System Engineer IV, Platform (E4

Who We Are

Applied Materials is the global leader in materials science and engineering solutions that are at the foundation of virtually every new semiconductor chip and advanced display in the world. The equipment that we create and service is essential to advancing AI and accelerating the commercialization of next-generation semiconductor chips. Join us and push the boundaries of materials science and engineering in a company at the foundation of the electronics industry. The work we do together advances the world’s technology. 

What We Offer

Salary:

$161,000.00 - $221,000.00

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 Systems Engineer, you’ll design, integrate, and optimize complex systems that drive the semiconductor industry forward. Your expertise in systems thinking and problem-solving is essential as you collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop advanced solutions to intricate processes and writing system specifications. You’ll be responsible for analyzing requirements, defining system architectures, conducting thorough testing, and ensuring seamless integration of subsystems. Additionally, you’ll identify and mitigate risks, confirming that our systems meet the highest quality standards and exceed customer expectations.  

SUMMARY

You will join a high-performance engineering team at the forefront of semiconductor technology. As a Platform System Engineer, you will own the requirements, architecture, and development of our next-generation inspection platform. This is an individual contributor role in which you serve as the technical team leader within a matrixed organization. You'll be part of a culture that encourages learning, experimentation, and professional growth.

Role RESPONSIBILITIES

Systems engineering (70%):

· Own system architecture for next-generation optical inspection and metrology platforms, translating market requirements into justified high-level and detailed system requirements using established systems engineering methods.

· Develop conceptual designs, system budgets, models, and simulators to support architecture decisions.

· Identify and troubleshoot complex multi-disciplinary engineering problems spanning mechanical, electrical, software, and optical domains.

· Develop test plans and procedures. Design, construct, and calibrate test benches for key components, modules, and subsystems.

· Lead system integration during assembly and final testing of new product designs.

· Develop integration methods, procedures, and tooling in partnership with the hardware team.

· Process and analyze data from simulations, benches, prototypes, and production tools. Present findings clearly to peers and management.

· Conduct system design reviews in accordance with the Program and Product Lifecycle (PLC) development process.

· Make sound design and development decisions under incomplete information, using analytical and AI-assisted tools where they add value.

Technical leadership and project management (30%):

· Lead a cross-functional team of mechanical, electrical, software, and systems engineers, designers, integrators, and technicians to deliver critical modules and platform capability on schedule and within cost targets. You will lead this team as its technical authority in a matrixed organization; team members report to their functional managers.

· Set technical direction, drive the team to consensus on architecture and design trade-offs, and hold the team accountable to development milestones.

· Partner with program management and marketing to hit development milestones and meet Marketing Requirements Specification (MRS) commitments.

· Qualify and manage vendors and suppliers delivering critical components and modules.

· Collaborate with manufacturing, reliability, and service teams. Generate procedures, best-known methods (BKMs), and training to transfer engineering knowledge.

· Communicate status and technical risk clearly, using diagrams, scorecards, and concise written documentation.

Minimum QUALIFICATIONS

· MS or PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Optical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related technical field.

· 5–10 years of industry experience in design and development engineering roles.

· Demonstrated ownership of system architecture and requirements for complex electro-mechanical or opto-mechanical products through at least one full development cycle to production release.

· Proficiency in Python or MATLAB for data analysis, modeling, and simulations.

Preferred QUALIFICATIONS

· Experience in semiconductor capital equipment design and development.

· Experience leading cross-functional engineering teams without direct reporting authority.

· Experience developing and defending system-level error, tolerance, or performance budgets.

· Hands-on experience with test bench design, system integration, and bring-up of prototype hardware.

· Experience with platform - associated challenges including but not limited to: module packaging and interdependences, vibration risks, particle contamination, cooling solutions, temperature and environmental control.

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.