Process Engineer III – (E3)
Applied Materials · Santa Clara, CA
- Level
- Senior
- Team
- Process
- Base pay
- $124k–$171k
- Experience asked
- 3+ years
- Industry
- Industrial
- Posted
- Yesterday
The role in 30 seconds
A senior process role at Applied Materials (industrial) in Santa Clara, CA. Also measure film properties, generate technical documentation, and engage with customers to resolve concerns.
- They ask for
- 3+ years
- Tools it names
- Root cause, DOE
- Base pay
- $124k–$171k
- Openings
- 5 with this title at this site
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026
Process Engineer roles in California: typical posted base $121k–$171k. This one lists $124k–$171k.
Median of the low and high ends of 60 live postings that list pay, out of 98 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 97 other live process postings in California.
- Base pay
- In line with similar roles
- Experience asked
- Less than usual (3+ vs 5+)
Typical $120k–$171k, from 57 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Root cause 46%
- ✓ DOE 30%
- SPC 28%
- Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ) 23%
- Team leadership 22%
- New product launch 21%
✓ = 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.
- Process Engineer · Process
- Senior Process Engineer · Process · Senior
- SEM Process Technician III (T3) · Process · Technician
- Product Quality & Reliability Engineer IV - (E4) · Quality · Senior
- Engineering Technician · Manufacturing
- Process Engineer IV · Process · Senior
Full description from Applied MaterialsAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
About the role
Join a process development team working on next-generation thin-film deposition and surface treatment for advanced logic interconnect. You will own process development on 300 mm chambers and work closely with hardware engineering teams to take new technology from feasibility to qualified process.
Role
Responsibilities
- ◆Own experiments end to end, from DOE design and wafer runs through metrology, analysis, and recommendations.
- ◆Develop and optimize deposition and plasma-based processes to meet film performance, integration, and reliability targets.
- ◆Characterize films using standard thin-film metrology and analytical techniques, and connect process conditions to film properties.
- ◆Partner with mechanical, electrical, and RF engineering teams on hardware requirements, test plans, and design reviews.
- ◆Support new hardware bring-up, qualification, and chamber troubleshooting using data-driven root-cause analysis.
- ◆Plan and run multiple experiment tracks in parallel to make efficient use of tool time.
- ◆Communicate results to cross-functional teams and management, and drive work with partner groups independently.
Qualifications
- ✓PhD in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field with 0–3 years of industry experience; or MS with 2–5 years;
- ✓Demonstrates conceptual and practical expertise in complex problem solving
- ✓Hands-on experience in semiconductor thin-film deposition or plasma processing
- ✓Strong written and verbal communication skills.
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
$124,000.00 - $171,000.00
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 Process Engineer, you'll play a crucial role in designing and optimizing manufacturing processes for display and semiconductor manufacturing technologies. You will collect and analyze data, perform hardware characterization, and troubleshoot engineering issues. You'll also measure film properties, generate technical documentation, and engage with customers to resolve concerns. Process Engineers collaborate with vendors and suppliers, and become familiar with implementing new technologies and products. You will experiment, learn, and collaborate with some of the brightest minds in the semiconductor and display industries, partnering with our globally recognized R&D teams on state-of-the-art research and development projects.
Time Type
Full time
Employee Type
Assignee / Regular
Travel
Yes, 10% 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.
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.