Weld Engineer III - (E3)

Applied Materials•Austin, TX

23h•$96,000 - $132,000•Onsite

About The Position

Applied Materials is seeking a Weld Engineer to own weld process development, qualification, and continuous improvement for precision mechanical, vacuum, and gas/chemical delivery assemblies used in semiconductor manufacturing equipment. This role partners with design engineering, quality, and manufacturing to develop robust weld procedures, qualify welders and equipment, troubleshoot production issues, and drive root-cause corrective action for weld-related defects, all within a high-purity, ultra-clean fabrication environment.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Welding Engineering, Materials Science/Metallurgical Engineering, or a related field required; advanced degree a plus.
Typically 4-7 years of relevant experience in welding/joining engineering, manufacturing engineering, or process engineering, ideally in semiconductor, aerospace, medical device, or other high-purity/high-precision manufacturing industries.
Demonstrated experience developing and qualifying WPS/PQR documentation and leading welder qualification programs.
Prior experience with orbital and manual GTAW welding of stainless steel and exotic alloys (e.g., Hastelloy, Inconel) is required.
Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) preferred; Certified Welding Engineer (CWEng) or progress toward CWEng a plus.
Working knowledge of ASME Section IX, AWS D1.1/D1.6, and SEMI high-purity gas/chemical delivery standards.
Familiarity with NDT methods (PT, RT, helium leak testing) and interpretation of metallurgical cross-sections.
Experience with root-cause and quality tools such as 8D, FMEA, DOE, and statistical process control (SPC).
Proficiency with CAD/PLM tools (e.g., SolidWorks, Creo, Windchill) and standard MES/ERP systems a plus.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to translate metallurgical and process data into practical manufacturing solutions.
Solid understanding of materials science, metallurgy, and heat-affected-zone behavior in stainless steel and specialty alloys.
Effective cross-functional communicator, able to work with design engineering, quality, supply chain, and production teams.
Comfortable working hands-on with welding equipment and operators on the shop floor as well as at a desk generating engineering documentation.
Self-directed with strong project management skills; able to prioritize across multiple concurrent initiatives.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree a plus.
Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) preferred; Certified Welding Engineer (CWEng) or progress toward CWEng a plus.
Proficiency with CAD/PLM tools (e.g., SolidWorks, Creo, Windchill) and standard MES/ERP systems a plus.

Responsibilities

Develop, qualify, and document Welding Procedure Specifications (WPS) and Procedure Qualification Records (PQR) for orbital GTAW, manual GTAW, and other applicable welding processes on stainless steel and specialty alloys.
Define and validate weld parameters (current, travel speed, purge, filler selection) for new product introductions and design changes, in partnership with mechanical and product design engineering.
Lead welder and welding-operator performance qualification (WPQ) programs; evaluate and certify welders/orbital equipment against internal and industry standards.
Investigate weld-related nonconformances and field failures; perform root-cause analysis (e.g., fishbone, 5-why, DOE) and implement corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
Specify and review nondestructive and destructive testing (NDT/DT) methods, including dye penetrant, radiographic, helium leak, and cross-section/metallurgical evaluation, to verify weld integrity.
Collaborate with suppliers and internal manufacturing teams to resolve weld quality issues and drive process capability (Cpk) improvements.
Support new equipment and tooling qualification for orbital welding heads, power supplies, purge systems, and fixturing.
Author and maintain engineering specifications, work instructions, and training materials related to welding processes and cleanliness requirements.
Support cost reduction, cycle-time reduction, and yield improvement initiatives across fabrication lines.
Ensure compliance with applicable codes and standards (ASME Section IX, AWS D1.1/D1.6, SEMI, customer-specific specifications) and support internal/external audits.