Mechanical Engineer IV

Applied Materials•Santa Clara, CA

2d•$147,000 - $202,500

About The Position

The Mechanical Design Engineer IV (E4) leads the design, development, qualification, and lifecycle improvement of PVD chamber hardware, vacuum subsystems, pedestals, ESCs, process kits, and thermal management assemblies for semiconductor manufacturing equipment. The role combines strong mechanical engineering fundamentals with hands-on semiconductor equipment experience and ownership of complex projects from concept through production release. The engineer uses physics, mathematics, and materials science to resolve mechanical problems; designs and implements custom tooling and processes; and enables handling, assembly, and disassembly of parts and assemblies throughout the product lifecycle. The role also involves developing and modifying mechanical layouts, schematics, and specifications; overseeing manufacturing and installation to ensure standards and regulatory adherence; and coordinating procurement and assembly of components and equipment.

Requirements

BS or MS in Mechanical Engineering or a related field.
5–10 years of mechanical design experience.
Strong CAD, GD&T, tolerance stack-up, and drawing creation skills.
Experience with vacuum systems, thermal management, precision assemblies, and product development.
Ability to generate specifications, test plans, and engineering reports.
Strong troubleshooting and root-cause analysis skills.
Deep expertise in mechanical design and semiconductor equipment hardware.
Ability to independently drive complex engineering programs with minimal supervision.
Ability to lead technical problem solving across multiple disciplines.
Ability to influence design decisions and establish best practices.
Effective communication with customers, suppliers, and senior leadership.

Nice To Haves

Direct PVD experience, including process chambers, cathodes, targets, magnetrons, shields, process kits, pedestals, and ESCs.
Understanding of plasma processes, vacuum technology, contamination control, and thermal management.
Experience with advanced packaging, logic, or memory applications.
Knowledge of RF hardware integration and high-temperature components.
Experience with NX, Teamcenter, ANSYS, and engineering change processes.

Responsibilities

Own mechanical design of PVD chambers, targets, cathodes, shields, liners, pedestals, ESCs, process kits, wafer handling interfaces, and vacuum hardware.
Create 3D designs and 2D drawings, and perform GD&T, tolerance analysis, and engineering calculations.
Conduct thermal, structural, vibration, and design tradeoff analyses using FEA/CFD tools.
Develop solutions for contamination control, particle reduction, thermal stability, reliability, and manufacturability.
Partner with process, RF, electrical, systems, manufacturing, and quality teams.
Lead root-cause investigations and corrective actions for customer and field issues.
Define qualification plans and analyze engineering test data.
Drive supplier development and component qualification activities.
Design and implement custom mechanical tooling and associated processes.
Oversee manufacturing and installation processes to ensure adherence to industry standards and regulations.
Coordinate procurement and assembly of mechanical components and equipment, identifying sources of critical parts and subsystems to resolve technical issues.