Systems Engineer 6 - Chemical Engineering

Lam Research; Fremont (CA); Hybrid; USD 144,000 - 316,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

On-site Flex

Virtual Flex

Job summary

Lam Research in the San Francisco Bay Area is seeking a senior Chemical or Materials Engineer to lead system-level responsibilities for chemistry, materials compatibility, and chemical risk across complex semiconductor capital equipment.

You will translate technical findings into engineering requirements, support Gas Delivery and product development programs, and mentor engineers in risk assessment and verification strategies.

Qualifications

• MS/PhD with extensive experience in chemistry and materials.
• Expertise translating chemical/material considerations into engineering requirements.
• Strong background in physical chemistry, thermodynamics, and corrosion/failure analysis.

Responsibilities

• Serve as Etch Engineering's go-to expert for chemistry, materials compatibility and chemical risk.
• Support Gas Delivery product development, new chemistry introduction, subsystem development, and customer escalations.
• Lead investigations into corrosion, contamination, material degradation, and chemical interaction failures.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align requirements and verification plans.

Skills

Material compatibility

Chemical risk assessment

Corrosion science

Failure analysis

Physical chemistry

Thermodynamics

Regulatory knowledge

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

M.S. in Chemical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Chemistry, or Materials Science with 12+ years

Ph.D. with 8+ years of industry experience

Job description

The group you’ll be a part of

Join the Etch Product Group System Engineering team, responsible for system architecture, requirements, and integration of complex semiconductor process modules. Our System Engineers partner across engineering, program management, and product management to deliver the next generation of semiconductor manufacturing equipment.

Join the Etch Product Group System Engineering team, responsible for system architecture, requirements, and integration of complex semiconductor process modules. Our System Engineers partner across engineering, program management, and product management to deliver the next generation of semiconductor manufacturing equipment.

The impact you’ll make

As a Systems Engineer at Lam, you'll design complex frameworks, systems, or products for our wafer fabrication equipment. You will define system specifications, requirements, parameters, and compatibility to integrate hardware, software, and firmware into a cohesive system. Identifying, analyzing, and resolving system design weaknesses combined with your multi-layered technical expertise you help shape the next generation of Lam initiatives.

What You’ll Do

This role serves as Etch Engineering’s go‑to expert for chemistry, materials compatibility and chemical risk, supporting Gas Delivery product development, new chemistry introduction, subsystem development, and critical customer escalations.

Materials And Chemical Systems Engineering

• Evaluate the impact of new process gases, materials, fluids, coatings, and operating conditions on product performance, reliability, safety, and cost.
• Analyze chemical interactions between process gases, byproducts, wetted materials, cooling fluids, and environmental conditions to identify technical risks and design constraints.
• Translate chemical behavior, material compatibility considerations, gas safety requirements, and regulatory constraints into engineering requirements, design specifications, and verification plans.
• Develop material selection, operating limits, and qualification strategies that balance chemical compatibility, contamination control, performance, reliability, manufacturability, and cost.
• Support the introduction of new process gases, materials, and technologies through structured risk assessment, testing, and validation plans.

Failure Analysis And Technical Problem Solving

• Lead investigations involving corrosion, contamination, material degradation, chemical incompatibilities, gas interactions, reliability concerns, and field failures.
• Apply first-principles engineering, physical chemistry, thermodynamics, and reaction analysis to identify failure mechanisms and drive corrective actions.
• Support customer escalations requiring advanced chemical, materials, or system-level analysis.

System Engineering Leadership and Program Support

• Support multiple product development programs by providing chemistry and materials expertise during architecture development, design reviews, trade studies, and risk assessments.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to identify technical risks and influence design decisions through data‑driven analysis and engineering judgment.
• Review and approve requirements, FMEAs, hazard analyses, qualification plans, and verification strategies related to materials, chemistry, and gas handling systems.
• Mentor engineers and contribute to the development of systems engineering practices related to requirements development, risk assessment, and root‑cause analysis.

Who We’re Looking For

We're looking for a senior Chemical or Materials Engineer with a broad system‑level perspective who leads engineering efforts involving chemistry, materials compatibility, and chemical risk across complex semiconductor capital equipment. The ideal candidate combines expertise in physical chemistry, thermodynamics, material compatibility, corrosion, and failure analysis with the ability to translate technical findings into engineering requirements, safety controls, and verification strategies. They are comfortable influencing cross‑functional teams, supporting Gas Delivery and product development programs.

• M.S. in Chemical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Chemistry, Materials Science, or related discipline with 12+ years of industry experience; or Ph.D. with 8+ years of industry experience.
• Demonstrated expertise in material compatibility, chemical risk assessment, corrosion science, and failure analysis.
• Strong foundation in physical chemistry, thermodynamics, chemical reaction analysis, and materials behavior.
• Experience translating chemical, materials, gas safety, and regulatory considerations into engineering requirements and verification strategies.
• Proven track record of solving complex multidisciplinary technical problems and influencing decisions across engineering organizations.

Our commitment

We believe it is important for every person to feel valued, included, and empowered to achieve their full potential. By bringing unique individuals and viewpoints together, we achieve extraordinary results.

Lam Research ("Lam" or the "Company") is an equal opportunity employer. Lam is committed to and reaffirms support of equal opportunity in employment and non‑discrimination in employment policies, practices and procedures on the basis of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions), gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, or military and veteran status or any other category protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. It is the Company's intention to comply with all applicable laws and regulations. Company policy prohibits unlawful discrimination against applicants or employees.

Lam offers a variety of work location models based on the needs of each role. Our hybrid roles combine the benefits of on‑site collaboration with colleagues and the flexibility to work remotely and fall into two categories – On‑site Flex and Virtual Flex. 'On‑site Flex' you’ll work 3+ days per week on‑site at a Lam or customer/supplier location, with the opportunity to work remotely for the balance of the week. 'Virtual Flex' you’ll work 1-2 days per week on‑site at a Lam or customer/supplier location, and remotely the rest of the time.

Salary

CA San Francisco Bay Area Salary Range for this position: $144,000.00 - $316,000.00. The above salary range for this position is relevant to applicants that reside or work onsite in the California, San Francisco Bay Area only. Salary offers will depend on factors that include the location you work from, your level, education, training, specific skills, years of experience and comparison to other employees already in this role. Actual salary may vary from salary offered due to numerous factors including but not limited to unpaid time off, unpaid leave, company mandated shutdown, and other relevant factors.

Our Perks And Benefits

At Lam, our people make amazing things possible. That’s why we invest in you throughout the phases of your life with a comprehensive set of outstanding benefits.