Process Engineer V

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:

$163,000.00 - $224,000.00

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.  

 

 

Position Summary:

We are seeking a highly motivated Process Engineer (E5) to join the Front End Products (FEP) Applications team. This role focuses on applications development, process optimization, and customer-enabling solutions across advanced semiconductor process technologies. The candidate will work at the intersection of process, hardware, and device integration, contributing to development and deployment of differentiated application capabilities.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Applications Development & Process Ownership

- Develop, optimize, and qualify process solutions for targeted applications

- Drive end-to-end process development from concept through lab validation and customer engagement

- Translate device-level requirements into actionable process strategies

- Define and maintain robust process windows aligned with performance and manufacturability

2. Experimental Design & Data-Driven Optimization

- Design and execute DOE-based experiments to evaluate process sensitivities and interactions

- Perform statistical data analysis and extract key insights to drive decisions

- Establish correlations between process parameters and device metrics

- Generate clear technical reports and communicate findings to stakeholders

3. Hardware–Process Co-Development

- Partner with hardware engineering to translate process requirements into hardware specifications

- Evaluate tool capabilities and support system characterization

- Drive co-optimization of hardware and process to meet application targets

4. Customer-Facing Application Support

- Collaborate with internal stakeholders and customer teams to define application requirements

- Support technology benchmarking and differentiation

- Enable successful adoption of process solutions

5. Cross-Functional Collaboration

- Work across process, hardware, product engineering, and field/customer teams

- Collaborate with other business units and centers of excellence to identify new applications and co-develop differentiated solutions

- Contribute to application roadmaps and strategic direction for FEP

7. Knowledge Development & Mentorship

- Document learnings and best practices

- Mentor junior engineers and contribute to capability building within the applications group

Required Qualifications:

- Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering or Materials Science and Engineering or a related field

- 5–10+ years of experience in semiconductor process development and/or semiconductor process integration

- Strong expertise in DOE and statistical analysis

- Strong experience with thin film, epitaxial, plasma, or thermal processes

- Strong problem-solving and analytical skills

Preferred Qualifications:

- Experience in applications or integration-focused roles

- Familiarity with HW–process interaction

- Strong communication skills

Success Profile:

- Systems-level mindset (process + hardware + device)

- Data-driven and hypothesis-oriented approach

- Strong ownership and accountability

- Ability to translate technical insights into practical application solutions

Additional Information

Time Type:

Full time

Employee Type:

Assignee / Regular

Travel:

Yes, 10% of the Time

Relocation Eligible:

Yes

The salary offered to a selected candidate will be based on multiple factors including location, hire grade, job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and with consideration of internal equity of our current team members. In addition to a comprehensive benefits package, candidates may be eligible for other forms of compensation such as participation in a bonus and a stock award program, as applicable.

For all sales roles, the posted salary range is the Target Total Cash (TTC) range for the role, which is the sum of base salary and target bonus amount at 100% goal achievement.

Applied Materials is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law.

In addition, Applied endeavors to make our careers site accessible to all users. If you would like to contact us regarding accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please contact us via e-mail at [email protected], or by calling our HR Direct Help Line at 877-612-7547, option 1, and following the prompts to speak to an HR Advisor. This contact is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.