Senior Physicist: Multiphysics X-ray System Modeling

Applied Materials; Benicia (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

Applied Materials is seeking a highly skilled physicist to own physics modeling for X-ray sources, electron optics, and thermal analysis across high-power components. You will build end-to-end simulations, quantify uncertainties, and guide design choices with rigorous validation.

A strong background in multiphysics tools and scripting is essential. You will mentor junior staff and contribute to customer engagements while translating sensitivity results into actionable design decisions.

Qualifications

• MS or PhD in physics, applied physics, EE, ME, nuclear engineering, or a related field.
• Demonstrated ownership of at least two of: charged particle optics, thermal and structural analysis under high thermal load, X-ray generation and optics.
• Fluency in finite element methods and their limits, plus working knowledge of at least one other numerical approach.
• Multiphysics tools (COMSOL, Opera, CST, ANSYS, Lorentz, FEniCS, or comparable), driven through scripting interfaces.
• Python, C, or C++ for pre- and post-processing, data reduction, and optimization loops.

Responsibilities

• Simulate electron optics end to end: thermionic emission, space-charge-limited transport, focusing and aberration, deflection, and spot formation in realistic geometry with realistic applied fields.
• Build coupled electrothermal models of beam power deposition on targets, apertures, and grids: conjugate heat transfer, radiative exchange, transient loading, thermally driven distortion.
• Model X-ray generation and transport: bremsstrahlung and emission yield, self-absorption, spectral shaping, detector response.
• Quantify and communicate uncertainty: convergence and mesh studies, sensitivity to material data and geometry tolerance.
• Design experiments to test the models and work with lab to execute and interpret.
• Translate sensitivity results into design and manufacturing decisions: tolerances, alignment budgets, process windows.
• Script and version simulation workflows so parametric studies are reproducible.
• Contribute to technical customer engagements.
• Mentor junior physicists and engineers in modeling practice.

Skills

charged particle optics

thermal analysis

X-ray generation

Python

C/C++

finite element methods

version control

Education

MS/PhD in physics

Tools

COMSOL

Opera

CST

ANSYS

Lorentz

FEniCS

Geant4

Job description

Applied Materials is seeking a highly skilled physicist to own physics modeling for X-ray sources, electron optics, and thermal analysis across high-power components. You will build end-to-end simulations, quantify uncertainties, and guide design choices with rigorous validation.

A strong background in multiphysics tools and scripting is essential. You will mentor junior staff and contribute to customer engagements while translating sensitivity results into actionable design decisions.