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Process Engineer, Defects Technologist - (E3)

Applied Materials
Santa Clara, United Statesfull_timeVerifiedPosted 31 Jan 2026
💰 $171,000/yr($124,000/yr$171,000/yr)

About the role

Who We Are

Applied Materials is a global leader in materials engineering solutions used to produce virtually every new chip and advanced display in the world. We design, build and service cutting-edge equipment that helps our customers manufacture display and semiconductor chips – the brains of devices we use every day. As the foundation of the global electronics industry, Applied enables the exciting technologies that literally connect our world – like AI and IoT. If you want to push the boundaries of materials science and engineering to create next generation technology, join us to deliver material innovation that changes the world. 

What We Offer

Salary:

$124,000.00 - $171,000.00

Location:

Santa Clara,CA

You’ll benefit from a supportive work culture that encourages you to learn, develop, and grow your career as you take on challenges and drive innovative solutions for our customers. We empower our team to push the boundaries of what is possible—while learning every day in a supportive leading global company. Visit our Careers website to learn more. 

At Applied Materials, we care about the health and wellbeing of our employees. We’re committed to providing programs and support that encourage personal and professional growth and care for you at work, at home, or wherever you may go. Learn more about our benefits

 

 

As a Process Engineer, you'll play a crucial role in designing and optimizing manufacturing processes for display and semiconductor manufacturing technologies. You will collect and analyze data, perform hardware characterization, and troubleshoot engineering issues. You'll also measure film properties, generate technical documentation, and engage with customers to resolve concerns. Process Engineers collaborate with vendors and suppliers, and become familiar with implementing new technologies and products. You will experiment, learn, and collaborate with some of the brightest minds in the semiconductor and display industries, partnering with our globally recognized R&D teams on state-of-the-art research and development projects.  

 

 

Role Responsibilities: 

  • Troubleshoot a variety of complex problems, perform Root Cause Analysis and resolve a variety of difficult process engineering issues to improve defectivity. Generate internal and external documentation for products, presentations and technical reports. Interact with customers to resolve a variety of difficult process engineering issues/problems with limited supervision

  • Coordinates design requirement review with appropriate engineering/scientific personnel to ensure compatibility of processing methods. Compiles and evaluates test data to determine appropriate limits and variables for process or material specifications. May conceive and plan projects involving definition and selection of new concepts, equipment automation technology, and approaches in the processing or development of new or improved defects performance.

  • Design, perform, collect data, analyze and compile reports on moderately difficult process engineering experiments; perform hardware characterization on moderately difficult systems; and investigate materials/system failures and interpret data.

  • Measure materials (particles, film, coating, and bulk) properties and interpret data. Identify, select and work with vendors and suppliers with limited supervision. Implement new technology, products and analytical instrumentation.

  • Develops new or modified process formulations, defines processing or handling equipment requirements and specifications, and reviews processing techniques and methods applied in the manufacture, fabrication, and evaluation of products. Involvement may begin at any step from pilot plant to full-scale manufacturing.


Minimum Qualifications:

  • Ph.D. degree in a related field

  • 4-7 years of related research experience  

  • Demonstrates conceptual and practical expertise in complex problem solving

 Functional Knowledge

o   Demonstrates depth and/or breadth of expertise in materials corrosion/erosion/degradation relevant to semiconductor processes (chemistry and plasma) including ALD/CVD/Etch, coating technology and failure analysis, materials characterization (particles, film, coating, and bulk), plasma and materials interaction, particles transport, flow/thermal/stress modeling, or metal contamination causes and mitigation

Problem Solving

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Company

Applied Materials

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