Manager, Process Engineering
Applied Materials · Santa Clara, CA
- Level
- Manager
- Team
- Process
- Base pay
- $147k–$203k
- Degree
- Required (or equivalent experience)
- Experience asked
- 2+ years
- Industry
- Industrial
- Posted
- 30+ days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A management process role at Applied Materials (industrial) in Santa Clara, CA.
- They ask for
- 2+ years · degree required (or equivalent experience)
- Base pay
- $147k–$203k
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of October 19, 2026
Process Engineer roles in California: typical posted base $124k–$171k. This one lists $147k–$203k.
Median of the low and high ends of 49 live postings that list pay, out of 78 process engineer openings in California, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
California plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 77 other live process postings in California.
- Base pay
- About 19% above similar roles
- Experience asked
- Less than usual (2+ vs 5+)
Typical $122k–$171k, from 47 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- Root cause 47%
- ✓ Team leadership 26%
- DOE 24%
- SPC 23%
- Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ) 23%
- New product launch 22%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Process team at Applied Materials
We found 7 people at this company and state: 5 in this kind of role, 2 leaders. Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. See them ↓
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
Write to John → (free) - 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- Is the work mostly new product launches or sustaining existing lines?
- How much time do you spend on the floor versus at a desk?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
This plant: Applied Materials in Santa Clara
47 other open roles at this site · 7 people we found in process roles at Applied Materials.
- Director, Process Engineer · Process · Director+
- Product Quality & Reliability Engineer IV (E4) · Quality · Senior
- Process Engineer · Process
- Process Engineer III · Process · Senior
- Mgr, Process Engineer · Process
- Process Engineer ||| - Plasma · Process
Full description from Applied MaterialsAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
What you'll do
- ◆Provide direct supervision to a team of professional and skilled technical staff, setting priorities and removing roadblocks to meet commitments.
- ◆Serve as a technical and operational advisor to the team, stepping in hands-on when needed to keep schedules on track and resolve problems.
- ◆Track and analyze the performance of both direct reports and lab equipment, using data to drive decisions and improvements.
- ◆Sustain and continuously improve established lab workflows, recommending changes to team processes, protocols, and policies.
- ◆Recruit, interview, hire skilled new talent, and administer company policies fairly and consistently.
- ◆Build strong working relationships and rapport with direct reports, peers, stakeholdes, and management.
- ◆Present technical information on projects, schedules, and results to stakeholders, and secure cooperation across teams.
What you'll need (required)
- ✓2+ years of managerial experience
- ✓5+ years of relevant technical experience, with at least 1–2 years leading, mentoring, or coordinating others.
- ✓Strong technical background in Electron Microscopy (SEM/TEM), or broad working knowledge of metrology techniques and failure analysis.
- ✓Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills, with the judgment to act within established procedures, protocol, and policies.
- ✓Ability to analyze situations and data, weighing relevant factors before recommending action.
- ✓Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including comfort presenting technical material to upper management.
- ✓Bachelor's degree in Materials Science, Physics, Engineering, or a related field — or equivalent experience.
- ✓Recent people-management or team-lead experience in a lab, fab, or manufacturing environment.
- ✓Experience managing lab equipment uptime, calibration, or maintenance programs.
- ✓Familiarity with semiconductor processes and a data-driven approach to performance tracking.
Impact
Decisions in this role directly affect team output and lab schedules; sound judgment keeps projects and deliverables on time.
Additional Information
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
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
$147,000.00 - $202,500.00
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 .
We're hiring a front-line manager to lead a team of technical contributors in our Electron Microscopy and materials characterization lab. You'll provide day-to-day supervision, keep the lab running to schedule, and help develop both the team and our analytical capabilities. This is an ideal step for a strong, technically minded, early-career manager looking to grow.
Time Type
Full time
Employee Type
Assignee / Regular
Travel
Yes, 10% of the Time
Relocation Eligible
No
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.
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 Accommodations_Program@amat.com, 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.