Lead AI Engineer - Semiconductor AI Innovation

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

Lead AI Engineer - Semiconductor AI Innovation

Driving AI-Powered Solutions for Semiconductor Equipment Operations

Location:

Wilmington, MA (On-site) Team:

AI & Advanced Analytics Reports to:

Senior Director, Engineering Direct Reports:

Will hire and lead a team of 3 AI/ML engineers

About Us

Onto Innovation is a worldwide leader in the design, development, manufacture and support of defect inspection, advanced packaging lithography, process control metrology, and data analysis systems and software used by semiconductor device manufacturers worldwide. Onto Innovation provides a full-fab solution through its families of proprietary products that provide critical yield-enhancing information and real time process control responses, enabling microelectronic device manufacturers to drive down the costs and time to market of their products. The Company's expanding portfolio of equipment and software solutions is used in both the wafer processing and final manufacturing of ICs, and in adjacent markets such as FPD, and LED manufacturing.

We design and manufacture advanced semiconductor inspection and metrology tools. Our solutions power innovation for the world's leading chipmakers. As the industry moves faster than ever, we believe

AI will be a key enabler

of smarter, faster, and more reliable decision-making in semiconductor manufacturing.

We're building a new

AI Innovation Team

to explore, develop, and deploy cutting-edge machine learning systems across our product and process ecosystem. You'll be our

founding Lead AI Engineer , responsible for setting the vision, building the team, and delivering impactful AI solutions at scale.

About the Role

This is a

hands-on technical leadership

role. You will work closely with senior tool designers, process engineers, and applications teams to understand complex workflows and data flows. You'll architect, prototype, and productionize AI solutions that accelerate innovation, improve yields, and reduce tool downtime. You will also grow and mentor a team of three engineers specializing in LLMs, computer vision, predictive modeling, and MLOps.

Responsibilities

Define the AI strategy and architecture

for integrating machine learning into core engineering and manufacturing processes. Partner with tool, process, and applications engineers to map as-is processes and define a to-be AI/automation architecture and deliver measurable outcomes. Ship agentic assistants for use-cases.

Stand up LLM + RAG + tool integrations (via MCP servers) that help engineers accelerate tool operation/setup/maintenance and explain trade-offs, grounded in internal docs, logs, and historical inspection outcomes. Lead projects across diverse areas:

Predictive maintenance

for tool health monitoring and failure detection. Computer vision

for wafer defect detection, segmentation, and classification. LLM-based engineering assistants

using RAG and MCP agents to make internal knowledge more accessible. Process optimization & yield improvement

through data-driven insights and parameter tuning. Simulation and digital twins

to model process behaviors and accelerate R&D.

Build

retrieval-augmented AI assistants

to query internal knowledge bases, tools, and logs. Architect robust pipelines for

data ingestion, labeling, storage, and retrieval

across massive multi-modal datasets (images, telemetry, recipes, logs). Stand up scalable

MLOps infrastructure : model registries, monitoring, evaluation, deployment, and governance. Hire, mentor, and manage a team of 3 engineers focused on LLM/Agents, CV/ML, and MLOps/Data. Work cross-functionally to integrate AI solutions into production environments safely and securely. Minimum Qualifications

5+ years

applied ML/AI experience, with

3+ years

in a technical leadership role. Hands-on expertise with at least

two

of the following domains:

Large Language Models

- RAG, fine-tuning, agent frameworks, prompt optimization. Predictive Modeling

- tool failure prediction, anomaly detection, time-series analysis. Computer Vision

- defect detection, segmentation, or SEM/optical imaging.

Strong background in

ML systems architecture

and

production deployment . Advanced

Python

proficiency: C++/CUDA familiarity is a plus. Experience with

MLOps stacks : containers, CI/CD, Ray Serve/Triton, model registries (e.g., MLflow), and GPU optimization. Strong stakeholder collaboration skills and the ability to translate between engineering, operations, and leadership. Demonstrated success delivering

AI-powered products into production . Nice-to-Haves

Familiarity with

semiconductor manufacturing , inspection, or metrology. Understanding of fab interfaces and data connectivity ( SECS/GEM, GEM300 ). Prior experience deploying

digital twins

or simulation-driven optimization. Knowledge of

vector databases, retrieval pipelines, and hybrid search . Experience implementing

safety, security, and IP protections

for AI systems. Exposure to datasets or tools from

KLA, ASML, Applied Materials, Onto, Nova, or similar inspection/metrology vendors . What Success Looks Like

90 days:

Map high-value AI opportunities, propose architecture, and deliver a prioritized roadmap. 6 months:

Deliver first production pilot (e.g., predictive tool health, RAG assistant, or wafer defect CV model) and hire first two engineers. 12 months:

Multiple AI-powered systems integrated into engineering workflows, delivering measurable impact on

yield, efficiency, and downtime . Our Tech Stack

LLMs & Agents:

OpenAI, Anthropic, HuggingFace, MCP-based connectors, LangChain, LlamaIndex Predictive Models:

PyTorch, TensorFlow, Scikit-learn, XGBoost, Time-series ML Computer Vision:

PyTorch, OpenCV, Kornia, segmentation/detection architectures Data & Serving:

Triton, Ray Serve, MLflow, Kubernetes, Kafka, vector DBs, GPU compute clusters Why Join Us

Build

foundational AI infrastructure

in one of the most data-rich industries in the world. Lead the team shaping the future of

AI-assisted semiconductor engineering . Tackle multi-modal AI challenges at

scale -from LLMs to predictive analytics to advanced vision systems. Collaborate with world-class engineers pushing the limits of nanometer-scale inspection and manufacturing.

Qualifications

see above

Onto Innovation Inc. offers competitive salaries and a generous benefits package, including health/dental/vision/life/disability, PTO, 401K plan with employer match, and an Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP) along with health & wellness initiatives. We provide a collaborative working environment along with resources, and state-of-the-art tools & equipment to promote success; and a welcoming, inclusive corporate culture where individuals are recognized for their contributions.

Onto Innovation Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, genetic information, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected basis.

For positions requiring access to technical data, Onto Innovation Inc., Inc. may have to obtain export licensing approval from the U.S. Department of Commerce - Bureau of Industry and Security and/or the U.S. Department of State - Directorate of Defense Trade Controls. As such, applicants for this position - except US Citizens, US Permanent Residents, and protected individuals as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) - may have to go through an export licensing review process.