Principal Mechanical Engineer

Job Summary & Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a multidisciplinary team of hardware engineers, fostering a culture of technical growth, innovation, and accountability.
• Define the technical direction and roadmap for critical hardware subsystems, such as image sensors, high-power lasers, precision motion stages.
• Own hardware R&D programs from concept through prototype testing to final production release.
• Partner with Systems, Software, Optics, and Manufacturing teams to ensure seamless integration and solve complex system-level challenges.
• Identify and implement best practices for hardware design, testing, and manufacturing to enhance product quality and engineering efficiency.
• Lead root-cause analysis for complex hardware failures and support customer escalations with technical expertise.

Qualifications

• Education: Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical engineering.
• Experience: Typically requires 7+ years of engineering experience with at least 3+ years in a leadership or people management capacity.
• Technical Proficiency: Subject matter expertise in areas relevant to Onto's core business, such as advanced sensors, optics, precision motion stages, lasers.
• Leadership Skills: Proven ability to manage multiple concurrent projects, drive execution against milestones, and manage global stakeholders.

Why Join Onto Innovation?

• Competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, and vision coverage, life and disability insurance, PTO, and a 401(k) with employer match.
• Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP), wellness initiatives, and cutting-edge tools.
• A collaborative, inclusive culture where your contributions are valued and recognized.

Compensation & Growth

• Base Salary Range: $144,000.00 - $216,000.00, offered in good faith and based on experience, location, and qualifications.
• Annual bonus opportunities and potential long-term incentives tied to both company and individual success.

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).