Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI)

Our Vision

When diversity, equity, and inclusion are prioritized,their intersection creates a sense of belonging.

At MKS, belonging seamlessly connects to our four Guiding Principles, because we know that we can achieve more when we create a culture that inspires each of us to fully contribute and collaborate across our global organization.

Belonging is the environment we cultivate, and we know that this commitment takes all of us to own it. It is the experience of a collective belonging, balanced with being valued for our individuality, that allows us to grow, win as a team, and innovate.

Our Commitment to Growth

Sally Ann Bouley, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer for MKS Instruments discusses our commitment to growth and diversity.

What Our Employees Are Saying

I take pride in being part of a company that prioritizes DEI initiatives and actively develops talent. MKS goes beyond mere statements and banners; it translates its vision into meaningful actions.

— Shalaka D., PhD, Engineering Manager, Lasers BU, United States

I have witnessed the progress of MKS for 13 years. The cross-region communication enables me to develop multidimensional thought. MKS’ DE&I culture keeps me motivated, as they have enhanced my work-life balance and brought equal opportunities to female engineers.

— Aimin S., Manufacturing Engineering Manager, China

As a global company, MKS accepts the mission of building cross functional, diverse, and multicultural teams that provide cutting edge technology for solving the world’s most challenging problems.

— Oliver K., Manager of Manufacturing & Operations, Germany

Taking a proactive, innovative approach to career development empowers our employees – in the unique way they need – to aim high and work toward a bright future.

— Devinder Kaur, HRBP, Commercial and L&D, India

Read more testimonials and Innovation Stories from MKS employees here.

 

Awards and Sponsorships

Diversity Snapshot

Our diverse workforce mirrors the global community we serve.

We proudly represent a vibrant mix of cultures, spanning 25+ languages and 35+ countries.

MKS is recognized by 50/50 Women on Boards for our board’s diversity.

Read our latest ESG report or visit our Board of Directors page to learn more about our board and company.

Highlights from our DEI Programming

DEI Book Club for Employees

Learning and development is a continuous process. Our global team engages in shared learning and open dialogue through virtual book discussions each quarter.

In the past, we’ve read books from a variety of genres and authors, including work by James Baldwin, bell hooks, Michelle Zauner, Noe Alvarez & Ocean Vuong.

This quarter, we are reading The Culture Map: Breaking Through the Invisible Boundaries of Global Business by global business leader and professor Erin Meyer.

Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)

ERGs serve as a voluntary, employee-led opportunity for MKS employees to find community, drive organizational change, and understand what it means to be an effective ally.

In 2024, MKS launched 2 ERGs: Women@MKS and Veterans@MKS.

We are excited to launch additional ERGs in the future, and we look forward to hosting annual, cross-ERG summits that will foster conversations and efforts focused on intersectionality and areas for growth.

Promoting Workforce Diversity

Equitable hiring practices is important to us. Tailored bias mitigation training helps us achieve that in our search for top talent.

As of the 2023 fall semester, 54% of campus recruiting efforts focus on expanding the diversity of our global workforce.

For more information about our college-specific recruitment efforts, click here.

DEI Speaker and Panel Events for Employees

We celebrate our diversity through a variety of speaker events and panel discussions to promote awareness, appreciation, and education.

Previous Speaker Events:

  • Veterans Day - Melissa Stockwell, Veteran and Paralympic Athlete.
  • AAPI Month – Marita Cheng, Tech Entrepreneur.
  • Victory Day (Europe) – Rena Quint, Holocaust Survivor.

Previous Panel Discussions:

  • Veterans Day
  • Pride Month
  • International Women’s Day

Virtual Coffee Chats for Employees

Monthly small-group conversations hosted by 2 rotating executives. The goal is to foster a unique opportunity for bi-directional learning between top executives and employees across regions, divisions, and levels.

Sessions are built around specific themes, including innovation, process improvement, DEI, learning and development, and more.

In an anonymous survey, 100% of attendees state that executives are “very approachable and open,” and 94% feel their input was valued.

“I’ve never worked for a company that allowed employees open discussions with executive leaders. I was nervous about joining, but they were relaxed and wanted to hear from us. Thank you for the opportunity to join this call.”
“Over the last 30 years, I have worked for many companies. This was the first time I have ever been able to have a conversation with an executive leader. I learned a lot and it energized me. Thank you!”
“MKS is a progressive growing company that cultivates innovation and leadership. I was chosen to participate in the Emerging [Leaders] Program* and was mentored by top executives up to the CEO! There is a lot of growth opportunities for anyone looking to excel in their career.”

– Linda Harris, Sr Manager, Inside Sales Engineering

Learning and Development

To cultivate an equitable environment we offer incubators, workshop sessions, leadership programs and other development opportunities for employees.

Over 300 senior leaders globally participated in a 6-week cohort series focused on gender inclusivity and empowerment.

At MKS, growth is ongoing. We are excited to highlight more DEI themes with future cohort learning sessions.

*Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) is designed to develop early-career professionals, providing them with essential leadership insights, tools, and assessments to strengthen their ability to lead in a dynamic, cross-cultural environment. Through interactive learning experiences and self-discovery, participants will enhance their leadership skills to drive innovation and collaboration across MKS.

Pay Equity

MKS is committed to providing total compensation packages that attract, motivate, and retain our employees. To ensure pay equity throughout our global organization, we routinely conduct comprehensive analyses of pay practices across gender and other diversity dimensions in our major regions to identify and rectify any disparities promptly and effectively.

MKS was recognized by US News as one of the Best Companies to Work For in 2024 and 2025 because of the quality of our pay and benefits, among other criteria.

Read our statement on Pay Transparency here.

Future Plans

Learning and development opportunities tailored to employees’ management level and functional area are important to ensuring that DE&I-related learning and development is sustainable and effective.

We Look Forward To:

  • Launching more Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), for employees to find community and engage in shared learning.
  • Expanding our internship program.
  • Initiating a global mentorship program to connect employees with common interests and goals.
  • Centralizing our community engagement efforts, to ensure quality relationships with our communities.

Want to Work With Us?

Visit our careers page to learn more about open opportunities at MKS.

We look forward to meeting you.

Contact Us

Questions?

Submit an inquiry by filling out this form. Our team will respond as soon as possible.