Computational Plasma Physicist

Applied Materials; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 138,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Applied Materials, Inc. in Santa Clara, CA seeks a PhD-level plasma physicist to model and simulate low-temperature plasmas and electromagnetic fields in semiconductor processing equipment.

You will extend and validate simulation codes, apply ML and surrogate modeling to accelerate design workflows, and collaborate with product teams on hardware improvements. The role offers a competitive base salary ($138,000–$190,000) with a comprehensive benefits package and strong opportunities to grow

Qualifications

• PhD in Physics, Applied Physics, Electrical, Chemical, or Mechanical Engineering, Applied Mathematics, or a related technical discipline.
• 0–3 years of relevant post-PhD experience (postdoctoral research counts toward experience).
• Experience in plasma physics simulation and modeling.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and ability to work in cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Model and simulate low-temperature DC and RF plasmas and electromagnetic fields in semiconductor processing equipment to support concept development, technology assessment, and product design.
• Develop, extend, validate, and test internal plasma, electromagnetic, and multiphysics simulation codes; apply commercial tools where appropriate.
• Analyze simulation results, compare against experimental data, and recommend hardware design changes to improve plasma uniformity, stability, and process performance.
• Explore and apply physics-informed machine learning, surrogate modeling, and data-driven methods to accelerate workflows and design optimization.
• Communicate modeling insights and recommendations clearly to product development and engineering teams.

Skills

Plasma physics sim

Numerical methods

Python

C++/Fortran

Cross-functional teams

Education

PhD in physics/engineering

Tools

MPI

OpenMP

GPU/CUDA

Git

Job description

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.

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: $138,000.00 - $190,000.00

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.

Key Responsibilities

• Model and simulate low-temperature DC and RF plasmas (e.g., inductively and capacitively coupled discharges) and electromagnetic fields in semiconductor processing equipment to support concept development, technology assessment, and product design.
• Develop, extend, validate, and test internal plasma, electromagnetic, and multiphysics simulation codes, and apply commercial simulation tools where appropriate.
• Analyze simulation results, compare against experimental data, and recommend hardware design changes that improve plasma uniformity, stability, and process performance.
• Explore and apply physics-informed machine learning, surrogate modeling, and other data-driven methods to accelerate simulation workflows and design optimization.
• Communicate modeling insights and recommendations clearly to product development and engineering teams, and serve as a technical resource on plasma physics and electromagnetic phenomena.

TECHNICAL SKILLS

• Demonstrated experience in plasma physics simulation and modeling, preferably of low-temperature or partially ionized plasmas
• Experience developing or applying numerical methods for plasma, electromagnetic, or multiphysics problems (e.g., fluid, hybrid, or particle-in-cell/Monte Carlo collision models)
• Proficiency in Python and at least one compiled language (C++ or Fortran)
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams

Preferred

• Knowledge of RF discharge physics, sheath dynamics, electron kinetics, or plasma chemistry and plasma–surface interactions
• Experience with RF/electromagnetic field simulation (e.g., finite element or finite-difference time-domain Maxwell solvers)
• Experience with parallel programming (MPI, OpenMP, or GPU/CUDA) and high-performance computing (HPC) environments
• Experience with scientific machine learning, surrogate modeling, physics-informed neural networks, or other data-driven approaches for computational physics
• Experience developing scientific software collaboratively, including version control (e.g., git), code review, and testing practices

Requirements / Education

• PhD in Physics, Applied Physics, Electrical, Chemical, or Mechanical Engineering, Applied Mathematics, or a related technical discipline
• 0–3 years of relevant post-PhD experience (postdoctoral research counts toward experience; recent graduates are encouraged to apply)

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 [e-mail], 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.