Senior Systems Architect, Precision Stage V (E5)

Applied Materials • Santa Clara, CA

8d • $163,000 - $224,000

About The Position

Applied Materials is hiring a Senior Systems Architect to own the end-to-end architecture of high-precision motion stages and their mechatronic subsystems. The role spans mechanical structure, actuation, sensing, metrology, and motion control, translating positioning, dynamic, and throughput requirements into integrated mechanical and control designs. The architect sets technical direction and serves as a senior technical authority for the multidisciplinary team.

The position defines stage and control architectures, performance targets, error budgets, and technical roadmaps; develops and integrates dynamic models, feedback and metrology systems, real-time control hardware, and multi-axis servo systems; and evaluates and qualifies designs and prototypes. It also supports system integration, reliability testing, manufacturing and field organizations, supplier development, and compliance with applicable safety standards. The role may provide remote and onsite support and requires travel of approximately 10% of the time.

The posting also includes a generic Mechanical Engineer description, but the detailed role information and qualifications are for the Senior Precision Stage Architect position.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, or Controls, with 10–15+ years of experience.
• Demonstrated knowledge of systems engineering, control theory, servo and feedback control design, and multi-axis motion control applied to high-precision motion stages and stage subsystems.
• Hands-on experience with mechatronic co-design, including system identification, dynamic modeling, control-loop tuning, feedforward design, and active vibration isolation or damping for nanometer-class positioning.
• Familiarity with motion-control hardware and real-time implementation, including motion controllers, FPGA/DSP-based systems, drives, amplifiers, and position-feedback or metrology sensors.
• Mechanical engineering experience selecting, building, testing, troubleshooting, and releasing semiconductor or similar-scale capital equipment.
• Knowledge of SEMI S2/S8/S14, NFPA 79, F47, CE, and EMI/EMC safety standards.
• In-depth knowledge of 3D CAD and 2D CAD drawing tools, such as Siemens NX Unigraphics, Inventor, and AutoCAD.
• Working knowledge of materials and components used in semiconductor wafer manufacturing equipment, materials characterization methods, and materials or systems failure analysis.
• Experience supporting manufacturing and service organizations through training, documentation, and troubleshooting.
• Proficiency with modeling, simulation, and data-analysis tools such as MATLAB/Simulink, Python, and Excel, or equivalent.
• Strong time-management skills and ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Strong communication and organizational skills and a collaborative approach.
• Energy and desire to thrive in a start-up-like environment.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree.
• Managerial experience; the posting notes an opportunity for future growth.

Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end architecture of high-precision motion stages and their mechatronic subsystems, integrating mechanical structure, actuation, sensing, metrology, and motion control.
• Define complex precision-stage mechanical components, modules, and mechatronic subsystems using a co-designed mechanics-and-controls approach.
• Define precision-stage control architecture, including servo-loop topology, loop partitioning, feedforward strategy, sensor and actuator selection, and mechanical/control trade-offs.
• Set the controls roadmap, error budgets, quantitative performance targets, and technical direction for engineers working on stage controls.
• Contribute to system engineering specifications across precision-stage and control expertise and adjacent disciplines.
• Develop dynamic models of stage mechanics and integrate them with control design, including vibration isolation, disturbance rejection, and damping strategies.
• Specify and integrate position feedback and metrology, real-time control hardware, and the sensor-to-actuator signal chain.
• Define, tune, and validate multi-axis servo loops, feedforward, and motion profiles for production performance.
• Ensure designs meet Market Requirement Specifications and coordinate with project marketing and management on subsystem requirements.
• Chair architecture brainstorming meetings and guide the systems process to select a final stage and control architecture, including the mechanical/control partition.
• Conduct engineering analyses, including stability and bandwidth analysis, error budgeting, structural dynamics, and assessment of thermal and dynamic error sources.
• Develop and evaluate architectural concepts and competing mechanical and control designs to recommend an overall system solution.
• Build and qualify stage prototypes or procure subsystems from suppliers and test them against detailed specifications, including control performance.
• Identify and troubleshoot engineering problems such as servo instability, loop-tuning issues, vibration, dynamic errors, serviceability, and manufacturability.
• Partner with electrical, firmware, and software teams on real-time control implementation, sampling and latency budgets, and controller-to-drive integration.
• Support system integration during assembly and final testing of new product designs.
• Perform and coordinate reliability testing and make design or operational changes as needed.
• Support system engineering projects involving electrical, mechanical, physics, controls, algorithms, and software disciplines.
• Provide remote and onsite support to field support personnel as required.
• Technically lead and/or execute engineering projects, including development of key suppliers.
• Drive completion of tool safety standards and work with third-party evaluators.
• Prepare summary reports and present findings, data, and conclusions to technical experts and other internal or external audiences.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package and wellness programs supporting employees and their families.
• Potential eligibility for bonus and stock-award programs, as applicable.

What This Job Offers

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