Principal Manufacturing Process Engineer

Forming Our Future together

FormFactor, Inc. (NASDAQ: FORM), is a leading provider of essential test and measurement technologies along the full semiconductor product life cycle — from characterization, modeling, reliability, and design de-bug, to qualification and production test. Semiconductor companies rely upon 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.

Rooted in our core values — Focus on the Customer, Ownership & Accountability, Respectfully & Effectively Communicate, and Motivate & Develop People — we foster an environment where diverse perspectives are not only welcomed but celebrated. Everyone can make an impact here. Whether it's improving products, supporting customers, or positively influencing peers and the community, the contributions of our people matter.

Shift:

The regular hours for this position are day shift.

Job Description:

FormFactor is seeking a Principal Manufacturing Process Engineer to support and improve photolithography and etch processes within a high-volume semiconductor manufacturing environment. Working under general supervision, the Process Engineer will assist in sustaining manufacturing operations, executing process improvement initiatives, analyzing process performance, and driving continuous improvements in yield, quality, throughput, and cost.

This role partners closely with Manufacturing, Equipment Engineering, Quality, Facilities, Supply Chain, and R&D teams to characterize processes, investigate manufacturing issues, support new product introductions, and implement process enhancements that meet operational and customer requirements.

Key Responsibilities:

Process Engineering

• Support characterization, optimization, and control of photolithography and etch manufacturing processes.
• Monitor process performance and analyze data to identify trends, opportunities, and process variation.
• Utilize Statistical Process Control (SPC) methods and process capability metrics (Cp/Cpk) to maintain stable processes.
• Assist with the design, execution, and analysis of Design of Experiments (DOE) activities.
• Investigate process excursions, defects, and yield losses using structured problem-solving methodologies.
• Perform root cause analysis and implement corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
• Support process validation, qualification, and change management activities.
• Conduct risk assessments utilizing PFMEA, control plans, and related methodologies.
• Develop and maintain process documentation, operating procedures, specifications, and work instructions.
• Create and maintain process dashboards, KPIs, and manufacturing performance reports.

Manufacturing & Continuous Improvement

• Participate in Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma initiatives focused on efficiency and waste reduction.
• Support Kaizen events and continuous improvement projects.
• Identify opportunities to improve process capability, cycle time, throughput, and equipment utilization.
• Contribute to cost reduction and productivity improvement efforts.
• Assist with capacity planning and manufacturing optimization activities.
• Implement error-proofing (Poka-Yoke) solutions to enhance quality and reduce defects.
• Develop and sustain standard work practices that improve operational consistency.

Quality & Compliance

• Support compliance with quality management systems and applicable industry standards.
• Participate in change control activities, process audits, and documentation reviews.
• Assist in managing nonconformance investigations and corrective action implementation.
• Support calibration programs and Measurement System Analysis (MSA/GR&R) activities.
• Ensure manufacturing processes comply with internal procedures and regulatory requirements.

Project & Cross-Functional Support

• Lead or support small-to-medium scope engineering projects.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing, Equipment Engineering, Quality, Facilities, Supply Chain, and R&D teams to resolve technical challenges.
• Work with equipment vendors, suppliers, and contractors on process-related improvements.
• Support capital equipment installations, qualifications, process transfers, and technology transfers.
• Prepare technical reports, presentations, and engineering recommendations for stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications & Experience:

• Experience supporting semiconductor wafer fabrication, photolithography, etch, thin film, plating, metrology, MEMS, advanced packaging, assembly, test, or other precision manufacturing processes.
• Experience sustaining and improving manufacturing processes to achieve safety, quality, yield, throughput, and cost objectives.
• Experience supporting process transfers, technology transfers, new product introductions (NPI), or manufacturing scale-up activities.
• Experience implementing CAPA and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Experience working within documented quality systems and regulated manufacturing environments.
• Familiarity with ISO 9001, IATF 16949, AS9100, ISO 13485, or similar quality management systems.
• Six Sigma Green Belt certification or equivalent continuous improvement training.

Skills:

Adaptability, Analytical Thinking, Communication, Continuous Improvement, Data-Driven Decision Making, Data Visualization Tools, Detail-Oriented, Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), Microsoft Office, Problem Solving, Root Cause Analysis (RCA), Troubleshooting, Working in a Fast-Paced Environment

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Education & Experience:

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 | Required

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FormFactor Benefits:

Benefits offered for this role include medical, dental, vision, EAP, short-term and long-term disability, life insurance, flexible spending and savings accounts, 401(k), ESPP and paid time off.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

FormFactor is an equal opportunity employer. FormFactor complies with all national, state, and local laws that seek to promote equal opportunities for any applicant or employee without regard to age, race, color, gender, gender identity/expression, national origin, sexual orientation, religion, disability, marital status, pregnancy or related condition, military service, or any other legally protected characteristics. These protections apply to all aspects of employment, including but not limited to, recruitment, hiring, training, promotions, and compensation.

For roles that are designated as remote-eligible, employees cannot be located in: AL, AK, AR, DE, GA, HI, IL, IA, LA, ME, MD, MS, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NM, ND, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, WV, WI, WY. This list is continuously evolving and being updated, please check back with us if the state you live in is on the exclusion list. A role is remote-eligible only when it is listed as "Remote" in the job location.