | 21 | 192 |
| Open roles in the wider Process, Fab & Equipment family | 99 | 9915 · 109 employers |
| Median days open | 70 d | 51 d (+19 d vs this employer) |
| Median salary (USD postings) | — | $159k |
Skills observed across this category: hardware integration, metrology sub-systems, motion control, vibration analysis, electromechanical systems
Who's hiring in this category
- KLA Corporation · 75 open roles · median 42 d
- Applied Materials · 25 open roles · median 66 d
- Onto Innovation (this employer) · 17 open roles · median 81 d
- Lam Research · 15 open roles · median 45 d
- Micron Technology · 12 open roles · median 41 d
- Entegris · 10 open roles · median 57 d
How we counted: 192 open Semiconductor Equipment Engineering (Metrology Inspection) roles from 23 employers tracked in the SemiconductorJobs index, counted 16 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.
Onto Innovation
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