Lead Mechanical Engineer - PVD & Vacuum Systems

Applied Materials, Inc.; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 163,000 - 224,000; Full time

Job summary

Applied Materials in Santa Clara, CA is seeking a Mechanical Engineering Manager to lead a team responsible for development and sustaining of advanced PVD modules and subsystems. The role combines people leadership with technical strategy and execution ownership across vacuum, RF, thermal, and precision mechanical assemblies.

The candidate will drive new product introduction, cost reductions, and roadmap development while coordinating with process, systems, electrical, manufacturing, quality,

Qualifications

• BS/MS in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• 10+ years semiconductor equipment experience with 2+ years technical leadership or people management.
• Strong mechanical design background in vacuum systems, RF hardware, thermal management and precision assemblies.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary development programs from concept through customer release.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of mechanical engineers across NPI, sustaining, and customer programs.
• Own mechanical execution of PVD chamber, pedestal, ESC, process kit, wafer handling and vacuum hardware developments.
• Drive architecture decisions balancing performance, manufacturability, cost, reliability and serviceability.
• Partner with process, systems, electrical, manufacturing, quality and supplier teams.
• Lead root‑cause investigations for field, manufacturing and customer issues.
• Manage schedules, resource planning, risk management and engineering priorities.
• Develop supplier capability and qualification strategies.
• Coach engineers on GD&T, tolerance analysis, FEA, thermal analysis and design reviews.

Skills

People leadership

Mechanical design

Systems thinking

Stakeholder management

Communication

Education

BS/MS in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

NX

Teamcenter

FEA/CFD tools

Job description

Applied Materials in Santa Clara, CA is seeking a Mechanical Engineering Manager to lead a team responsible for development and sustaining of advanced PVD modules and subsystems. The role combines people leadership with technical strategy and execution ownership across vacuum, RF, thermal, and precision mechanical assemblies.

The candidate will drive new product introduction, cost reductions, and roadmap development while coordinating with process, systems, electrical, manufacturing, quality,