Job Description

A Day in Your Life at MKS:
As a Software Engineering Manager at MKS, you will partner with electrical, mechanical, and optical engineering teams, as well as teams in marketing, product introduction, and manufacturing to lead and grow a globally distributed team of software and firmware engineers. In this role, you will report to the Director of Core Engineering.

In this role, you will guide the team through the entire new product development lifecycle to develop the most advanced lasers in the world. Your focus will be on building team capabilities, driving technical execution, and fostering a collaborative, accountable, and high-performing engineering culture. This role requires experience managing international teams, particularly those based in Europe, and the ability to coordinate effectively across time zones.

You Will Make an Impact By:

• Lead, mentor, and support a distributed team of software and firmware engineers across multiple regions
• Provide technical leadership and strategic direction for firmware and backend software development, including architecture, design, and implementation
• Establish team priorities, set goals, and drive execution to deliver robust, maintainable, and scalable solutions
• Collaborate with hardware and systems teams to ensure seamless software/hardware integration
• Champion engineering best practices in code quality, testing, documentation, and continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD)
• Participate actively in code reviews to ensure high-quality, maintainable, and well-documented code across the team
• Ensure software development processes meet high standards of reliability, maintainability, and compliance
• Guide the adoption and usage of tools such as Confluence, Jira, and Microsoft Azure DevOps to manage workflows, documentation, and releases
• Facilitate clear, consistent communication across international teams, and promote cross-regional collaboration
• Support engineers in career growth, performance development, and technical decision-making
• Translate business and product objectives into clear, actionable engineering plans.
• Drive Agile process development and execution (e.g., sprints, Kanban), and lead project management activities to ensure timely, quality delivery
• Travel Requirements: Up to 10% of Travel is required

Skills You Bring:

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in computer science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• 8+ years of software engineering experience, including 3+ years in a leadership or management role.
• Proven track record of managing distributed engineering teams.
• Strong technical foundation in embedded firmware and/or backend software development.
• Proficiency in one or more programming languages C (must), C#, C++, Python preferred.
• ·Experience with real-time operating systems such as FreeRTOS, ThreadX and/or QNX
• Hands-on experience with Agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban) and strong project management skills.
• Experience working with cross-functional hardware/software product development.
• Familiarity with Confluence, Jira, and Microsoft Azure DevOps for project tracking and documentation.
• Strong organizational, leadership, and communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver complex engineering projects across global teams.
• Excellent communication, documentation, and organizational skills.

Preferred:

• Industry experience in scientific instrumentation, industrial automation, medical devices, or semiconductor equipment
• Experience with real-time embedded systems, hardware abstraction layers, and motion control
• Experience with Linux-based systems
• Familiarity with system-level integration, validation, and verification
• Knowledge of DevOps practices and CI/CD pipelines
• Background working in regulated or safety-critical environments
• Experience with UI development for instrument control interfaces
• Technical experience with ADC/DAC, I2C, SPI, RS-485, Ethernet, USB, and ARM Cortex-M microcontrollers (e.g., STM32)
• Exposure to FPGA systems and low-level peripheral interface development
• Proficiency in using Git-based source control systems (e.g., Azure DevOps, GitHub, GitLab)

What We Offer:

• A leadership role in a globally distributed engineering organization tackling technically challenging problems
• An opportunity to work on cutting-edge products at the intersection of hardware and software
• A collaborative culture focused on innovation, quality, and continuous improvement
• Competitive compensation and benefits
• Opportunities for growth and advancement within a technology-driven environment

Physical Demands and Working Conditions:
• Constantly operates a computer and other office productivity machinery
• This job operates in a professional office and laboratory environment

We are interested in a qualified candidate who is eligible to work in the United States. However, we will not be sponsoring work visas for this position, at this time.

Compensation and Benefits:
Salary Pay Range: $160,000 to $220,000 per year. This range is a good faith estimate of the expected salary range for this position, based on a wide range of factors including qualifications, experience and training, operational and business needs and other considerations permitted by law. At MKS, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for the role.

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.].

MKS is an equal opportunity employer, including disability, veteran status and all categories protected by law. Please review our EOE statements for additional details.

#LI-EKI

Globally, our policy is to recruit individuals from wide and diverse backgrounds. However, certain positions require access to controlled goods and technologies subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) or Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Applicants for these positions may need to be “U.S. persons.” “U.S. persons” are generally defined as U.S. citizens, noncitizen nationals, lawful permanent residents (or, green card holders), individuals granted asylum, and individuals admitted as refugees.

MKS Inc. and its affiliates and subsidiaries (“MKS”) is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer: diverse candidates are encouraged to apply. We win as a team and are committed to recruiting and hiring qualified applicants regardless of race, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions), religion, age, ancestry, physical or mental disability or handicap, marital status, membership in the uniformed services, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, or any other category protected by applicable law. Hiring decisions are based on merit, qualifications and business needs. We conduct background checks and drug screens, in accordance with applicable law and company policies. MKS is generally only hiring candidates who reside in states where we are registered to do business.

MKS is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or interview process due to a disability, please contact us at: accommodationsatMKS@mksinst.com .

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