FIB TEM Systems Engineer
Applied Materials · Santa Clara,CA ·
- Employment
- Full time
- Category
- Software engineering
- Experience
- 3+ years
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:
$124,000.00 - $171,000.00Location:
Santa Clara,CAYou’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.
As an Electrical Engineer, you are responsible for designing, modifying, and troubleshooting electrical or electronic engineering assemblies, layouts, schematics, and drawings to advance the equipment that supports our technology. Using your technical experience and critical thinking skills, you will perform engineering analysis, generate test reports, develop innovative solutions, and create documentation for product releases. You will also coordinate the procurement and assembly of components, identify sources of critical parts, and resolve technical issues to ensure peak performance.
Position Summary
The FIB/TEM System Engineer is responsible for the technical ownership, reliability, performance, qualification, and continuous improvement of semiconductor process and metrology equipment. This role serves as the subject matter expert for assigned tools and works closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, Product Development, Technicians, and OEM suppliers to ensure safe, reliable, and efficient equipment operation.
The Engineer drives equipment uptime, qualification readiness, root cause analysis, preventive maintenance strategies, and process improvements to support product development, manufacturing, and customer requirements.
Key Responsibilities
Equipment Ownership
Serve as the primary technical owner for assigned semiconductor metrology tools .
Develop and maintain equipment performance standards, operating procedures, and maintenance strategies.
Monitor equipment health, reliability, availability, and utilization metrics.
Drive continuous improvement activities to enhance equipment performance and productivity.
Equipment Qualification & Validation
Plan and execute installation, calibration, qualification, and acceptance testing activities.
Develop qualification plans, test procedures, and validation protocols.
Ensure tools consistently meet engineering specifications and performance requirements.
Support new equipment introduction, commissioning, and decommissioning activities.
Troubleshooting & Root Cause Analysis
Lead complex troubleshooting efforts involving mechanical, electrical, vacuum, controls, software, and automation systems.
Perform failure analysis and root cause investigations.
Implement corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) to eliminate recurring issues.
Escalate critical issues and coordinate resolution with cross-functional teams and OEM suppliers.
Reliability & Uptime Management
Analyze equipment performance data, failure trends, and maintenance history.
Develop reliability improvement roadmaps and preventive maintenance programs.
Identify chronic tool issues and drive permanent corrective actions.
Establish KPIs for uptime, MTBF, MTTR, and maintenance effectiveness.
Vendor & Supplier Management
Coordinate activities with equipment manufacturers and service providers.
Evaluate vendor technical capabilities and support plans.
Review service reports and ensure quality execution of vendor maintenance activities.
Manage equipment-related service contracts and support agreements.
Documentation & Compliance
Develop and maintain operating procedures, PM instructions, qualification reports, and engineering documentation.
Ensure compliance with Applied Materials safety policies, SEMI standards, and regulatory requirements.
Maintain accurate equipment records, logs, calibration history, and maintenance documentation.
Project Leadership
Lead equipment upgrade, retrofit, and continuous improvement projects and lab expansion
Assess technical risks and develop mitigation plans.
Support capacity expansion and technology development programs.
Provide project updates, schedules, and status reporting to management.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Partner with Metrology Production, BU Process Engineering, Quality, Facilities, and Operations teams.
Mentor technicians and junior engineers.
Participate in design reviews and provide equipment-related recommendations.
Required Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in:
Mechanical Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Mechatronics Engineering
Chemical Engineering
Physics
Materials Science
Or related engineering discipline
3+ years of experience supporting semiconductor metrology, analytical, or R&D equipment.
Strong troubleshooting skills across mechanical, electrical, vacuum, controls, and automation systems.
Experience with root cause analysis methodologies.
Ability to interpret engineering drawings, schematics, and technical documentation.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience with the following semiconductor process or metrology tools:
FIB
TEM
SEM
Atomic Probe Tomography
Thin film deposition systems
Supporting equipment such as chiller, UPS, coater, scriber
Knowledge of:
SEMI E10 equipment reliability standards
SPC methodologies
Reliability engineering
Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement techniques
Experience working with OEM suppliers and service organizations.
Project management experience.
Familiarity with data analytics tools and equipment monitoring systems.
Success Profile
The successful candidate:
Demonstrates strong technical ownership and accountability.
Uses data-driven decision making to improve equipment performance.
Solves complex problems independently.
Collaborates effectively across engineering and operations organizations.
Drives continuous improvement in safety, quality, reliability, and productivity.
Acts as a technical mentor and trusted subject matter expert.
Additional Information
Time Type:
Full timeEmployee Type:
Assignee / RegularTravel:
Yes, 10% of the TimeRelocation Eligible:
NoThe 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 [email protected], 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.