Mechanical Engineer IV - Wet Chemical Tool

Applied Materials, Inc.; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 147,000 - 203,000; Full time

Job summary

Applied Materials, Inc. is seeking a Mechanical Engineer to design, analyze, and implement mechanical tooling and subsystems across the semiconductor equipment product life cycle.

The ideal candidate holds a PhD or Master in mechanical engineering with 5–7 years of semiconductor experience, and is proficient in 3D CAD (NX/Creo/SolidWorks) and FEA/CFD tools, capable of leading cross‑functional teams.

Qualifications

• PhD or Master in mechanical engineering with 5–7 years in semiconductors.
• Experience designing semiconductor equipment or troubleshooting.
• Proficiency with 3D CAD tools and engineering analysis software.

Responsibilities

• Lead end‑to‑end mechanical system design for semiconductor equipment.
• Design and develop mechanical and fluid delivery subsystems.
• Plan and execute structured tests to validate designs and margins.
• Perform thermal, structural, and flow analyses using first‑principles calculations.
• Coordinate procurement and assembly of mechanical components.
• Communicate results to cross‑functional teams and customers.

Skills

Mechanical design

Thermal engineering

Statistical data analysis

Project management

Education

PhD or Master in mechanical engineering

Tools

Siemens NX

Creo

SolidWorks

ANSYS

CFD-ACE

COMSOL

Job description

Who We Are

Applied Materials is a global leader in materials engineering solutions used to produce virtually every new chip and advanced display in the world.

We design, build and service cutting‑edge equipment that helps our customers manufacture display and semiconductor chips – the brains of devices we use every day.

As the foundation of the global electronics industry, Applied enables the exciting technologies that literally connect our world – like AI and IoT.

If you want to push the boundaries of materials science and engineering to create next generation technology, join us to deliver material innovation that changes the world.

What We Offer

Salary: $147,000.00 - $202,500.00

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.

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.

Roles & Responsibilities

As a Mechanical Engineer, you’ll leverage your strong foundation in physics, mathematics, and materials science to process and resolve mechanical problems, design and implement custom mechanical tooling and associated processes, and enable the handling, assembly, and disassembly of parts, components, sub‑assemblies, and final assemblies throughout the product life cycle.

You’ll be responsible for designing, developing, and modifying mechanical engineering layouts, schematics, and specifications.

You will oversee manufacturing and installation processes, ensuring adherence to industry standards and regulations—and you'll coordinate the procurement and assembly of mechanical components and equipment for design projects, identifying sources of critical parts and subsystems to resolve technical issues.

• Lead end‑to‑end mechanical system design for semiconductor equipment, translating product and module requirements into robust architectures, with emphasis on system integration, fluid handling, and operating environments, experience with wet process or electrochemical systems (e.g., Copper plating, Wafer cleaning) is strongly preferred.
• Drive engineering execution from concept through release, including design, analysis, supplier engagement, build, and validation of complex subsystems (mechanical, fluid systems, and assemblies).
• Define and optimize system‑level design tradeoffs across performance, reliability, manufacturability, cost, and serviceability, including fluid flow behavior and material interactions.
• Design and develop mechanical and fluid delivery subsystems, including layouts, schematics, and specifications; ensure appropriate material selection for operating environments.
• Perform and validate engineering analyses (thermal, structural, tolerance, and flow/fluids) using first‑principles calculations and simulation tools (e.g., FEA/CFD).
• Plan and execute structured tests to validate designs, characterize operating windows, and establish design margins; analyze data using tools such as JMP and MS Excel to derive statistically sound conclusions.
• Communicate technical results through presentations to cross‑functional teams, management, and customers.
• Create, specify, and review engineering documentation and release through PLM systems (e.g., Teamcenter), ensuring accuracy and configuration control.

Qualifications

• PhD or master’s degree in mechanical engineering with 5–7 years of applicable experience, preferably in the semiconductor industry.
• Experience in semiconductor equipment design or troubleshooting.
• Experience with wet process or electrochemical systems (e.g., Copper plating, Wafer cleaning) is strongly preferred.
• Proficiency with 3D CAD tools such as Siemens NX, Creo (Pro/ENGINEER), or SolidWorks.
• Experience with engineering analysis tools (e.g., ANSYS, CFD ACE, COMSOL) is a plus.
• Demonstrated strength in at least one technical domain: thermal engineering, compressible flow, mechanical design, or machining/manufacturing processes.
• Experience with statistical data analysis tools such as JMP and MS Excel.
• Experience using FEA packages (Ansys, CFD‑Ace, ComSol, etc.) is a plus.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to create clear, concise engineering documentation.
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects in a fast‑paced product development environment.

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.

Equal Opportunity Employer

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.