Spectroscopist - Sustainability Systems

Applied Materials•Santa Clara, CA

27d•$138,000 - $190,000

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. Within Applied Materials’ Sustainability Center of Excellence, we develop measurement‑driven understanding of semiconductor process emissions to enable meaningful reductions in greenhouse gases and other byproducts across the industry. We are seeking a spectroscopist with strong experimental and data analysis expertise to support gas-phase FTIR and quadrupole mass spectrometry (QMS) measurements of semiconductor manufacturing process emissions. This role is ideal for candidates who enjoy owning instruments, collecting imperfect real-world data and turning that data into defensible, quantitative conclusions.

Requirements

PhD in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science & Engineering, Physics, or a closely related field (Exceptional BS/MS candidates with 4-7 years of industry or academic experience will be considered)
Demonstrated hands‑on experience with FTIR spectrometry and/or QMS, including experimental data collection and analysis
Solid understanding of spectroscopy fundamentals and practical measurement limitations
Design of experiments (DOE) in applied or industrial settings
Experience analyzing experimental data using custom scripting, coding, or advanced commercial tools
Comfort working directly with laboratory hardware, gas systems, and instrumentation
Strong quantitative mindset with attention to data quality and understanding of statistical measures of error and uncertainty
Ability to communicate technical results clearly and concisely
Willingness to travel internationally up to ~15%

Nice To Haves

Semiconductor manufacturing, process development, or exhaust/abatement measurement experience a plus

Responsibilities

Independently design experiments and perform gas-phase FTIR and QMS measurements of semiconductor process emissions, including GHGs and reactive byproducts.
Execute experiments in non‑ideal, production‑relevant environments (both onsite and at customer locations) where logistics, interferences, and process variability must be managed.
Support development and execution of improved approaches for quantitative gas analysis.
Operate, maintain, and troubleshoot FTIR, QMS, and associated gas handling and sampling hardware.
Assist with modification or adaptation of measurement setups (e.g., flow paths, materials compatibility, pressure control).
Diagnose hardware, firmware, and software issues.
Maintain measurement documentation, configurations, and experimental records.
Support continuous improvement programs for next gen instrument design.
Own analysis of experimental data using commercial analysis tools and custom scripts/programs of your own making (e.g., Python, MATLAB, LabVIEW, Excel, vendor software).
Conduct statistical error and uncertainty analysis, including repeatability and sensitivity assessments to establish consistency and confidence.
Draw conclusions from data analyses that support wafer process development and GHG emissions reduction.
Prepare clear presentations for engineers and stakeholders without formal training in spectroscopy or chemistry.
Contribute to technical reports supporting sustainability and emissions reduction initiatives.
Technical management of collaboration with external partners working to level set measurement capabilities across the industry.