Supplier Engineer III

Applied Materials, Inc.; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 111,000 - 152,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus potential

Stock awards

Relocation assistance

Comprehensive benefits

Job summary

Applied Materials, Inc. in Santa Clara, CA seeks an experienced Supplier Engineer (E3) to lead supplier quality, development, and operational excellence across machining and contract manufacturing suppliers.

You will work with Engineering, Global Supply Chain, Manufacturing Operations, and supplier leadership to drive capability development, resolve complex technical issues, and ensure readiness for new and existing products.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or related technical field.
• 7+ years in Supplier Engineering, Supplier Quality, Manufacturing Engineering, or related roles.
• Experience with machining, fabrication, and contract manufacturing suppliers.
• Strong communication and leadership skills.
• Knowledge of GD&T and engineering drawings.
• Experience leading corrective actions and cross-functional projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead supplier quality improvement initiatives and develop performance plans.
• Interface with machining and contract manufacturing suppliers to drive improvements.
• Lead 8D, DMAIC, RCCA to resolve issues.
• Conduct supplier assessments, audits, and process evaluations.
• Evaluate PFMEAs, Control Plans, and quality systems for compliance.
• Lead cross-functional projects with Engineering, Supply Chain, Procurement, Manufacturing, and Quality.
• Support new product introductions by assessing supplier readiness.
• Analyze supplier performance metrics and present executive summaries.
• Develop and implement project plans for supplier improvements and capacity expansions.

Skills

Supplier Engineering

Quality Assurance

Manufacturing Engineering

Cross-functional Leadership

Root Cause Analysis

Problem Solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

SEM

EDS

XRD

ASQ Certification

AWS Certification

NDT Certification

Job description

Who We Are

Applied Materials is the global leader in materials science and engineering solutions that are at the foundation of virtually every new semiconductor chip and advanced display in the world. The equipment that we create and service is essential to advancing AI and accelerating the commercialization of next-generation semiconductor chips. Join us and push the boundaries of materials science and engineering in a company at the foundation of the electronics industry. The work we do together advances the world's technology.

What We Offer

Salary: $110,500.00 - $152,000.00 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. 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.

Position Overview

Applied Materials is seeking an experienced Supplier Engineer (E3) to lead supplier quality, technical development, and operational excellence initiatives across our machining and contract manufacturing supply base. This role provides an opportunity to influence strategic suppliers supporting semiconductor capital equipment manufacturing while driving improvements in quality, delivery, cost, capacity, and risk management. As a senior member of the Supplier Engineering & Quality organization, you will work closely with Engineering, Global Supply Chain, Manufacturing Operations, and Supplier Leadership teams to develop supplier capabilities, resolve complex technical issues, and ensure supply chain readiness for new and existing products. This role requires strong technical expertise, project leadership, and the ability to drive results through cross-functional collaboration and supplier engagement.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead supplier quality improvement initiatives and develop supplier performance plans to improve quality, delivery, capacity, and operational excellence.
• Serve as the primary technical interface for assigned machining and contract manufacturing suppliers, building strong relationships and driving accountability for performance improvements.
• Lead supplier problem-solving activities utilizing structured methodologies such as 8D, DMAIC, and Root Cause Corrective Action (RCCA) to resolve factory and customer impacting issues.
• Conduct supplier assessments, technical audits, and manufacturing process evaluations to identify risks and improvement opportunities.
• Evaluate supplier manufacturing capabilities, process controls, PFMEAs, Control Plans, First Article Inspections, and quality systems to ensure compliance with Applied Materials requirements.
• Lead cross-functional projects involving Engineering, Global Supply Chain, Procurement, Manufacturing, and Quality organizations to improve supplier performance and support business objectives.
• Support new product introductions by assessing supplier readiness, qualification plans, manufacturing processes, and risk mitigation strategies.
• Analyze supplier performance metrics and develop executive-level summaries, dashboards, and presentations to communicate supplier performance, risks, and improvement plans.
• Develop and implement project plans for supplier improvement initiatives, capacity expansions, risk reduction activities, and operational excellence programs.
• Mentor junior engineers and provide technical leadership on supplier quality and manufacturing initiatives.

Qualifications & Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering or Materials Science, Quality Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 7+ years of experience in Supplier Engineering, Supplier Quality, Manufacturing Engineering, Operations, or a related discipline.
• Knowledge of SEM, EDS, XRD, and advanced material characterization techniques.
• ASQ, AWS, or NDT certifications.
• Demonstrated experience supporting machining, fabrication, precision manufacturing, or contract manufacturing suppliers.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes including CNC machining, assemblies, welding, fabrication, and precision component manufacturing.
• Experience reviewing engineering drawings, specifications, GD&T requirements, and manufacturing process documentation.
• Proven ability to lead supplier corrective actions, root cause investigations, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Experience leading cross-functional projects with multiple stakeholders and managing project schedules, risks, and deliverables.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and influencing skills, including interaction with supplier and Applied Materials leadership teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Semiconductor capital equipment, aerospace, medical device, or other high-tech manufacturing experience.
• Experience with Contract Manufacturers (CMs), Build-to-Print suppliers, and global supply chains.
• Knowledge of PFMEA, Control Plans, SPC, MSA, APQP, PPAP, and Quality Management Systems.
• Six Sigma Green Belt, Black Belt, or equivalent continuous improvement certification.
• PMP certification or demonstrated project management experience.
• Experience conducting supplier audits and driving closure of corrective actions.

Travel Requirements

Up to 30% domestic and international travel required. Travel will include supplier audits, technical assessments, process qualifications, business reviews, problem-solving events, and support of critical supplier escalations. Ability to travel on short notice to support factory, supplier, or customer-impacting quality issues.

Additional Information

Time Type: Full time Employee Type: Assignee / Regular Travel: Yes, 25% 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.