Principal Software Engineer

## Principal Software Engineer Apply locations:
Wilmington-MA (Upton) time type:
Full time posted on:
Posted Yesterday job requisition :
R-6062

Onto Innovation is a leader in process control, combining global scale with an expanded portfolio of leading-edge technologies that include: 3D metrology spanning the chip from nanometer-scale transistors to micron-level die-interconnects; macro defect inspection of wafers and packages; metal interconnect composition; factory analytics; and lithography for advanced semiconductor packaging. Our breadth of offerings across the entire semiconductor value chain helps our customers solve their most difficult yield, device performance, quality, and reliability issues.

Onto Innovation strives to optimize customers’ critical path of progress by making them smarter, faster and more efficient.
** Job Summary & Responsibilities
**** Job Summary
** We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Principal Software Engineer in Test to drive quality engineering practices across our software development lifecycle. This role combines deep technical expertise in test automation with leadership responsibilities, ensuring high-quality, scalable, and reliable software systems. The ideal candidate will lead a team of SDETs, define testing strategies, and collaborate closely with engineering, product, and Dev Ops teams.
** Key Responsibilities
**** Leadership & Strategy
*** Lead, mentor, and grow a team of Software Engineers in Test.
* Define and implement the overall quality strategy, test architecture, and automation roadmap.
* Establish best practices for test automation, CI/CD integration, and quality engineering.
* Drive a shift-left testing approach and promote a culture of quality ownership across teams.
** Technical Execution
*** Design, develop, and maintain scalable test automation frameworks (UI, API, performance, and integration).
* Ensure high test coverage through automated testing strategies.
* Improve test reliability, execution speed, and maintainability.
* Conduct root cause analysis of defects and implement preventive measures.
* Contribute to code reviews, ensuring testability and quality standards.
** Collaboration
* ** Partner with developers, product managers, and Dev Ops engineers to define acceptance criteria and quality metrics.
* Participate in sprint planning, backlog grooming, and release planning.
* Advocate for testability, observability, and resilience in system design.
* Work closely with CI/CD teams to integrate automated tests into pipelines.
** Quality Assurance & Metrics
*** Define, track, and report quality KPIs (defect density, test coverage, automation pass rate, etc.).
* Drive continuous improvement of testing processes and tools.
* Ensure compliance with performance, security, and scalability standards.
** Qualifications
* ** Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience).
* 8+ years of experience in software testing/quality engineering.
* 3+ years in a technical leadership or team lead role.
* Strong programming skills in languages such as Java, Python, C#, or JavaScript.
* Expertise in test automation frameworks (e.g., Selenium, Cypress, Playwright, Appium, Rest Assured).
* Experience with API testing, microservices architecture, and distributed systems.
* Experience with generative/agentic AI tools like MS Copilot
* Hands-on experience with CI/CD tools (e.g., Jenkins, Git Hub Actions, Azure Dev Ops).
* Strong understanding of Agile/Scrum methodologies.
** Preferred Qualifications
*** Experience with performance testing tools (e.g., JMeter, Gatling, k6).
* Knowledge of containerization and cloud platforms (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes, AWS, Azure).
* Familiarity with test data management and service virtualization.
* Experience implementing test strategies in large-scale, enterprise environments.

Why Join Onto Innovation?

At Onto Innovation, we believe your work should matter—and so should your well-being. That’s why we offer competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits package designed to support you and your family. From health, dental, and vision coverage to life and disability insurance, PTO, and a 401(k) with employer…