Process Technician III
Applied Materials · Santa Clara, CA
- Level
- Technician
- Team
- Process
- Experience asked
- 4+ years
- Industry
- Industrial
- Posted
- Today
The role in 30 seconds
A technician-level process role at Applied Materials (industrial) in Santa Clara, CA. You'll be responsible for preparing wafers for experimentation, operating reactors to perform thin film processes, and using scanning electron microscopes for analyses and imaging.
- They ask for
- 4+ years
- Openings
- 3 with this title at this site
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of October 26, 2026
Manufacturing Technician roles in California: typical posted base $59k–$78k.
Median of the low and high ends of 10 live postings that list pay, out of 129 manufacturing technician 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 15 other live process postings in California.
- Experience asked
- More than usual (4+ vs 2+)
Similar roles usually ask 2+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Team leadership 56%
- 5S 44%
- Tooling 38%
- TPM 25%
✓ = 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
50 other open roles at this site · 7 people we found in process roles at Applied Materials.
- Process Engineer · Process
- Process Engineer III · Process · Senior
- Senior Process Engineer · Process · Senior
- Process Engineer E4 · Process
- Process Engineer - Advanced Packaging R&D · Process
- Process Engineer – Plasma Etch · Process
Full description from Applied MaterialsAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Responsibilities
· Shift assignment will be Monday-Friday Swing shift 3-11pm
· Proficient in operating with AMAT platform operations; capable of operating PVD, CVD, and Etch chambers to perform thin-film deposition and etching processes under supervision.
- ◆Highly detail-oriented and adheres to standard operating procedures (SOPs).
· Familiarity with cleanroom operations and semiconductor processing equipment is a plus.
· Basic understanding of process control and data analysis.
- ◆Strong verbal and written communication skills; able to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, including operations and engineering.
- ◆Interfaces with requestors to clarify
requirements
and provide accurate, timely results.
- ✓Developing proficiency in the use of laboratory process equipment and instrumentation.
Qualifications
- ✓Technical diploma, military technical training, or trade certification
- ✓2-4 years of related experience
Other
Requirements
This position often requires extensive walking, standing for extended periods of time, working in tight spaces, bending, squatting, twisting, kneeling, reaching, climbing stairs and ladders, working at height, lifting up to 35 lbs., the ability to distinguish between colors and working with electricity, the ability to work in an environment with noise that may be difficult for some individuals with sensitivity to noise, and the use of hand and power tools. Additionally, because this position generally involves working in a clean room, it requires the use of appropriate Personal Protective Equipment such as coveralls, hoods, booties, safety glasses, gloves, respirators, chemical aprons, and face shields.
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
$29.00 - $39.60
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 Process Technician, you'll be responsible for preparing wafers for experimentation, operating reactors to perform thin film processes, and using scanning electron microscopes for analyses and imaging. You'll record process conditions and experimental observations, perform routine maintenance procedures, and evaluate wafers and thin films. Process Technicians are tasked with preparing cross-section samples for analysis, identifying patterns of interest in imaging, and operating laboratory process equipment and instrumentation. Your expertise in troubleshooting, equipment maintenance, and process optimization drives higher levels of productivity, quality, and efficiency in our manufacturing processes.
Applied Materials, Inc. is the global leader in materials engineering solutions used to produce virtually every new chip and advanced display in the world. Our expertise in modifying materials at atomic levels and on an industrial scale enables customers to transform possibilities into reality. At Applied Materials, our innovations Make Possible ® the technology shaping the future.
At Applied’s CTO group, we focus on enabling technologies for quantum information applications, i.e. superconducting qubits and optical quantum computing. Our primary objective is to collaborate with system companies and universities to develop quantum devices with significantly lower error rates compared to current standards. Our approach centers on harnessing state of the art materials engineering and semiconductor processing to enhance device performance.
To achieve this goal, we're seeking a passionate quantum scientist with strong quantum computing and qubit background to develop novel materials and devices for emerging markets and new technology inflection on quantum information. We value our people and teams who turn possibilities into reality. We are deeply committed to fostering a Culture of Inclusion where every person knows they belong, feels empowered to bring their whole self to work, and is inspired to grow.
Role
Time Type
Full time
Employee Type
Assignee / Regular
Travel
No
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.
In addition, A
