MKS Instruments, Inc.

Automation Engineer (Machine Vision & Inspection)

MKS Instruments, Inc.$75K — $110K *
Manufacturing & Automotive
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • BS in electrical engineering or computer science required, Master's preferred in relevant fields.
  • 5+ years in designing/implementing vision systems in clean manufacturing settings.
  • Expertise in vision system hardware integration for optimal imaging.
  • Mastery in image processing techniques like edge detection and OCR.
  • Proficient in standard vision software (e.g., Cognex, Keyence) and OpenCV.
  • Strong programming ability in Python or C++/C# for custom algorithms and interfacing.
  • Experience with fiducial alignment and automated system localization strategies.
  • Familiarity with industrial networking and automated data collection systems.

Responsibilities

  • Design and implement machine vision systems for high-precision inspection.
  • Select and integrate industrial cameras, optics, and lighting for inspection tasks.
  • Develop image processing applications using commercial and custom software.
  • Evaluate image processing solutions including AI/deep learning.
  • Support manufacturing data management for monitoring and improvement.
  • Help integrate vision systems with robotics and industrial networks.
  • Assist with machine start-up, validation, and troubleshooting operations.
  • Collaborate across teams to standardize vision architectures globally.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health insurance (medical, dental, vision) coverage.
  • 401(k) with company match to support retirement savings.
  • Life and disability insurance to provide financial security.
  • 12 paid holidays and 15 vacation days to promote work-life balance.
  • 6 weeks fully paid parental leave and adoption assistance.
  • Tuition reimbursement for further education and training opportunities.
Full Job Description

**This is a hybrid role out of our Methuen, MA location

This role will serve as the division's subject matter expert for machine vision and automated inspection technologies while contributing to broader automation initiatives that improve quality, efficiency, cost, and manufacturing capacity. This position reports to the Automation Engineering Manager. 

You Will Make an Impact By:

  • Designing and implementing machine vision systems that identify, inspect, measure, and evaluate high-precision parts and assemblies.
  • Selecting and integrating industrial cameras, lenses, optics, lighting, and image acquisition hardware for reliable, repeatable inspection performance.
  • Developing image processing and inspection applications using commercial vision platforms and custom software tools.
  • Evaluating traditional image processing and AI/deep learning-based vision solutions where appropriate.
  • Supporting the collection, storage, transformation, and visualization of manufacturing data generated by automation and inspection systems to enable process monitoring, traceability, and continuous improvement.
  • Supporting robotic guidance, alignment, inspection, and measurement applications using 2D and 3D vision technologies.
  • Integrating vision systems with robots, industrial networks, HMIs, SCADA, MES, and manufacturing databases.
  • Supporting machine startup, validation, commissioning, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement of automated machine solutions.
  • Collaborating with manufacturing, quality, engineering, and automation teams in other divisions to standardize vision architectures and best practices to accelerate implementations across global factories.

Skills You Bring:

  • BS degree in electrical engineering and/or computer science is required. Master’s degree specializing in Computer Vision, Image Processing, or a related field is strongly preferred. 
  • 5+ years of hands-on experience designing and implementing vison systems in an industrial (clean) manufacturing environment
  • Expertise in selecting, configuring, and integrating vision system hardware to create optimal and repeatable imaging conditions (with high uptime)
  • Mastery of core vision techniques, including image filtering, blob analysis, edge detection, pattern matching, Optical Character Recognition (OCR), and 2D/3D code reading.
  • Proficiency with industry-standard vision software packages (e.g., Cognex VisionPro/In-Sight, Keyence XG-X) and open-source libraries like OpenCV
  • Strong programming skills in Python or C++/C# required for developing custom inspection algorithms and scripting communication between the vision system and other machine controls
  • Experience developing and implementing fiducial-based alignment, position correction, and part localization strategies for automated manufacturing systems.
  • Familiarity with industrial networking protocols (EtherNet/IP, EtherCAT, etc.) and automated data collection systems (SCADA, MES)
  • Experience working with manufacturing data systems, databases, data pipelines, and analytics tools (SQL, Power BI/Fabric, Python, AWS).

Compensation and Benefits:  

Salary Pay Range: $ 75,000.00 - 110,000.00 per year. This range is a good faith estimate of the expected salary range for this position, based on a wide range of factors including qualifications, experience and training, operational and business needs and other considerations permitted by law. 

Bonus: This position is eligible for a discretionary annual bonus, in an amount to be determined by MKS [or as applicable].

Benefits: MKS offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance coverage (medical, dental and vision), 401(k) with company match, life and disability insurance, 12 paid holidays, sick time, 15 paid vacation days, [6 weeks fully paid] parental leave, adoption assistance and tuition reimbursement [and for participation in any stock programs, signing bonus, etc.

About MKS Instruments, Inc.

MKS Instruments, Inc. is a global provider of instruments, subsystems and process control solutions that measure, monitor, deliver, analyze, power and control critical parameters of advanced manufacturing processes to improve process performance and productivity for our customers. Our products are derived from our core competencies in pressure measurement and control, flow measurement and control, gas and vapor delivery, gas composition analysis, residual gas analysis, leak detection, control technology, ozone generation and delivery, RF & DC power, reactive gas generation, vacuum technology, photonics, sub-micron positioning, vibration isolation and optics. Our primary served markets include semiconductor capital equipment, general industrial, life and health sciences, research and defense.
Learn more about MKS Instruments, Inc.
Size
6,000 employees
Market Cap
$5.5 billion
Industry
Net Income
$350.1 million
5 Year Trend
+17.9%
Revenue
$2.3 billion
NASDAQ

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