Principal Mechanical Engineer - Product Development

FormFactor, Inc. (NASDAQ: FORM) is a leading provider of essential test and measurement technologies along the full semiconductor product lifecycle — from characterization, modeling, reliability, and design debug, to qualification and production test. Semiconductor companies rely on FormFactor’s products and services to accelerate profitability by optimizing device performance and advancing yield knowledge. The company serves customers through its network of facilities in Asia, Europe, and North America.

About the role

We are seeking a Principal Mechanical Engineer, Product Development to support complex automated cryogenic systems for semiconductor test and measurement applications. The candidate will independently and collaboratively design, analyze, prototype, validate, document, mechanical and electro-mechanical subsystems, with emphasis on engineering judgment, manufacturability, reliability, cost, performance, and customer requirements. The role requires advanced SolidWorks proficiency, strong mechanical design fundamentals, experience with thermodynamics, heat transfer, tolerance analysis, modeling, scientific instrumentation, engineering documentation, prototype evaluation, verification testing, and root cause analysis.

The ideal candidate brings at least five years of related engineering experience in complex mechanical or electro-mechanical product development, with cryogenic or semiconductor equipment experience preferred, and demonstrates strong communication, collaboration, prioritization, and data-driven decision-making skills.

The regular hours for this position are day shift.

Responsibilities

• Independently and in coordination with a larger team, designs, develops, and documents complex mechanical and electro-mechanical parts, assemblies, and subsystems using advanced proficiency in SolidWorks.
• Exercises sound engineering judgement to evaluate trade-offs between performance, cost, manufacturability, reliability, and customer requirements when developing mechanical and electro-mechanical design solutions.
• Performs technical and root cause analysis, modeling, tolerance assessment, design verification, prototype evaluation, and troubleshooting to enhance manufacturability, cost, quality, and customer experience.
• Participates in customer-facing technical discussions to understand requirements, explain design approaches, evaluate feasibility, and support analysis, ideation, and product improvement activities.
• Creates and maintains complete and accurate engineering documentation (e.g., drawings, bills of materials, specifications, test plans, analysis summaries, engineering change documentation) in accordance with company processes to support design quality, manufacturability, and lifecycle traceability.
• Occasional travel may be required for customer visits, conferences, or meetings.

Requirements

• Minimum of 5 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 3 years and a Master’s degree; or a PhD without experience; or equivalent work.
• Advanced SolidWorks proficiency.
• Strong mechanical design fundamentals, experience with thermodynamics, heat transfer, tolerance analysis, modeling, scientific instrumentation, engineering documentation, prototype evaluation, verification testing, and root cause analysis.
• Experience in complex mechanical or electro-mechanical product development, with cryogenic or semiconductor equipment experience preferred.

Skills

• Mechanical design, thermodynamics, heat transfer, tolerance analysis.
• Materials properties and manufacturing processes.
• Modeling, analysis, and scientific instrumentation.
• Strong communication skills across technical and non-technical audiences.
• Attention to detail and a collaborative approach to problem solving.
• Strong knowledge of physics, mathematical modeling, materials properties, manufacturing processes, thermodynamics, heat transfer, tolerance analysis, and use of scientific instruments for development, validation, and troubleshooting.
• Demonstrated ability to solve technical problems, make data-driven design decisions, manage competing priorities, and communicate technical recommendations clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Experience supporting design reviews, engineering change processes, prototype builds, verification testing, and transition of designs into manufacturing is preferred.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and disability coverage.
• 401(k) with company match.
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP).
• Paid time off.
• Quarterly profit-sharing bonuses.
• Flexible spending or savings accounts.

Pay

This role in Boulder, Colorado pays between $94,100.00 and $123,480.00 per year, depending on your experience, skills, and background. Pay may vary in other locations.