Customer Engineer

Applied Materials; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 121,780,000 - 168,773,000; Full time

Job summary

Applied Materials in Santa Clara, CA, seeks a Field Service Engineer to install, maintain, and upgrade customer equipment. You will diagnose issues, work with Senior Engineers, and ensure service quality at customer sites.

Travel up to 20% is expected, with a focus on safety and instrument integrity. The role requires 4–7 years in semiconductor equipment support, strong mechanical skills, and proficiency with tools like multimeters and Excel.

Qualifications

• Associate degree or technical certification required.
• 4–7 years of semiconductor or related equipment experience.
• Advanced mechanical aptitude with pneumatics, hydraulics, electronics, vacuum, and/or thermodynamics.
• Strong knowledge of hand tools and their appropriate usage, including digital multimeters.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Basic knowledge of Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Possession of a valid driver’s license and ability to obtain a passport if travel is required.
• Able to meet on-site requirements including safety, environmental guidelines, and COVID-19 protocols.

Responsibilities

• Install, maintain, and upgrade customer equipment.
• Apply basic diagnostic techniques with assistance from Senior Field Service Engineers.
• Collaborate with Senior Field Service Engineers and/or the customer to understand roadmaps, process flows, inflection points, requirements, and business challenges.
• Train and mentor junior Field Service Engineers.
• Perform preventative and corrective maintenance on electrical, vacuum, mechanical, plasma, hydraulic, and gas systems.
• Coordinate and communicate directly with customers.
• Fulfill additional duties, as assigned.

Skills

Semiconductor industry experience

Effective communication

Mechanical aptitude

Travel documentation (passport)

Education

Associate degree or technical certification

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

Microsoft PowerPoint

Digital multimeters

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: $42.50 - $58.90

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 Field Service Engineer [Customer Engineer] at Applied Materials, you serve as the direct liaison with customers, collaborating closely to install, maintain, and upgrade equipment. You'll use digital analytics for troubleshooting and apply basic diagnostic techniques to assess and address technical issues. Your responsibilities include performing preventative and corrective maintenance on various systems such as electrical, vacuum, mechanical, plasma, hydraulic, and gas systems. Additionally, you'll coordinate and communicate directly with customers to ensure smooth operations and exceptional service.

Role Responsibilities:

• Install, maintain, and upgrade customer equipment
• Apply basic diagnostic techniques to assess equipment and address technical issues, with assistance from Senior Field Service Engineers [Customer Engineers]
• Collaborate with Senior Field Service Engineers [Customer Engineers] and/or the customer to understand roadmaps, process flows, inflection points, requirements, and business challenges
• Train and mentor junior Field Service Engineers [Customer Engineers]
• Perform preventative and corrective maintenance on electrical, vacuum, mechanical, plasma, hydraulic, and gas systems
• Coordinate and communicate directly with customers
• Fulfill additional duties, as assigned

Minimum Qualifications:

• Completion of an Associate degree, military technical training, field service experience, or trade certification
• 4-7 years of work experience in semiconductor industry or other equipment support industry
• Advanced mechanical aptitude with pneumatics, hydraulics, electronics, vacuum, and/or thermodynamics
• Strong knowledge of hand tools and their appropriate usage, including digital multimeters
• Effective written and verbal communication skills
• Basic knowledge of Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint
• Possession of a valid driver’s license and the ability to obtain a passport, if travel is required.
• Able to meet all on-site requirements, including safety, environmental guidelines, and COVID-19 protocols

Physical Requirements:

This position often requires extensive walking, standing for extended periods of time, working in tight spaces, bending, squatting, twisting, kneeling, reaching, climbing stairs and ladders, working at height, lifting up to 35 lbs., the ability to distinguish between colors and working with electricity, the ability to work in an environment with noise that may be difficult for some individuals with sensitivity to noise, and the use of hand and power tools. Additionally, because this position generally involves working in a clean room, it requires the use of appropriate Personal Protective Equipment such as coveralls, hoods, booties, safety glasses, gloves, respirators, chemical aprons, and face shields.

Additional Information:

Time Type: Full time

Employee Type: Assignee / Regular

Travel: Yes, 20% 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.