Lam Research

Hardware Engineering Manager

Lam Research$130K — $160K *
Manufacturing & Automotive
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's in mechanical engineering with 10+ years experience, or Master's with 7+ years, or PhD with 5+ years
  • Experience in engineering management or technical leadership roles
  • Proven ability to lead and develop teams in line with core values
  • Strong design background in electro-mechanical or opto-mechanical systems
  • Experience guiding engineering efforts through product development lifecycles
  • Familiarity with matrix organizations and cross-functional collaboration
  • Collaboration experience with Electrical and Firmware teams on integrated systems

Responsibilities

  • Define and manage mechanical architectures for advanced sensor platforms
  • Develop modular and scalable designs for various product lines
  • Guide trade-offs in design between performance, cost, and reliability
  • Ensure designs meet safety and performance specifications
  • Oversee integration with Systems Engineering for robust subsystem interfaces
  • Collaborate with Manufacturing Engineering to ensure smooth production transitions
  • Facilitate joint design efforts between Mechanical, Electrical, and Firmware teams

Benefits

  • Comprehensive benefits package
  • Invests in employee development
  • Supports work-life balance
  • Encourages employee growth throughout different life phases
Full Job Description
The impact you'll make

As a Hardware/Mechanical Engineering Manager within the Equipment Intelligence and Sensor Engineering team, you will play a critical leadership role in enabling the mechanical architecture, integration, and deployment of advanced sensor systems across Lam platforms. Your work will directly impact the scalability, reliability, and performance of sensing solutions that drive equipment intelligence-enabling improved process control, fault detection, and system optimization.

You will lead a team responsible for designing and integrating complex opto-mechanical and electro-mechanical assemblies, working in close partnership with Electrical Engineering, Firmware Engineering, and other functional teams to ensure cohesive system architectures to build sensor sub-systems that are robust, manufacturable, and seamlessly integrated at the system level. Success in this role requires effective leadership within a matrix organization, influencing functional boundaries while maintaining accountability for mechanical deliverables. This role requires balancing deep technical engagement with strong execution discipline across fast-paced NPI and innovation programs.

This is a high-visibility position where your leadership will influence platform strategy, cross-product standardization, and the evolution of modular sensing architectures across Lam.

This role sits at the forefront of transforming traditional semiconductor equipment into intelligent, sensor-rich systems. You will have the opportunity to shape platform-level architectures that combine hardware, sensing, and data-impacting not just a single product, but the evolution of equipment intelligence across an entire portfolio.

What you'll do

Lead Mechanical Architecture for Sensor Systems
Define and drive mechanical architectures for advanced sensor platforms, including imaging systems, optical assemblies, and integrated sensing modules.
Enable modular, scalable designs that can be deployed across multiple product lines and applications.
Guide design tradeoffs across performance, integration constraints, reliability, and cost.

Own Design Quality and System Integration
Ensure designs meet functional, environmental, reliability, and safety requirements.
Drive strong integration with Systems Engineering to ensure robust subsystem interfaces and system-level performance.
Review mechanical designs, CAD layouts, tolerance analyses, and BOM structures.

Drive DFx and Production Readiness
Ensure designs meet manufacturability, serviceability, reliability, and cost targets.
Partner closely with Manufacturing Engineering, Supply Chain, and Operations to enable smooth transition to production and scale.
Promote platform reuse, component standardization, and cost optimization.

Electrical, Firmware, and System Co-Design
Work closely with Electrical Engineering leadership to define integrated hardware architectures for sensor and equipment intelligence systems.
Ensure mechanical designs support electrical requirements including EMI/EMC, thermal performance, routing constraints, and maintainability.
Enable tight integration between mechanical packaging, electronics, and sensing elements to achieve performance and reliability targets.
Work closely with Firmware Engineering to define hardware-firmware interfaces, including sensor control, data pipelines, and real-time system interactions.
Ensure mechanical designs support firmware and system requirements such as access for debugging, calibration workflows, and updateability in production and field environments

Who we're looking for

You are a technically strong and hands-on engineering leader who thrives at the intersection of hardware and intelligence systems. You enjoy building teams, solving complex integration challenges, and translating emerging technologies into scalable engineering solutions. You excel in matrix organizations, building strong partnerships with peer managers, and aligning cross-functional teams toward common objectives. You are comfortable operating in ambiguity, driving early-stage innovation while maintaining execution discipline required for productization. You are effective at aligning hardware and firmware teams under shared leadership, ensuring seamless integration between mechanical systems and embedded functionality.
  • Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering (BSME) with 10+ years of experience, OR Master's degree (MSME) with 7+ years of experience, OR PhD with 5+ years of experience.
  • A portion of experience in engineering management or technical leadership roles.
  • Demonstrated ability to lead and develop teams aligned with Lam core values and a high-performance culture.
  • Strong background in design of complex electro-mechanical or opto-mechanical systems.
  • Experience leading engineering efforts through product development or NPI lifecycles.
  • Experience working in matrix organizations with cross-functional ownership across multiple disciplines.
  • Experience collaborating with Electrical and Firmware teams on integrated hardware systems.


Preferred qualifications

  • Experience with semiconductor capital equipment or similar high-complexity systems.
  • Background in optical systems, imaging, or sensor integration.
  • Strong understanding of:
    • DFMEA and reliability engineering
    • Tolerance analysis and precision design
  • Thermal and structural analysis
  • Experience with modular platform development and cross-product standardization.
  • Exposure to sensor systems, edge compute platforms, or data-driven system architectures.
  • Experience supporting production ramp and field issue resolution.
  • Demonstrated success in mentoring senior engineers and building high-impact technical teams.
  • Experience collaborating closely with Electrical Engineering teams on integrated hardware/system design.
  • Demonstrated success influencing across organizational boundaries and aligning multiple stakeholders in complex development environments.
  • Experience working with embedded systems and firmware-driven hardware platforms.
  • Familiarity with hardware-firmware co-design, including sensor control, data acquisition, and real-time system behavior.


Our Perks and Benefits

At Lam, our people make amazing things possible. That's why we invest in you throughout the phases of your life with a comprehensive set of outstanding benefits.

About Lam Research

Lam Research Corporation (Lam Research) is a supplier of wafer fabrication equipment and services to the worldwide semiconductor industry. Lam Research designs, manufactures, markets, refurbish, and services semiconductor processing equipment used in the fabrication of integrated circuits. The Company’s etch and clean technologies enable customers to build integrated circuits. Its etch systems shape the microscopic conductive and dielectric layers into circuits that define a chip’s final use and function. Its Customer Support Business Group (CSBG) provides products and services to maximize installed equipment performance and operational efficiency. Its customer base includes semiconductor memory, foundry, and integrated device manufacturers (IDMs) that make DRAM, NAND, and logic devices for these products.

Lam Research Careers

Joining Lam Research offers a unique opportunity to enhance your career at a leading global company at the forefront of innovation and technology in the semiconductor industry. Work You’ll Do At Lam Research, we are committed to advancing the technology landscape through continuous innovation and leadership. Our team of professionals is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of what's possible, making us a pivotal player in the semiconductor industry. By joining our team, you will collaborate with some of the brightest minds in the field, contributing to projects that significantly impact future technology. Transform Your Career Lam Research stands at the intersection of technology, innovation, and leadership. We offer job opportunities that challenge you to excel and push your limits. Our culture fosters growth and embraces diversity, ensuring that every team member can thrive professionally and personally. Join our dynamic team and be part of a company known for its groundbreaking work in developing equipment and services that drive the production of virtually every leading-edge chip in the world. Professional Growth and Development We believe in nurturing the professional growth of our employees by providing ample opportunities for career advancement through leadership and diversity training programs. Our commitment to your career is reflected in our robust benefits package, designed to support you and your family’s health, well-being, and financial future. Internship and Employment Opportunities Start your career path at Lam Research with our internship programs, which offer a hands-on experience in the semiconductor industry. Interns work closely with experienced mentors, gaining invaluable skills and knowledge that prepare them for full-time positions within our company. For seasoned professionals, we offer a variety of positions that leverage your skills to contribute to our mission of continuous improvement and innovation. We are always looking for curious, creative, and driven individuals to join our team. Inclusive Culture and Networking Lam Research is dedicated to creating a diverse and inclusive environment where all employees can thrive. Our culture encourages networking and collaboration, allowing you to connect with colleagues and industry leaders who are as passionate about technology and innovation as you are. Applying at Lam Research Ready to take the next step in your career? Explore the job opportunities at Lam Research by visiting our Careers page. Tailor your resume to highlight your relevant experience and skills, and prepare for an interview that could lead to a multitude of rewarding career paths with us. Stay Connected Keep up to date with the latest company news, employment trends, and career tips by joining our community. Subscribe to receive updates that can help you navigate your professional journey at Lam Research. Join Our Team Search open positions that match your skills and interests. We look for passionate, innovative, and solution-driven team players. Start your journey with Lam Research today, where your work isn’t just a job—it’s a pathway to personal and professional fulfillment. SEARCH LAM RESEARCH JOBS Discover the opportunities waiting for you at Lam Research, where we turn today’s innovations into tomorrow’s technologies.
Learn more about Lam Research
Size
14,100 employees
Market Cap
$54.8 billion
Industry
Net Income
$2.9 billion
Founded
2013
5 Year Trend
+16.5%
Revenue
$11.9 billion
NASDAQ

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