NPT Manufacturing Engineer IV - Etch (E4)

Applied Materials•Austin, TX

About The Position

Applied Materials is a global leader in materials engineering solutions used to produce virtually every new chip and advanced display in the world. We design, build and service cutting-edge equipment that helps our customers manufacture display and semiconductor chips – the brains of devices we use every day. As the foundation of the global electronics industry, Applied enables the exciting technologies that literally connect our world – like AI and IoT. If you want to push the boundaries of materials science and engineering to create next generation technology, join us to deliver material innovation that changes the world. 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 Manufacturing Engineer, you are responsible for developing and maintaining methods, operating sequences, and processes in the fabrication of parts, components, subassemblies, and final assemblies. You'll work closely with other engineering functions to coordinate the release of product improvements and new products, and you'll use engineering principles to estimate and reduce manufacturing costs, improve product quality, determine time standards, and make recommendations for tooling and process requirements. Your expertise in lean principles, automation, and continuous improvement will be instrumental in driving operational excellence and achieving higher levels of productivity and cost-effectiveness. You'll develop and use test procedures, evaluate test results, and assess work methods, procedures, and policies to identify root cause issues and solutions that ensure operational success. Etch Manufacturing is hiring an experienced New Product Transition (NPT) Manufacturing Engineer to play a central role in launching next-generation products into high-volume manufacturing. This role sits at the intersection of design, manufacturing, quality, and supply chain, with clear ownership for manufacturing readiness, risk mitigation, and execution during Pilot and early volume builds. This is a hands-on, high-trust role for someone who operates comfortably in ambiguity, exercises strong technical judgment, and leads through influence. You will be expected to provide decisive technical leadership on the manufacturing floor in both a build and test capacity. The role sets the standard for execution, partnering closely with technicians, manufacturing engineering, and supervisors to keep builds moving without compromising safety, quality, or long-term manufacturability. You will work closely with NPT Program Managers and cross-functional leaders to translate new complex designs into products that can be manufactured at scale and with high quality. As an NPT Manufacturing Engineer, you are accountable for new product manufacturing readiness from Pilot through volume release, with ownership for both outcomes and execution. This team turns advanced designs into scalable products, and this role carries real ownership for how new products today become the foundation of Etch's long-term success. If you’re motivated by optimization, technical depth, and leading where it matters most, this role offers the opportunity to make a lasting impact.

Requirements

Strong background in manufacturing process development and new product transition (NPT).
Experience supporting Pilot and early volume builds in a complex manufacturing environment.
Deep understanding of Design for Manufacturing, Assembly, and Test (DFx).
Proven ability to diagnose manufacturing build and test issues using data and structured problem-solving.
Demonstrated technical leadership on the manufacturing floor, providing direction to technicians and cross-functional partners.
Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical field.
Typically 7–10 years of relevant manufacturing or NPI experience.

Nice To Haves

Experience with SAP or similar ERP systems.
Exposure to semiconductor capital equipment or complex system integration.
Experience mentoring and developing less-experienced engineers.

Responsibilities

Own Manufacturing Readiness: Define and sustain manufacturing processes, methods, and flows that enable reliable builds with high quality and repeatability.
Lead Pilot and Early Volume Builds: Drive execution of Pilot and initial volume builds in partnership with NPT PMs, manufacturing, and quality, coordinating floor activity and prioritizing issues as conditions evolve.
Apply Design for Excellence (DFx): Influence product and process decisions to improve customer satisfaction, reduce cost, simplify assembly, and increase ergonomics using data and experience to guide tradeoffs.
Drive Cross-Functional Alignment: Work directly with Design Engineering, Volume Engineering, Quality, and Supply Chain to align on manufacturing requirements and execute readiness plans.
Enable Product Maturity: Lead manufacturing changes that improve manufacturability, reliability, and scalability as products approach high-volume release.
Own Issue Resolution: Serve as the technical point of accountability for real-time manufacturing build and test issues.
Own Build Documentation Readiness: Ensure work instructions, process documentation, and manufacturing standards are accurate, usable, and sustained.
Own Test Readiness: Partner with engineering teams to define test specifications, procedures, and acceptance criteria.
Assess and Mitigate Risk: Identify manufacturing risks early through design reviews and readiness assessments, and drive mitigation before production is impacted.
Lead on the Manufacturing Floor: Work side-by-side with technicians and assemblers during builds, assessing conditions as they emerge.