Lead Platform Systems Engineer – Optical Inspection

Hardware FYI; Santa Clara, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 161,000 - 221,000; Full time

Job summary

Applied Materials is seeking a Platform System Engineer to own the requirements, architecture, and development of next‑generation optical inspection and metrology platforms. This individual contributor role operates within a matrixed organization and leads cross‑functional teams to deliver critical capabilities.

You will translate market needs into system requirements, develop models and test plans, and drive validation across mechanical, electrical, software, and optical domains while

Qualifications

• MS or PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Optical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a 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.

Responsibilities

• 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.

Skills

System architecture

Python or MATLAB

Cross-functional leadership

Education

MS or PhD in Mechanical Engineering/Physics/Optical/Electrical Eng

Job description

Applied Materials is seeking a Platform System Engineer to own the requirements, architecture, and development of next‑generation optical inspection and metrology platforms. This individual contributor role operates within a matrixed organization and leads cross‑functional teams to deliver critical capabilities.

You will translate market needs into system requirements, develop models and test plans, and drive validation across mechanical, electrical, software, and optical domains while