Mechanical Engineer III – Value Engineering

Applied Materials • Gloucester, MA

21h • $108,000 - $148,500

About The Position

Applied Materials is seeking a Mechanical Engineer to apply mechanical engineering expertise to value engineering, cost optimization, supply chain alignment, and product lifecycle improvement. The role involves resolving complex mechanical and system-level problems while balancing design intent, reliability, cost, manufacturability, performance, and supply chain considerations. The engineer works independently with minimal guidance and serves as a resource for less experienced colleagues.

The position designs, develops, and modifies mechanical layouts, schematics, specifications, components, and tooling. It supports the handling, assembly, and disassembly of parts and assemblies throughout the product lifecycle, and oversees manufacturing and installation processes in accordance with applicable standards and regulations. The engineer also coordinates procurement and assembly of components and equipment, identifies sources for critical parts and subsystems, and resolves technical issues.

The role leads or executes value engineering initiatives, supplier and manufacturing improvements, design changes, testing, qualifications, and cost-tracking activities. It collaborates across engineering, supply chain, manufacturing, quality, commodity management, and program teams to improve product value and ensure cost, quality, manufacturability, reliability, and supply-chain objectives are met.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
• 4–7 years of experience in mechanical engineering, product engineering, manufacturing engineering, supplier engineering, or related technical roles.
• Strong experience with mechanical design principles, including sheet metal, weldments, machined components, structural analysis, material selection, and GD&T.
• Demonstrated application of Design for Excellence principles, particularly Design for Cost and Design for Manufacturability.
• Experience supporting engineering changes, supplier technical discussions, and cross-functional product development activities.
• Proficiency with CAD systems and engineering documentation practices.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate technical opportunities into measurable business value.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in value engineering, cost reduction, supplier engineering, manufacturing engineering, or supply chain engineering environments.
• Knowledge of Applied Materials and/or Varian product lifecycle processes, including NPI, ECO execution, supplier qualification, and product support.
• Experience with sheet metal fabrication, weldments, machining, castings, coatings, and assembly processes.
• Experience leading supplier transitions, multi-sourcing initiatives, localization projects, or redesign-for-cost activities.
• Knowledge of should-cost analysis, value analysis/value engineering (VA/VE), and cost modeling methodologies.
• Familiarity with semiconductor capital equipment, vacuum systems, structural frames, beamline systems, wafer handling equipment, or similar complex electromechanical products.
• Experience qualifying alternate materials, manufacturing processes, and global suppliers.
• Working knowledge of quality systems, failure analysis, reliability methods, and root cause investigation tools.
• Strong understanding of system-level integration across mechanical, electrical, manufacturing, and supply chain disciplines.

Responsibilities

• Identify, analyze, and resolve complex mechanical issues across systems, subsystems, fabricated structures, machined components, sheet metal assemblies, and purchased parts, emphasizing cost reduction, supply resiliency, manufacturability, and reliability.
• Lead or execute value engineering initiatives, including cost reduction projects, alternate material evaluations, supplier transitions, process changes, and component redesigns.
• Develop, modify, and optimize mechanical designs, machined components, and tooling solutions while maintaining system performance and product requirements.
• Partner with strategic suppliers to develop, qualify, and improve mechanical components, assemblies, coatings, fabricated structures, and manufacturing processes.
• Apply Design for Cost, Design for Manufacturability, Design for Assembly, and Design for Supply Chain principles.
• Support and lead ECO evaluation and execution, ensuring design changes deliver measurable value while managing technical and operational risk.
• Support NPI cost evaluation, design convergence, and localization efforts, ensuring designs meet cost, quality, manufacturability, and supply chain objectives.
• Work cross-functionally with Engineering, Supply Chain Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Global Commodity Management, Quality, and Program Management teams to drive end-to-end value improvements.
• Define and execute mechanical validation and qualification testing, including structural, thermal, vibration, fatigue, environmental, and reliability assessments.
• Perform engineering analysis related to GD&T, tolerance stack-up, material selection, thermal performance, structural integrity, manufacturability, and process capability.
• Generate and review engineering specifications, supplier technical requirements, test plans, qualification documentation, and released engineering drawings.
• Drive supplier qualification and multi-sourcing activities, including technical assessments, capability reviews, first article evaluations, and manufacturing process validation.
• Contribute to value tracking activities, including savings validation, PPV support, cost modeling, should-cost analysis, and opportunity identification.
• Communicate technical tradeoffs involving cost, performance, manufacturability, reliability, and supply chain considerations to influence business decisions.
• Oversee manufacturing and installation processes, ensuring adherence to industry standards and regulations.
• Coordinate procurement and assembly of mechanical components and equipment for design projects, identifying sources of critical parts and subsystems to resolve technical issues.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package.
• Candidates may be eligible for participation in a bonus program and a stock award program, as applicable.
• Supportive work culture that encourages learning, development, and career growth.
• Programs and support intended to promote employee health, wellbeing, and personal and professional growth.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level