Patterning Process Engineer

Applied Materials; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 124,000 - 171,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus program

Stock awards

Benefits package

Job summary

Applied Materials is a global leader in materials engineering solutions, delivering cutting-edge equipment for display and semiconductor manufacturing. As a Process Engineer, you will design and optimize manufacturing processes, collect data, perform hardware characterization, and troubleshoot engineering issues while collaborating with vendors and customers.

You will work with R&D teams on state-of-the-art technologies, develop experimental plans, and generate technical documentation to advance

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a technical field (Chemistry, Physics, MSE, or Chemical Engineering).
• 4–7 years of semiconductor experience in lithography, patterning, or process development.
• Strong data analysis, troubleshooting, and root cause investigation skills.
• Excellent communication and collaboration across cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize patterning test vehicle flows; establish process windows, specs, and material requirements.
• Provide technical leadership in advanced patterning short-loop processes; improve key metrics (CD, CDU, LER, LWR, DOF, exposure latitude, SPC, yield, defectivity).
• Partner with process and integration teams to develop integrated flows and troubleshoot challenges; perform root cause analysis.
• Collaborate with external partners on joint development; design experiments and prepare technical reports.
• Engage with internal and external customers to address engineering challenges and communicate findings.

Skills

Data analysis

Troubleshooting

Root cause investigation

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Physics, Materials Science, or Chemical Engineering

Job description

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.

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.

Salary: $124,000.00 - $171,000.00

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.

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.

As a Process Engineer, you'll play a crucial role in designing and optimizing manufacturing processes for display and semiconductor manufacturing technologies. You will collect and analyze data, perform hardware characterization, and troubleshoot engineering issues. You'll also measure film properties, generate technical documentation, and engage with customers to resolve concerns. Process Engineers collaborate with vendors and suppliers, and become familiar with implementing new technologies and products. You will experiment, learn, and collaborate with some of the brightest minds in the semiconductor and display industries, partnering with our globally recognized R&D teams on state-of-the

Role Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize new or modified patterning test vehicle flows to support advanced patterning technology development. Compile, analyze, and evaluate experimental data to establish process windows, specifications, and material requirements.
• Provide technical leadership in the development and continuous improvement of advanced patterning short-loop processes. Drive improvements in key process metrics, including critical dimension (CD), CD uniformity (CDU), line edge roughness (LER), line width roughness (LWR), depth of focus (DOF), exposure latitude, statistical process control (SPC), yield, and defectivity.
• Partner with process and integration engineering teams to develop integrated process flows, implement innovative methodologies, troubleshoot process challenges, perform root cause analysis, and resolve complex engineering issues.
• Collaborate with external partners on joint development programs by designing experiments, collecting and analyzing data, and preparing technical reports to advance process technology and performance.
• Engage directly with internal and external customers to address complex process engineering challenges, communicate technical findings, and drive effective resolution of issues with minimal supervision.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Physics, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 4 to 7 years of semiconductor experience in advanced lithography, patterning, or semiconductor process development.
• Demonstrated ability to solve complex technical problems through a combination of strong analytical skills, engineering judgment, and hands‑on experimentation.
• Strong data analysis, troubleshooting, and root cause investigation skills.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively across cross‑functional teams.

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.