Automation Inspection Manufacturing Engineer

Job Title

Automation Inspection Manufacturing Engineer

Role Summary

The Automation Inspection Manufacturing Engineer develops, implements, and sustains automated inspection and handling solutions for probe feature inspection and storage. The role drives automation initiatives to improve quality, yield, productivity, and cycle time and supports New Product Introduction (NPI).

This position works closely with Manufacturing, Quality, Product Engineering, and Wafer Engineering and provides hands-on engineering support for equipment qualification, troubleshooting, and production ramp.

Experience Level

Mid-level. Typical range 3–7 years; see Education Requirements for the posting's specific education/experience combinations.

Responsibilities

Primary responsibilities focus on automation for probe inspection, process development, and production support.

• Develop and implement automated inspection solutions for probe feature inspection.
• Design, optimize, and sustain automated probe storage and handling processes.
• Eliminate manual back-end inspection processes through automation.
• Support automated probe insertion equipment: process development, equipment qualification, troubleshooting, and production support.
• Develop and optimize semiconductor manufacturing processes to improve yield, quality, and productivity.
• Support process qualification, validation, and New Product Introduction (NPI) activities.
• Establish and maintain process controls using SPC and process capability analysis; analyze manufacturing data to drive improvements.
• Create and maintain engineering documentation, including work instructions, process specifications, FMEAs, control plans, and manufacturing procedures.
• Lead continuous improvement and automation projects focused on quality, throughput, and cost reduction.
• Train technicians and provide hands-on support during equipment qualification, ramp, and troubleshooting.

Requirements

Core technical skills and practical experience required for immediate contribution.

• Must-have: Hands-on experience with automation engineering and automation systems in a manufacturing environment.
• Must-have: Practical knowledge of semiconductor manufacturing processes and manufacturing process engineering.
• Must-have: Experience with equipment qualification, validation, and production support.
• Must-have: Competence in data analysis, SPC, process capability analysis, and implementing corrective/preventive actions.
• Must-have: Strong troubleshooting skills and the ability to resolve process and equipment issues.
• Must-have: Ability to create clear engineering documentation and work instructions.
• Nice-to-have: Experience with dimensional, optical, precision metrology, or defect metrology.
• Nice-to-have: Familiarity with probe handling, insertion equipment, and automated inspection hardware/software.
• Nice-to-have: Prior experience leading continuous improvement or automation projects in semiconductor test/assembly environments.

Education Requirements

Posting specifies one of the following: a Bachelor's degree plus a minimum of 5 years related experience; a Master’s degree plus a minimum of 3 years related experience; a PhD with no required prior experience; or equivalent practical work experience.

About the Company

Company: FormFactor

Headquarters: Livermore, California, United States

FormFactor provides test and measurement technologies and services for the semiconductor industry across the product lifecycle — including characterization, modeling, reliability, design debug, qualification and production test. The company serves customers globally through facilities in Asia, Europe, and North America.