Principal Engineer Jobs in Oregon
Principal Engineer jobs in Oregon are concentrated in the Portland metro area and along the Silicon Forest corridor, with strong and consistent demand in semiconductor manufacturing, clean technology, and enterprise software. Major employers with lasting Oregon roots include Intel, Nike, and NVIDIA, which maintain large engineering campuses in the region and hire at the senior and staff principal levels across hardware, systems, and software disciplines. The Hillsboro and Beaverton submarkets generate a disproportionate share of openings, while Eugene and Corvallis draw additional demand from university-affiliated research and advanced manufacturing. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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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 debug, 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 Principal Industrial Engineer within the Service and Repair organization is responsible for driving operational excellence through Industrial Engineering fundamentals, Lean methodologies, data analysis, and structured project management. This role focuses on improving service processes, optimizing capacity, and ensuring systems and workflows consistently meet customer turnaround time expectations.
This role can be based either at our Beaverton, OR or Farmers Branch, TX locations.
This individual will partner closely with Service, Operations, and Engineering teams to identify inefficiencies, implement sustainable improvements, and enhance overall performance. The role requires a balance of hands-on engagement on the production floor and analytical work, along with moderate travel to support multiple Service sites.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead continuous improvement initiatives using Lean principles and IE methodologies to reduce waste, improve flow, and increase efficiency.
- Develop capacity models to determine tooling, equipment, and headcount requirements aligned with demand forecasts.
- Analyze workflows and process cycles to identify bottlenecks, reduce wait times, and improve turnaround performance.
- Conduct root cause analysis and implement corrective and preventive actions to address operational inefficiencies.
- Drive data-informed decision-making through collection, analysis, and visualization of operational metrics.
- Partner with cross-functional teams (Service, Operations, Engineering) to implement scalable process improvements.
- Manage and execute projects from concept through completion, ensuring timelines and business objectives are met.
- Support standard work development and documentation to sustain process improvements.
- Provide on-site support on the production floor to observe processes and validate improvement opportunities.
- Travel to other Service sites (approximately 10–25%) to support multi-site alignment and improvement initiatives.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Advanced degree (Master’s) in Industrial Engineering or related field.
- Experience working in a Service and Repair environment.
- Familiarity with semiconductor manufacturing or test processes.
- Certification in Lean, Six Sigma (Green Belt or higher), or equivalent continuous improvement methodologies.
- Experience with data analysis tools (e.g., SQL, Python, Power BI, Tableau).
- Knowledge of ERP or MES systems.
Work Environment:
- Split time between production floor engagement and computer-based analytical work.
- Hands-on involvement in operational environments to observe and improve processes.
- Travel required between Service sites (10–25%).
Skills:
Capacity Models, Continuous Improvement, Data Visualization, Lean Manufacturing, Statistical Analysis, Workflow Analysis
Education & Experience:
Minimum of 5 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 3 years and a Master’s degree; or a PhD without experience; or equivalent work | Required
Pay Range:
$94,100.00 - $123,480.00
Pay Range Explained:
This role in Beaverton, Oregon pays between $94,100.00 and $123,480.00 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.
See All 22 Principal Engineer Jobs in Oregon
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Find Principal Engineer JobsPrincipal Engineer Jobs by City in Oregon
Where Oregon roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Principal Engineer Job Market in Oregon
A snapshot from current Oregon openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring



Top Industries Hiring
- Electronics & Hardware
- Consulting & Professional Services
- Agriculture & Farming
- Construction & Real Estate
What Oregon Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in principal engineer jobs across Oregon.
- Bachelor's or master's degree in electrical engineering, computer science, or a closely related field
- Ten or more years of progressive engineering experience including technical leadership of large projects
- Demonstrated ability to define system architecture and drive cross-functional design decisions
- Deep expertise in at least one Oregon-prominent domain such as semiconductor process, embedded systems, or cloud infrastructure
- Experience mentoring senior engineers and setting engineering standards across a product or platform
- Strong written communication skills for authoring design documents, roadmaps, and executive-facing technical reviews
Principal Engineer Jobs in Oregon: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a principal engineer in Oregon?
Most Oregon employers define principal engineer as an internal career level rather than a state-licensed title, so there is no Oregon licensing board or state exam required for the role in software or hardware engineering. The typical path is a bachelor's degree in engineering or computer science, followed by progressive seniority at the senior and staff levels until you are setting technical direction independently. Oregon's semiconductor and clean-tech clusters favor engineers who can document architecture decisions and lead cross-team technical initiatives.
Which companies hire principal engineers in Oregon?
Companies currently hiring principal engineers in Oregon include Ampere Computing, FormFactor, and CVS Health, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Oregon's Silicon Forest concentration of semiconductor fabs, enterprise software firms, and athletic-technology headquarters makes it one of the more active states for this seniority level outside of California.
Which Oregon cities have the most principal engineer jobs?
Portland, Beaverton, and Hillsboro account for the largest share of principal engineer openings in Oregon. Portland and its western suburbs, particularly Hillsboro and Beaverton, dominate because Intel's large campus complex, Nike's world headquarters, and a cluster of enterprise software companies are all concentrated there, while smaller cities like Corvallis benefit from Oregon State University's research partnerships and affiliated technology spinoffs.
Are there remote principal engineer jobs in Oregon?
Yes, and more than most fields. About 88% of principal engineer openings tied to Oregon are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting the fact that much of the work involves architecture reviews, design documentation, and cross-functional collaboration that can be done asynchronously. Roles tied to semiconductor fabrication or lab-based hardware validation are the exception and almost always require on-site presence.
How can I get hired as a principal engineer in Oregon with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry point is a new-graduate or associate engineer role at one of Oregon's large engineering employers, then building toward principal over time rather than applying directly. Intel Hillsboro runs structured new-college-hire programs in process engineering and hardware design, and Oregon-based software companies regularly bring in junior engineers who grow into senior and staff levels internally. Earning a professional engineer registration through the Oregon State Board of Examiners for Engineering and Land Surveying strengthens a candidate's profile in any hardware or systems discipline.
Where can I find and apply to principal engineer jobs in Oregon?
You can find and apply to principal engineer jobs in Oregon on Migrate Mate, which lists current Oregon openings updated regularly. Search the listings for roles that match your discipline and experience level, then apply directly to the ones that fit your background.
See All 22 Principal Engineer Jobs in Oregon
Find roles in Oregon that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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