Senior Automation Engineer

Day in Your Life

As a Senior Automation Engineer, you will work as part of a cross‑functional team leading MKS on its journey to automate the assembly of complex opto‑mechanical systems. We are an interdisciplinary team building the foundation for an automated future, and you will be responsible for the development of the control software and interfaces to robots, instruments and devices. You’ll work with design and development engineers to promote design for automation, to verify and validate the process, and to implement these designs into automated volume production.

• Invent and develop software control algorithms to automate align, attach, and testing of optomechanical assemblies.
• Participate in end‑to‑end product development and drive improvements and adoption of automation.
• Define and document individual processes required for assembly automation.
• Adapt creative concepts with hands‑on work, using data from results to iterate and optimize solutions.

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Automation Engineering, or related Engineering field.
• 5+ years of experience developing and writing software that interfaces with hardware. (Python preferred).
• Or Master’s with a 3+ years of work experience.
• Demonstrated experience with:
  • Actively contributing to complex cross‑functional projects from start to finish.
  • Utilizing diverse frameworks to interface and control various robots, instruments and devices.
  • ROS, Move It and/or other simulation and path planning frameworks.
  • Software development, deployment, and change management in a distributed team environment.
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills coupled with strong analytical skills.
• Robotics industry knowledge and familiarity.

• An advanced degree – Master or Ph.D. Mechanical, Automation Engineering, or related Engineering field. Demonstrated experience with automated:
  • Pick and place of optical components using a variety of actuators and feedback.
  • Active alignment of optical components using various actuators and precision feedback metrology.
  • Experience with Python and C++ as well as other higher level software tools and frameworks (C#).
  • Experience working with fiber optics and lasers, including diode lasers, solid‑state lasers, and fiber lasers, from the UV to the NIR spectrum.
  • Experience with 3D CAD modeling (Solidworks).

• Salary Pay Range: $120,000 – 190,000 based on qualifications, experience and training, operational and business needs and other considerations permitted by law.
• 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.].