MES Automation Engineer - Fremont GLES Development
Lam Research · Fremont, CA
- Level
- Engineer
- Team
- Controls
- Base pay
- $86k–$183k
- Travel
- 10%
- Degree
- Required (or equivalent experience)
- Experience asked
- 5+ years
- Industry
- Industrial
- Posted
- 19 days ago
The role in 30 seconds
An engineer-level controls role at Lam Research (industrial) in Fremont, CA. You will contribute directly to the innovation pipeline by enabling advanced equipment connectivity, data acquisition, and automation capabilities at Lam’s R&D labs in the United States (Fremont).
- They ask for
- 5+ years · degree required (or equivalent experience)
- Tools it names
- Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ), Automation, MES
- Base pay
- $86k–$183k
- Day to day
- about 10% travel
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of October 19, 2026
Controls Engineer roles in California: typical posted base $123k–$179k. This one lists $86k–$183k.
Median of the low and high ends of 57 live postings that list pay, out of 111 controls engineer openings in California, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
California plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 110 other live controls postings in California.
- Base pay
- About 11% below similar roles
- Experience asked
- Typical (5+ years)
Typical $123k–$179k, from 54 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Automation 68%
- PLC 46%
- Robotics 42%
- ✓ Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ) 37%
- Python 33%
- Root cause 21%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Controls team at Lam Research
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
- 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- The posting says about 10% travel. Between which sites?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
This plant: Lam Research in Fremont
18 other open roles at this site.
- Process Engineer 5 · Process
- Process Engineer 3 · Process
- Process Technician 3 · Process · Technician
- Facilities Engineer 4 · Reliability
- Engineering Technician 3 · Manufacturing
- Global Product Support Engineering Manager · Manufacturing · Manager
Full description from Lam ResearchAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Qualifications
- ✓Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering, Electronics, Computer Science, or related field with 5+ years of experience; or equivalent hands‑on experience in equipment automation
- ✓Direct experience implementing SECS/GEM-based equipment integration in R&D or manufacturing equipment environments.Proficiency with C#, .NET, and modern web technologies for automation and tool connectivity
- ✓Strong software engineering fundamentals including OOP, design patterns, data structures, and finite state machine‑based control flows.Experience with multithreading, asynchronous processes, and real‑time communication handling
- ✓Prior hands‑on experience implementing IoT connectivity, data ingestion, and equipment sensor integration
Preferred qualifications
- ✓Experience integrating equipment with engineering test systems or R&D data acquisition platforms
- ✓Familiarity with GEM300, EDA/Interface A, or other semiconductor industry automation standards
- ✓Exposure to MES/MOM platforms
- ✓Experience with REST APIs, message-based communication (MQTT, AMQP), and IoT/edge connectivity patterns
- ✓Ability to work with simulators, protocol analyzers, and diagnostic tools for SECS/GEM validation
- ✓Understanding of semiconductor subsystems
- ✓Strong analytical, debugging, and problem-solving skills in an R&D environment
- ✓Experience supporting cross‑site engineering teams and contributing to globally distributed development
- ✓Preferred Certifications:
Critical Manufacturing Automation Developer Certification
Critical Manufacturing Back‑end Certification
Our commitment
We believe it is important for every person to feel valued, included, and empowered to achieve their full potential. By bringing unique individuals and viewpoints together, we achieve extraordinary results.
Lam offers a variety of work location models based on the needs of each role. Our hybrid roles combine the benefits of on-site collaboration with colleagues and the flexibility to work remotely and fall into two categories – On-site Flex and Virtual Flex. ‘On-site Flex’ you’ll work 3+ days per week on-site at a Lam or customer/supplier location, with the opportunity to work remotely for the balance of the week. ‘Virtual Flex’ you’ll work 1-2 days per week on-site at a Lam or customer/supplier location, and remotely the rest of the time.
Salary
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.
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The group you’ll be a part of
Global Product Groups/Global Product Operations/Global Lab Automation
The impact you’ll make
As an Automation Developer at Lam, you will contribute directly to the innovation pipeline by enabling advanced equipment connectivity, data acquisition, and automation capabilities at Lam’s R&D labs in the United States (Fremont). You will design and implement SECS/GEM‑based equipment interfaces, communication frameworks, and IoT‑enabled solutions that support early‑stage tool development and next-generation process engineering.
Working closely with multidisciplinary R&D teams, you will build robust automation components that accelerate prototype validation, experiment execution, and system characterization. Your expertise in C#, .NET, and web technologies will help bridge hardware–software interactions, enhance tool diagnostics, and enable deeper insights into complex equipment behavior. Through your work, you will help advance Lam’s technology roadmap and contribute to the creation of future semiconductor process platforms.
What you’ll do
- •Design, develop, troubleshoot, and debug automation software modules that support tool bring‑up, experimental workflows, and R&D diagnostics
- •Implement SECS/GEM communication interfaces and IoT connectivity layers for prototype and development-stage equipment
- •Enhance and maintain existing automation frameworks by identifying improvement areas and resolving complex integration issues
- •Produce clear interface specifications, documentation packages, architecture diagrams, and structured code to support global R&D users
- •Collaborate with R&D engineers, equipment designers, controls engineers, and software architects to develop new automation capabilities
- •Support lab equipment integration activities, including on‑site testing and hands-on validation, with limited travel (<10%) to global Lam R&D sites
Who we’re looking for