Principal Equipment Engineer

Diamond Foundry Inc. is solving the thermal limitation at the foundation of today’s most exciting tech industries—AI & cloud compute, electric-car power electronics, and 5G/6G wireless. We have produced the world’s first single-crystal diamond wafers and are now on a mission to put a diamond behind every chip. We are a rare unicorn that has grown fast and profitably, with $515M in funding and a multi-$B expansion plan for one of the greenest forms of tech manufacturing: converting greenhouse gas into diamond wafers using zero-emission energy.

About the role

We are seeking a hands-on Principal Equipment Engineer to take absolute technical ownership of back-end production equipment across its entire lifecycle (specification, qualification, sustaining, and reliability). Reporting to the Manager of Equipment Engineering and Maintenance, you will operate with complete autonomy to diagnose failures, design out engineering risks, and ensure maximum tool availability on our manufacturing floor.

Responsibilities

• End-to-End Tool Ownership: Manage an assigned section of back-end process tools (laser, cleaning, thermal, metrology, and material handling) to optimize tool availability, capability, and total cost of ownership.
• Advanced Troubleshooting: Serve as the final escalation point for complex electro-mechanical failures, using structured root-cause methods (8D, 5-Why) to improve MTBF and MTTR metrics under SEMI E10 standards.
• CapEx & Site Transfers: Author equipment specifications, evaluate vendors, execute FAT/SAT, and manage the technical documentation required to package and transfer equipment setups to international sites.
• Engineering & Safety Standards: Establish robust standards for PM plans, CMMS assets, ECNs, and ISO 9001 compliance. Enforce rigorous engineering controls for Class IV lasers, chemical hazards, and high-temperature systems.
• Mentorship & Support: Act as a technical resource for maintenance technicians and mentor junior equipment engineers through design reviews, troubleshooting sessions, and technical documentation audits.

Requirements

• Education & Experience: Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Mechatronics, Electrical, or Manufacturing Engineering with 10+ years of hands-on equipment ownership in a high-volume semiconductor, advanced materials, or high-precision manufacturing environment.
• Technical Depth: Mastery of electro-mechanical systems (motion control, PLC/HMI, pneumatics, vacuum, fluid delivery). Strong preference for experience with Class IV lasers, CMP/polishing, or robotic work cells.
• Data-Driven Analysis: Track record of moving OEE, MTBF, and MTTR metrics with evidence rather than opinion. Experience with data analysis tools beyond spreadsheets (Python, JMP, SQL) is a plus.
• Safety & Compliance: Practical experience applying machine safety codes (LOTO, NFPA 79, CE/UL, SEMI S2). Proficiency with 3D CAD (SolidWorks), PLM (Teamcenter), and CMMS frameworks.
• Autonomy & Leadership: Proven history of operating independently as a principal contributor, managing competing priorities without close supervision, and aligning cross-functional teams without direct positional authority.

Pay

$150,000 - $180,000 a year. The position is eligible for company shares. Actual compensation may be higher or lower in the range based on factors including job duties, experience, and location. Higher-level candidates will be considered, with salary adjusted accordingly.

Benefits

We provide eligible employees with an opportunity to enroll in a variety of benefit programs, generally including:

• Health, dental, and vision insurance (medical and vision coverage retroactive to start date; dental and voluntary benefits effective upon enrollment)
• Flexible spending accounts
• Retirement savings plans
• Life and disability insurance programs
• Paid and unpaid time away from work
• Employee discounts to VRAI

Benefits begin as early as your first day of employment.

Physical Requirements

This role will often require:

• Use of appropriate PPE and adherence to all safety policies, practices, and procedures
• Sitting, standing for long periods, walking, grasping, reaching with hands and arms
• Lifting below and above shoulders, bending, twisting at the waist, climbing, balancing, stooping, squatting, kneeling, crawling
• Talking, hearing, seeing, fine finger manipulation, and completing repetitive motions
• Use of ladders or stairs, driving, or use of foot controls
• Lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling up to 50 pounds