Senior Advanced Control & Automation Engineer- Semiconductor Equipment

Senior Advanced Control & Automation Engineer – Semiconductor Equipment

Axcelis Technologies develops innovative capital equipment for the semiconductor industry. The Platform Controls team develops control architectures, industrial automation solutions, and advanced control algorithms that enable reliable, high-performance operation of complex subsystems.

• Design, develop, integrate, and support industrial automation and control systems used in semiconductor manufacturing equipment and related electromechanical subsystems.
• Develop and maintain PLC-based control logic, industrial automation sequences, interlocks, alarms, and machine state control for complex equipment.
• Design, configure, and validate EtherCAT-based control networks and interfaces for servo drives, remote I/O, sensors, actuators, and distributed subsystems.
• Support FPGA-based controls development and integration for high-speed or deterministic control functions, signal processing, and hardware interfacing.
• Use MATLAB and related engineering tools for controls modeling, simulation, tuning, data analysis, and performance optimization.
• Develop, implement, or evaluate advanced control strategies including model-based control, ANN, and ML approaches for improved system performance, diagnostics, or predictive capabilities.
• Lead or support system integration, debug, root-cause analysis, and performance optimization during development, qualification, and production support.
• Create and execute test plans, analyze system behavior and data, and document results to verify functionality, performance, and reliability.
• Collaborate with software, electrical, mechanical, manufacturing, systems, and field teams to resolve technical issues and improve product performance.
• Contribute to design reviews, DFx efforts, risk reduction, and continuous improvement initiatives related to controls robustness, manufacturability, and serviceability.
• Travel domestically and internationally as required (typically less than 10%).

• 3–10 years of experience in industrial automation, controls engineering, motion control, robotics, semiconductor equipment, or related electromechanical systems.
• Strong understanding of control theory fundamentals, industrial automation architectures, servo systems, and system-level integration.
• Hands‑on experience with PLC programming, automation sequencing, industrial I/O, and machine control concepts.
• Experience with MATLAB for modeling, analysis, control design, data visualization, or simulation.
• Experience with EtherCAT-based systems, industrial communication networks, and distributed control architectures.
• Experience with FPGA-based controls, real-time hardware implementation, or high-speed control interfaces.
• Familiarity with advanced controls such as model-based control, ANN, ML, or other data‑driven control and diagnostics approaches.
• Ability to troubleshoot electrical, mechanical, controls, and software interactions in complex systems.
• Ability to interpret electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, and technical drawings.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and hands‑on debugging skills.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills with the ability to work across cross‑functional teams.
• Self‑motivated, detail‑oriented, and capable of managing work across multiple priorities in a fast‑paced engineering environment.
• Ability to work in a cleanroom environment.
• Ability to work onsite a minimum of three days per week.

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Automation Engineering, Mechatronics, Robotics, Computer Engineering, or a related field required.
• PhD degree or equivalent practical experience preferred.

Axcelis is an equal opportunity employer. It is the policy of Axcelis to provide equal opportunity in all areas of employment for all persons free from discrimination based on race, sex, religion, age, color, national origin, disability status, medical condition (including pregnancy), veteran status, sexual orientation, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. Axcelis will provide reasonable accommodation necessary to enable a disabled candidate or employee to perform the essential functions of the position, unless the accommodation would create an undue hardship for the Company.

U.S. BASE SALARY RANGE $ - $. This range reflects the typical compensation for this role across U.S. locations. The range provides the opportunity for growth and progression as you develop within the role. Base pay is one part of our U.S. total compensation package which includes eligibility in the Axcelis Team Incentive bonus plan and a comprehensive benefits package for regular employees working 20+ hours a week.