Mechanical Engineering Manager
Applied Materials · Santa Clara, CA
- Level
- Manager
- Team
- Reliability
- Base pay
- $163k–$224k
- Experience asked
- 10+ years
- Industry
- Industrial
- Posted
- 30+ days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A management reliability role at Applied Materials (industrial) in Santa Clara, CA. Lead and develop a team of mechanical engineers across NPI, sustaining, and customer programs.
- They ask for
- 10+ years
- Tools it names
- Root cause, GD&T, Tooling, CATIA / NX
- Base pay
- $163k–$224k
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of October 19, 2026
Reliability Engineer roles in California: typical posted base $115k–$165k. This one lists $163k–$224k.
Median of the low and high ends of 61 live postings that list pay, out of 130 reliability 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 129 other live reliability postings in California.
- Base pay
- About 38% above similar roles
- Experience asked
- More than usual (10+ vs 5+)
Typical $115k–$165k, from 60 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Root cause 71%
- FMEA 43%
- ✓ New product launch 42%
- Automation 32%
- Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ) 28%
- SPC 20%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for CATIA / NX, Cost reduction, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with 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 Reliability team at Applied Materials
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find 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.
- 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- 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
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Full description from Applied MaterialsAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Key Responsibilities
- ◆Lead and develop a team of mechanical engineers across NPI, sustaining, and customer programs.
- ◆Own mechanical execution of PVD chamber, pedestal, ESC, process kit, wafer handling and vacuum hardware developments.
- ◆Drive architecture decisions balancing performance, manufacturability, cost, reliability and serviceability.
- ◆Partner with process, systems, electrical, manufacturing, quality and supplier teams.
- ◆Lead root-cause investigations for field, manufacturing and customer issues.
- ◆Manage schedules, resource planning, risk management and engineering priorities.
- ◆Develop supplier capability and qualification strategies.
- ◆Coach engineers on GD&T, tolerance analysis, FEA, thermal analysis and design reviews.
Required Qualifications
- ✓BS/MS in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline.
- ✓10+ years semiconductor equipment experience with 2+ years technical leadership or people management experience.
- ✓Strong mechanical design background in vacuum systems, RF hardware, thermal management and precision assemblies.
- ✓Experience leading multidisciplinary development programs from concept through customer release.
- ✓Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
Preferred Qualifications
- ✓Deep PVD experience including process chamber hardware, cathodes, shields, deposition sources, ESCs, pedestals and process kits.
- ✓Experience with advanced packaging, logic or memory applications.
- ✓Knowledge of plasma-material interactions, contamination control, vacuum technology and thermal management.
- ✓Experience with global engineering teams and major semiconductor customers.
- ✓Familiarity with NX, Teamcenter, FEA/CFD tools and product development processes.
What Sets This Role Apart
The ideal candidate combines strong people leadership with hands-on semiconductor hardware expertise. They are capable of guiding architecture discussions with senior technologists, supporting customer executives, driving urgency across organizations, and building a high-performing mechanical engineering team capable of delivering next-generation PVD products.
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
$163,000.00 - $224,000.00
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 .
As a Mechanical Engineer, you’ll leverage your strong foundation in physics, mathematics, and materials science to process and resolve mechanical problems, design and implement custom mechanical tooling and associated processes, and enable the handling, assembly, and disassembly of parts, components, sub-assemblies, and final assemblies throughout the product life cycle. You'll be responsible for designing, developing, and modifying mechanical engineering layouts, schematics, and specifications. You will oversee manufacturing and installation processes, ensuring adherence to industry standards and regulations-- and you'll coordinate the procurement and assembly of mechanical components and equipment for design projects, identifying sources of critical parts and subsystems to resolve technical issues.
Role Summary
The Mechanical Engineering Manager (E5) will lead a team of mechanical engineers responsible for development and sustaining of advanced PVD modules and subsystems. This role combines people leadership, technical strategy, execution ownership, and deep semiconductor equipment expertise. The manager will drive new product introduction, customer escalations, cost reduction, reliability improvements, and roadmap development for vacuum, RF, thermal, process-facing and precision mechanical assemblies.
E5 Leadership Expectations
- •Build organizational capability through hiring, mentoring and talent development.
- •Translate business objectives into engineering priorities.
- •Influence cross-functional leaders and drive decision making.
- •Establish engineering best practices and technical standards.
- •Lead multiple complex programs simultaneously.
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.
