Senior Software Engineer, Equipment Control at Axcelis

JOB DESCRIPTION

Senior Software Engineer, Equipment Control

Semiconductor Capital Equipment – Axcelis Technologies

Job Summary

Axcelis Technologies is seeking a Senior Software Equipment Control Engineer to join our software engineering organization and play a key role in defining the control architecture for our next-generation ion implanter platforms. This position is focused on the design, development, and optimization of deterministic, high reliability control software integrating complex electromechanical subsystems such as motion, robotics, vacuum, power delivery, gas handling, and safety systems.

As semiconductor manufacturing systems increase in complexity and precision, control software has become a defining platform capability rather than an implementation detail. This team was formed to proactively evolve control software architecture ahead of those demands—addressing scalability, reliability, and testability challenges that traditional approaches struggle to meet.

In this role, you will work at the intersection of real-time control, hardware integration, and modern software architecture, collaborating closely with hardware, systems, and process engineering teams. This role offers a unique opportunity to influence platform-level control strategies, system architectures, and testing methodologies that will power Axcelis tools for the next decade and beyond.

Accordingly, the role addresses emerging system‑level constraints that require re‑thinking traditional control software approaches. While familiarity with existing control platforms is important, the primary focus is on defining forward‑looking capabilities rather than maintaining established implementations.

This role is well‑suited for engineers who:

• Enjoy working close to real hardware and physical systems
• Prefer ambiguous, early‑stage architectural problems over well‑worn implementation paths
• Care deeply about correctness, safety, and long‑term maintainability
• Want their technical decisions to materially shape how complex machines behave in the real world

Responsibilities

Control Software Development & Integration

• Own the design and implementation of equipment control software for next-generation ion implanters, spanning:
• Low-level hardware interfaces (IO, PLCs, motion controllers)
• Real-time and deterministic control loops
• Robotics, vacuum, power supplies, gas delivery, and safety interlocks
• High-level sequencing, automation, and tool state management
• Lead system integration efforts, combining early‑stage architectural exploration with production‑grade implementation across hardware, software, process, and systems engineering to define control strategies, interfaces, and performance objectives.
• Design and implement robust control algorithms to support precise, repeatable, and safe tool operation under real-world factory conditions.

Architecture & Software Design

• Design and evolve component-based and service-oriented architectures, leveraging microservices where appropriate to support scalability, testability, and long-term maintainability.
• Define overall system and solution architectures, implementation strategies, and software integration approaches for complex equipment control platforms.
• Leverage existing and legacy codebases to inform and accelerate new designs while ensuring functional continuity.

Testing, Validation & Reliability

• Drive rigorous verification and validation strategies using:
• Software-in-the-Loop (SIL)
• Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL)
• Simulation environments and real equipment testing
• Design and automate end-to-end SIL/HIL test workflows, including CI-driven execution.
• Implement fault injection and stress scenarios (e.g., voltage drops, sensor failures, communication loss) to validate system robustness and failure recovery behavior.
• Perform deep root-cause analysis of hardware/software interactions and field issues.

DevOps & Engineering Excellence

• Contribute to and enhance CI/CD pipelines using Git, GitHub Actions, and automated test frameworks such as x Unit.
• Champion engineering best practices including code reviews, test automation, and continuous improvement in performance, reliability, and developer productivity.
• Mentor junior engineers and provide technical leadership in architectural and design decision-making.

Cross Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate closely with Product Owners, Architects, and Systems Engineering on:
• User story creation
• Estimation, planning, and prioritization
• Translating system-level requirements into high-quality software designs

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in software engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• 8–12+ years of relevant experience, or equivalent demonstrated impact developing control software for complex, high-precision industrial systems (Semiconductor capital equipment, Defense, Medical Devices, Aerospace, Automotive, or Industrial Automation).
• Strong expertise in C# and .NET Core; proficiency in C/C++ and Python is highly desirable.
• Deep hands-on experience with:
• Real-time and deterministic control systems
• Multithreading, inter-process communication, and concurrency
• Hardware/software integration (IO, PLCs, motion controllers, sensors, and actuators)
• Proven experience debugging and commissioning complex electro-mechanical systems on real hardware.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and system-level thinking skills.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work effectively across disciplines.

Preferred / Differentiating Experience

• Knowledge of vacuum systems, robotics, high-voltage or high-power power supplies, and safety interlock systems.
• Experience designing and deploying microservice-based control architectures in industrial environments.
• Hands-on experience with automated SIL/HIL validation frameworks and fault-injection testing.
• Familiarity with SEMI standards and factory host communication (SECS/GEM, E84, E87).
• Experience working in Agile environments, including story definition, estimation, and release planning.
• Demonstrated technical leadership and ability to influence architecture and long-term platform direction.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT

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

$141,913.76 - $212,870.64

This base salary range reflects the typical compensation for this role across U.S. locations.

Our salary ranges are determined by role and level; individual pay is determined based on

multiple factors, including job-related skills, experience, relevant education or training, work

location, and internal equity. 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 comprehensive benefits package (for regular

employees working 20+ hours a week).