Sr. Mechanical Engineer (Spector)

About Veeco
You probably don’t realize it, but what we do at Veeco touches the lives of every person, every day. It’s a bold statement, but it’s true. From the smartphones in our pockets that access the world’s collective knowledge, to the cloud-based services where all that information lives, to high-speed wireless communication and computing power needed to drive artificial intelligence, augmented and virtual reality, gaming and so much more, our technology is all around us. 
 

We design, develop, manufacture, and service highly complex, cutting-edge machines used by our customers to create the essential devices that drive the digital age, connect the world, and improve the human experience. Along with the world’s leading technology companies, many of which are household names, we help solve their most difficult material science challenges, enabling technologies for a more connected, sustainable, and convenient world.
 

We’re looking for material difference-makers to join our growing team. Interested? Learn more at www.veeco.com/careers.

OVERVIEW

Veeco's ion beam deposition and etch platforms — including the Spector product family — are scaling rapidly as AI datacenter architectures and advanced semiconductor manufacturing drive unprecedented demand for high-performance thin-film equipment. Veeco's semiconductor served available market is projected to more than double, from $1.3 billion to $2.7 billion, with ion beam deposition SAM for high-value front-end applications reaching $350 million.

As a Senior Mechanical Engineer, you will own the mechanical architecture of next-generation ion beam and deposition systems — from vacuum vessel and ion source design through automation integration and OEM component qualification — making the design trade-off decisions that determine whether these tools meet the throughput, defect, and cost-of-ownership targets Veeco's tier-one customers require. You will also shape the engineering team's technical capability by mentoring early-career engineers and leading design reviews that set the quality bar across programs. This is a high-visibility individual-contributor role with a clear path toward technical leadership on one of Veeco's fastest-growing product lines.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Own the mechanical architecture of ion beam deposition and etch systems end to end — vacuum vessels, ion beam sources, wafer-handling stages, automation and robotics interfaces, and OEM component integration — making design trade-off decisions that balance performance, reliability, cost, and manufacturability across the full system.
• Lead engineering analysis and simulation — structural and thermal finite element analysis (FEA), heat transfer modeling, fluid dynamics, and motion mechanism design — to validate concepts, reduce prototype iterations, and build the analytical evidence base required at each Product Life Cycle (PLC) phase gate.
• Drive prototype development from design through test, authoring design-of-experiments (DOE) plans, executing tests, performing root-cause analysis, and translating findings into documented engineering changes (ECOs) that accelerate time to production readiness.
• Run design reviews that present design rationale, risk assessment, analysis results, and test data to cross-functional peers, senior leadership, and external customers — ensuring decisions are documented, actionable, and traceable.
• Collaborate with Supply Chain and manufacturing on procurement decisions, vendor qualification, and build sequences, delivering technical guidance that keeps programs on schedule — and stepping onto the factory floor to troubleshoot assembly or integration issues in real time.
• Mentor junior engineers by reviewing their designs, guiding their analytical methods, and progressively expanding their ownership of subsystem-level decisions — building the team's depth as program volume grows.
• Define mechanical design specifications from customer requirements, translating them into measurable acceptance criteria and ensuring all designs comply with SEMI safety standards (S2/S8) and applicable regulatory codes.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering with a minimum of 8 years, or a Master's degree with a minimum of 6 years, of experience designing capital equipment, vacuum systems, or precision mechanical subsystems.
• Demonstrated proficiency with 3D CAD (SolidWorks, Inventor, Creo, or equivalent) and 2D drafting tools (AutoCAD or equivalent) used as primary design platforms.
• Proven experience performing structural and thermal finite element analysis and applying results to inform design decisions on production-bound hardware.
• Hands-on experience building, assembling, and troubleshooting prototype mechanical hardware in a lab or factory environment.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Deep experience designing capital equipment for the semiconductor industry — including vacuum vessels, sealed chambers, wafer handling fixtures, and motion mechanisms — with a working understanding of how mechanical design choices affect thin-film process performance and defectivity.
• Familiarity with ion beam technology, vacuum physics, or thin-film deposition processes — enough to engage directly with process engineers on functional requirements and collaborate on source-design trade-offs.
• Knowledge of automation, robotics, industrial controls, sensors, motion control, and motor selection — sufficient to lead integration discussions with controls and electrical engineers during system-level design.
• Experience with product lifecycle management systems (SAP or similar) and formal engineering change order (ECO) documentation workflows in a regulated manufacturing environment.
• Working knowledge of SEMI safety and regulatory standards (S2, S8) and how they influence mechanical design choices for capital equipment.
• Skilled at distilling complex design trade-offs, analysis results, and test data into clear written reports and technical presentations accessible to both engineering peers and non-technical stakeholders, including customers.
• Willingness to travel up to 10% to customer sites and supplier facilities to support tool installations, customer evaluations, or supplier qualification activities.

Salary and Benefits
The expected salary range for this position is $119,797.00-159,729.00, plus a bonus opportunity. We will consider your location, experience, and other job-related factors when determining your pay. If your salary requirements exceed the advertised range and you remain interested in Veeco, we encourage you to apply or email your resume to recruiting@veeco.com.

Other benefits include:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)
• 401(k) with Company Match
• Holiday, Vacation, and Sick Time
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Commuter Benefits
• Life and Accident Insurance
• Disability Insurance
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Identity Theft Remediation
• Emergency Travel Assistance

Veeco is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, and other legally protected characteristics. Veeco is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities.

Notice to Applicants:
All communication about open positions and hiring will come from someone with a @veeco.com email address. You will always have multiple interviews and meet several team members (in-person or virtually) before we present an offer. We may also check references or conduct a background investigation as part of the offer process. We will never ask you for money for any reason, especially to send equipment or for pre-employment training. If you have any questions or concerns, or if someone has reached out to you and you think it might be a scam, please get in touch with us at recruiting@veeco.com.