Systems Engineer (Hardware) Technical Support Specialist

Description

The company is privately owned and was founded in 2001 as a spin-out from Bristol University. Its scientists and engineers supply customers worldwide with products for the coming wave of semiconductor devices.

This role suits a hardware technical support specialist who enjoys tracking down complex mechanical, optical and electronic faults. You will be based in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, UK, helping maintain high-performance metrology systems both in the field and on the build floor.

Field Service and Applications will turn to you when one of the company's systems needs a true specialist. You will give technical expertise across system hardware, control systems and manufacturing development, working closely with other teams so your fixes can shape future designs.

Interviews run Monday to Friday, 9am to 4:30pm UK time. Stage one is a 30 to 45 minute remote meeting about your experience and technical ability. Stage two takes 2.5 hours onsite and covers technical, presentation and communication skills, how you like to work, and your questions about the company.

You can tell us at the start if you are uncomfortable with eye contact. Remote candidates may keep their camera off after greetings until the end. Informal dress is fine for onsite interviews. Tell us about any adjustments you need during recruitment and we will do our best to help.

AI is used only to transcribe interviews. People make every hiring decision based on the conversation.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the escalation point for advanced troubleshooting of complex hardware faults on installed systems and manufacturing builds, supporting Field Service and Applications.
• Diagnose faults in mechanical, optical and electronic subsystems, including OEM modules and custom parts, and reproduce and analyse issues customers report.
• Partner with the Technical Support Specialist (Control Systems) to trace system-level faults that span hardware and control systems.
• Lead or join structured root cause investigations, then agree lasting fixes, design changes and process changes with Engineering and Manufacturing.
• Help Manufacturing Development Engineers with integration, assembly and build troubleshooting, advising on manufacturability and system stability.
• Review field data, logs and performance reports, support failure analysis of returned parts, and turn lessons learned into troubleshooting procedures, diagnostic workflows and training for Customer Support and Applications.

Requirements

• Practical experience with precision electromechanical systems and opto-mechanical assemblies.
• Experience with high-stability instruments that need sub-micron precision.
• Knowledge of vibration isolation, nano-positioning stages, sensors and close-tolerance mechanical assemblies.
• Ability to diagnose complex system problems across mechanical, electronic and optical subsystems.
• A background in semiconductor equipment, scientific instruments or photonics.
• Skill at analysing how hardware, software and environmental factors interact.
• Ability to explain complex technical challenges clearly to key stakeholders.
• Works well across disciplines with Applications, Customer Support, Engineering and Manufacturing teams.
• We'd love to see: familiarity with wafer handling systems, EFEM modules, robotics and automated semiconductor tool architectures.
• We'd love to see: familiarity with metrology tools and nano-scale microscopy systems.

Conditions

Hybrid working is offered wherever possible. Most employees are onsite three days a week, though some roles need more onsite time because of the work and business needs.

This role requires onsite attendance every day during the first month, as there is a lot of technical material to learn.

Approved recruitment agencies only. Unsolicited agency CVs are not accepted, and the company is not responsible for any related fees. Do not send candidate details for this advert or approach company staff.

Benefits

• Salary of £40,000 to £48,000, depending on experience.
• Death in service cover at three times salary.
• BUPA private health care.
• EMI share scheme.