Principal Systems Engineer
Company websitemks.com (MKS, opens in new tab)
Base salary $138,825 to $231,375
Employer-published annual base salary, USD. Advertised base range in Rochester, NY
You apply on the employer's own site. Six Figure Work does not handle applications.
- LocationRochester, NY
- WorkplaceWorkplace not stated
- Status at last checkSource accepting applications when checked
- Last checked (1 h ago) · observed since
About this job
A Day in Your Life at MKS:
As a Principal Systems Engineer at MKS, you will partner with Core Engineering, Technical Operations, other Systems Engineers and customers to develop and support new RF generators. In this role, you will report to a manager or director of systems engineering. You will make an impact by:
• Leading projects from conception (architecture) through alpha and beta phases to transfer to high volume production
• Negotiating specifications and performance tradeoffs with technical and schedule risk
• Lead developmental testing and compliance to specifications
• Work with an engineering team to overcome technical challenges, optimize the design for performance, manufacturability, and reliability
• Advocate for the team with internal and external customers and resources
Travel Requirements: Up to 10% of Travel is required.
Skills You Bring:
• Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering
• 8 years of related experience
• Technical Team Leadership
• Requirements Management Experience
• RF Test and Measurement Experience
Preferred Skills:
• Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering or Similar
• RF Design Experience
• Power Supply Design Experience
• High Voltage Design/Testing Experience
Physical Demands and Working Conditions:
• Physical Demand 1: lift up to 30 pounds
• Working Condition 1: work in an office environment
• Working Condition 2: work in a laboratory environment
Compensation and Benefits:
Salary Pay Range: $138,825.00 - $231,375.00 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. At MKS, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for the role.
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.].
We are interested in a qualified candidate who is eligible to work in the United States. However, we will not be sponsoring work visas for this position, at this time.
MKS is an equal opportunity employer, including disability, veteran status and all categories protected by law. Please review our EOE statements for additional details. MKS is generally only hiring candidates who reside in states where we are registered to do business.
#LI-RS1
Globally, our policy is to recruit individuals from wide and diverse backgrounds. However, certain positions require access to controlled goods and technologies subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) or Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Applicants for these positions may need to be “U.S. persons.” “U.S. persons” are generally defined as U.S. citizens, noncitizen nationals, lawful permanent residents (or, green card holders), individuals granted asylum, and individuals admitted as refugees.
MKS Inc. and its affiliates and subsidiaries (“MKS”) is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer: diverse candidates are encouraged to apply. We win as a team and are committed to recruiting and hiring qualified applicants regardless of race, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions), religion, age, ancestry, physical or mental disability or handicap, marital status, membership in the uniformed services, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, or any other category protected by applicable law. Hiring decisions are based on merit, qualifications and business needs. We conduct background checks and drug screens, in accordance with applicable law and company policies. MKS is generally only hiring candidates who reside in states where we are registered to do business.
MKS is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or interview process due to a disability, please contact us at: [email protected] .
If applying for a specific job, please include the requisition number (ex: RXXXX), the title and location of the role
Source: MKS on Workday · View original posting (opens in new tab)
Pay in context
This role's base floor ($138,825) is above 18% of the 954 Software Engineering roles in New York listed on this site. Their median floor is $175,000; the middle half runs from $145,000 to $200,000.
Only jobs on this site count, and each one publishes a base salary of $100,000 or more, so this compares six-figure jobs with each other, not with the whole market. Computed Nov 6, 2026.
This listingPrincipal Systems Engineer$138,825 to $231,375
Principal Fiber Laser Engineer$139K to $231K
Principal DevOps Architect$140K to $185K
Senior Manager, Product Line Marketing, OpticsFrom $140K
Senior Manager, Global Leadership Development$135K to $225K
Senior Quality Engineering Manager$135K to $225K
Product Marketing ManagerFrom $130K
Chart as a table
| Role | Published base |
|---|---|
| Principal Systems Engineer (this listing) | $138,825 - $231,375 |
| Principal Fiber Laser Engineer | $139K - $231K |
| Principal DevOps Architect | $140K - $185K |
| Senior Manager, Product Line Marketing, Optics | From $140K |
| Senior Manager, Global Leadership Development | $135K - $225K |
| Senior Quality Engineering Manager | $135K - $225K |
| Product Marketing Manager | From $130K |
Observed changes
- First observed on the employer's board
- Began meeting the published-salary criteria
- Observed since
- Employer-stated posting date
- 2026-11-03
Where this pay comes from
Location as the employer wrote it: Rochester, NY
Salary Pay Range: $138,825.00 - $231,375.00 per year. This range is a good faith estimate of the expect
- Method
- Employer text, read with fixed rules and re-verified
- Checked
- Rule set
- us-base-v2
The pay passage appears in the employer's own job text. Fixed, deterministic rules located it, and the passage below was checked against the stored copy of the posting.
What we verified
- The pay figures come from the employer's own listing, quoted exactly above.
- The pay is an annual base salary in US dollars with a minimum of at least $100,000.
- The role was publicly listed on the employer's job board when last checked.
We do not verify what the employer will actually offer, whether the employer is still recruiting for the role, or anything beyond what the employer published. Full methodology.
