Sr. Principal Software Development Engineer

Forming Our Future together

FormFactor, Inc. (NASDAQ: FORM), is a leading provider of essential test and measurement technologies along the full semiconductor product life cycle — from characterization, modeling, reliability, and design de-bug, to qualification and production test. Semiconductor companies rely upon FormFactor’s products and services to accelerate profitability by optimizing device performance and advancing yield knowledge. The company serves customers through its network of facilities in Asia, Europe, and North America.

Rooted in our core values — Focus on the Customer, Ownership & Accountability, Respectfully & Effectively Communicate, and Motivate & Develop People — we foster an environment where diverse perspectives are not only welcomed but celebrated. Everyone can make an impact here. Whether it's improving products, supporting customers, or positively influencing peers and the community, the contributions of our people matter.

Shift:

The regular hours for this position are day shift.

Job Description:

The Senior Software Development Engineer is responsible for designing, developing, and testing complex software systems and applications. This role focuses on design automation, algorithm development, scalable architectures, and advanced data-structure engineering that support semiconductor design, modeling, simulation, and automation workflows. Candidates should have at least seven years of professional C/C++ experience and ideally experience in the semiconductor or EDA ecosystem.

Key Responsibilities:

Design and Development

o Design and implement core algorithms for design automation, modeling, simulation, optimization workflows, or new products.

o Architect and maintain modular, scalable C/C++ codebases, including reusable libraries and well-structured APIs.

o Develop custom data structures for graph-based, geometric, timing, or constraint-driven problems.

o Apply software design patterns to improve maintainability, extensibility, and clarity of complex systems.

o Collaborate with CAD, design, and product engineering teams to translate domain requirements into robust software solutions.

Testing and Quality Assurance

o Profile and optimize performance, memory usage, and computational efficiency.

o Create and execute unit, integration, and system tests to ensure software reliability and performance.

o Apply best practices for code quality, maintainability, and security.

Technical Leadership

o Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior engineers.

o Collaborate with cross-functional teams (Product Management, QA, DevOps) to define requirements and deliver solutions.

Innovation and Continuous Improvement

o Research emerging technologies and recommend adoption where appropriate.

o Drive improvements in development processes, tools, and methodologies.

Preferred Experiences & Background:

· Education

o Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field.

· Experience

o Typically 7+ years of professional experience developing production-quality software in C/C++.

o Proven track record in designing and delivering complex software systems.

o Strong command of algorithms, data structures, and computational problem-solving.

o Experience with object-oriented design, design patterns, and modern C++.

o Proficiency with Microsoft Visual Studio for development, debugging, and build workflows.

o Good understanding of geometry, including spatial reasoning, geometric algorithms, and geometric data structures relevant to design automation.

· Technical Skills

o Proficiency in C/C++ programming language.

o Experience with MATLAB for algorithm prototyping, data analysis, or model validation.

o Experience with C# for tooling, UI components, or automation utilities.

o Familiarity with algorithms used in placement, routing, timing analysis, simulation, or optimization.

o Experience with Python or other scripting languages for automation and data processing.

o Strong understanding of software architecture, design patterns, and data structures.

o Knowledge of multi-threading is a plus.

o Understanding of semiconductor design flows, PDK integration, or verification methodologies is preferred.

Skills:

Analytical Tools, Cloud Platform, Communication, Data Structures, Design Patterns, Java, Problem Solving, Python (Programming Language), Software Architectures, Team Collaboration

Education & Experience:

Minimum of 8 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 6 years and a Master’s degree; or a PhD with 3 years experience; or equivalent experience | Required

Pay Range:

$136,200.00 - $178,815.00

Pay Range Explained:

This role in Livermore, California pays between $136,200.00 and $178,815.00 per year, depending on your experience, skills, and background. Pay may vary in other locations. We offer a full benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability coverage, a 401(k) with company match, employee stock purchase plan (ESPP), and paid time off. You’ll also be eligible for quarterly profit-sharing bonuses and flexible spending or savings accounts.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

FormFactor is an equal opportunity employer. FormFactor complies with all national, state, and local laws that seek to promote equal opportunities for any applicant or employee without regard to age, race, color, gender, gender identity/expression, national origin, sexual orientation, religion, disability, marital status, pregnancy or related condition, military service, or any other legally protected characteristics. These protections apply to all aspects of employment, including but not limited to, recruitment, hiring, training, promotions, and compensation.

For roles that are designated as remote-eligible, employees cannot be located in: AL, AK, AR, DE, GA, HI, IL, IA, KY, LA, ME, MD, MS, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NM, ND, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, WV, WI, WY. This list is continuously evolving and being updated, please check back with us if the state you live in is on the exclusion list. A role is remote-eligible only when it is listed as "Remote" in the job location.