Quality Welding Engineer (E5)

Applied Materials; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Applied Materials in Austin, TX is seeking an experienced Quality Welding Engineer to support fabrication of ultra-high-purity gas delivery systems for semiconductor equipment. You will own weld quality across the fabrication lifecycle — from procedure qualification to nonconformance resolution — in a controlled cleanroom environment.

The role requires deep orbital welding and 316L metallurgy expertise, fluency with SEMI standards, and hands-on work with welding equipment from AMI, Polysoude and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Welding Engineering, Materials/Metallurgical or Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years welding engineering or weld quality in semiconductor/high‑purity env.
• Expertise in SEMI F78, F81, E49.8, and F70 standards.
• Hands-on with orbital GTAW welding equipment from AMI, Polysoude, Orbitalum.
• Strong 316L metallurgy knowledge applied to UHP gas line fabrication.
• Experience in a certified cleanroom environment (Class 100/ISO5).
• Familiar with WPS/PQR under AWS D1.2, ASME IX.
• Knowledge of UHP component handling and face-seal fittings.

Responsibilities

• Develop, qualify, and maintain welding procedures for orbital GTAW.
• Audit welder qualification programs for orbital and manual welding.
• Serve as SEMI standards SME for F78/F81/E49.8/F70.
• Own weld quality in cleanroom fabrication cells.
• Perform visual, boroscopic, dimensional weld inspections.
• Provide metallurgical oversight for 316L and passivation.
• Maintain orbital welding equipment and PQ qualifications.
• Partner with manufacturing, QA, and supply chain to qualify weld sources.
• Support 8D/CAPA investigations for weld issues.
• Maintain weld travelers and traceability for audits.

Skills

Welding engineering

Weld quality

SEMI standards

Orbital GTAW welding

316L metallurgy

Cleanroom manufacturing

Root-cause analysis

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Welding/Metallurgical/Mechanical Eng

Tools

AMI Arc Machines

Polysoude

Orbitalum

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.

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:

$0.00 - $0.00

Location:

Austin,TX

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.

Job Summary

We are seeking an experienced Quality Welding Engineer to support fabrication of ultra‑high‑purity (UHP) gas delivery systems for semiconductor process equipment, including gas panel assemblies and chamber weldments. This role owns weld quality across the fabrication lifecycle — procedure qualification, welder certification, in‑process inspection, and nonconformance resolution — within a controlled cleanroom manufacturing environment. The ideal candidate combines deep orbital welding and stainless steel metallurgy expertise with fluency in the SEMI standards that govern UHP gas system integrity.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, qualify, and maintain welding procedure specifications (WPS) and procedure qualification records (PQR) for orbital GTAW of UHP gas lines, gas panels, and chamber weldments.
• Establish and audit welder/operator qualification programs for orbital and manual welding personnel working on UHP systems.
• Serve as the site subject matter expert on applicable SEMI standards, including F78 (particle contamination / cleanroom compatibility), F81 (surface roughness for UHP components), E49.8 (orbital weld documentation and acceptance), F70 (UHP gas distribution system components), and related SEMI specifications governing gas delivery hardware.
• Own weld quality within cleanroom fabrication cells: gowning discipline, purge gas control, ID/OD surface finish verification, and contamination prevention throughout the weld process.
• Perform and oversee visual, boroscopic, and dimensional weld inspection against acceptance criteria; drive root‑cause analysis and corrective action for weld discrepancies and nonconformances.
• Provide metallurgical oversight of 316L stainless steel (and related UHP alloys) including heat‑affected‑zone control, oxide/heat‑tint discoloration limits, interpass temperature, and purge gas (Ar/back‑purge) requirements to preserve corrosion resistance and surface passivation.
• Specify, evaluate, and maintain orbital welding equipment — power supplies, weld heads, and tube‑prep tooling — from manufacturers such as Arc Machines Inc. (AMI), Polysoude, Orbitalum, and equivalent, including PQ/programming, preventive maintenance, and end‑of‑life qualification.
• Partner with manufacturing engineering, quality assurance, and supply chain teams to qualify internal and supplier weld sources against consistent acceptance standards.
• Support root‑cause investigations and 8D/CAPA activities for weld‑related field or customer escrow issues.
• Maintain and audit weld travelers, certification records, and traceability documentation to support customer and internal quality audits.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Welding Engineering, Materials/Metallurgical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent hands‑on experience in lieu of degree.
• 5+ years of welding engineering or weld quality experience in semiconductor capital equipment, UHP gas systems, or a comparably regulated high‑purity fabrication environment.
• Standards expertise: Demonstrated working knowledge of SEMI F78, F81, E49.8, and F70
• Direct hands‑on or oversight experience with orbital GTAW welding equipment from Arc Machines Inc. (AMI), Polysoude, Orbitalum, or comparable OEMs, including weld schedule development and machine qualification.
• Strong understanding of 316L stainless steel metallurgy — including electropolishing, sulfur content effects on weld penetration, ID surface finish, and passivation — as applied to UHP gas line and chamber weldment fabrication.
• Experience working within a certified cleanroom manufacturing environment (Class 100/ISO 5 or better), including contamination control protocols specific to gas panel and gas box assembly.
• Familiarity with WPS/PQR development and welder performance qualification under AWS D1.2, ASME Section IX, or equivalent codes, adapted for orbital tube welding.
• Working knowledge of VCR/VCO/face‑seal fitting cleanliness requirements and UHP component handling practices.
• Strong root‑cause and corrective‑action (8D, fishbone, 5‑Why) problem‑solving skills applied to weld defects and process escapes.

Preferred Qualifications

• AWS Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) or equivalent certification.
• Prior experience supporting supplier qualification or supplier weld audits for semiconductor equipment OEMs or their supply base.
• Experience with gas panel engineering documentation, MFC/component‑level FMEA, or ANSI/ASQ Z1.4 sampling plans in a quality context.
• Familiarity with additional SEMI standards relevant to UHP gas delivery (e.g., F19, F57) and general semiconductor equipment quality systems.

Work Environment

This role is based in a combined office and cleanroom manufacturing environment in Austin, TX. Cleanroom gowning is required for time spent on the production floor. Some domestic travel may be required.

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.