Test Systems Engineer, Test Excellence

Applied Materials, Inc.; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 116,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Applied Materials, Inc. is seeking a Test Excellence professional to translate real-world failures into robust test solutions that prevent defects from reaching our factories and customers.

You will own the test lifecycle from concept through deployment and work across suppliers and engineering teams to establish scalable, data-driven testing practices. You will translate failure mechanisms into testable requirements, define coverage across functional and stress tests, and ensure the solution

Qualifications

• Find the test gaps that matter using field failures, nonconformances, failure analysis, 8D findings, FMEA/FMECA risks, and test data.
• Translate failure mechanisms into testable requirements for engineering teams and suppliers.
• Engineer system-representative test coverage across functional, parametric, stress, burn-in, thermal, RF, HV, and other tests.
• Challenge assumptions with evidence; use data-driven judgment and problem solving.
• Own the test solution from concept through deployment, including specs, cost, and schedule.
• Prove test effectiveness with correlation, repeatability, and calibration requirements.
• Deploy test capability at suppliers and factories; resolve issues and scale for production.
• Preserve test effectiveness via maintenance, calibration, and configuration control.
• Monitor outcomes, detect false failures, escapes, NCs, and key quality metrics.
• Apply lessons from escapes to improve supplier test mandates and product lifecycles.
• Lead across suppliers, Design Eng, Manufacturing, and Product teams with clarity.

Responsibilities

• Find the test gaps that matter.
• Translate failure mechanisms into testable requirements.
• Engineer system-representative test coverage.
• Challenge assumptions with evidence and data.
• Own the test solution from concept to deployment.
• Prove that the test works with objective evidence.
• Deploy capability where it prevents the greatest risk.
• Preserve test effectiveness throughout the lifecycle.
• Measure outcomes and act on insights.
• Prevent recurrence at the source across teams.
• Lead across organizational boundaries and communicate clearly.
• Build scalable Test Excellence capability and mentor others.

Skills

Test gaps

Failure analysis

Test requirements

Test coverage

Evidence-based decisions

Test solution ownership

Production deployment

Calibration & measurement

Lifecycle maintenance

Metrics & quality data

Cross-functional leadership

Problem solving

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: $116,000.00 - $159,500.00

Location: Austin,TX, 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.

Key Responsibilities

• Find the test gaps that matter. Use field failures, factory nonconformances, failure analysis, 8D findings, FMEA/FMECA risks, and test data to identify where existing assurance methods failed to detect risk before shipment.
• Translate failure mechanisms into testable requirements. Convert complex failure signatures and real-world operating conditions into specific, measurable, and defensible requirements that engineering teams and suppliers can execute.
• Engineer system-representative test coverage. Define the functional, parametric, stress, burn-in, thermal, RF, high-voltage, leak, particle, interlock, and other tests needed to expose targeted failure modes before they reach an Applied factory or customer.
• Challenge assumptions with evidence. Question legacy test methods, inherited limits, and accepted practices when they are not supported by data. Use engineering judgment, structured problem solving, and experimentation to determine what the evidence requires.
• Own the test solution from concept through sustained deployment. Evaluate feasibility, develop the technical concept, define the specification and statement of work, establish cost and schedule, and lead design, sourcing, build, bring-up, validation, and production implementation.
• Prove that the test works. Establish correlation, repeatability, reproducibility, measurement capability, calibration requirements, and acceptance criteria. Demonstrate with objective evidence that the solution detects the intended failure mode under production-representative conditions.
• Deploy capability where it prevents the greatest risk. Bring test systems into operation at suppliers and Applied factories. Resolve implementation issues, coordinate engineering changes, and ensure the solution is practical, scalable, and ready for production use.
• Preserve test effectiveness throughout the lifecycle. Establish the preventive-maintenance, calibration, out-of-tolerance response, configuration control, data retention, and performance-monitoring requirements necessary to keep deployed test systems reliable and effective.
• Measure outcomes, not activity. Monitor detection effectiveness, test-system performance, false failures, escapes, NCs, DMRs, and other relevant quality and operational indicators. Use the results to verify effectiveness and identify the next improvement opportunity.
• Prevent recurrence at the source. Apply lessons from escapes to improve supplier test mandates, Functional Requirements Documents, FMEA/FMECA, Design for Testability, and applicable product-lifecycle deliverables so that prevention becomes part of how future products are developed.
• Lead across organizational boundaries. Drive multiple complex initiatives across suppliers, factories, Design Engineering, Manufacturing, Supplier Engineering, NPI Quality, Product Quality & Reliability, and business-unit teams. Communicate technical conclusions, risks, decisions, and business impact with clarity.
• Build scalable Test Excellence capability. Create reusable requirements, methods, standards, specifications, and validation practices. Mentor other engineers, transfer knowledge, and raise the organization’s ability to find the right problems and solve them permanently.

You will turn real‑world failures and emerging risks into test solutions that prevent defects from reaching our factories and customers. From defining system‑representative requirements to developing, validating, and deploying test fixtures, you will own the solution from insight to sustained impact. You will challenge assumptions with evidence, work across suppliers and engineering teams, and help build the methods and standards that define Test Excellence globally.

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. 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.