Identify emerging laser, optics, sensing, and thermal processing technologies that create competitive differentiation.
Establish technical investment priorities aligned with customer and product roadmaps.
Drive strategic make-versus-buy decisions for laser, optics, metrology, and subsystem technologies.
New Product Development
Lead development of next-generation laser annealing platforms.
Define system architectures for
High-power laser subsystems
Beam shaping and homogenization optics
Optical delivery systems
Wafer temperature metrology
Pyrometry systems
Optical sensing and diagnostics
Laser safety and stray-light management
Drive proof-of-concept demonstrations through production deployment.
Lead technical risk assessments and architecture trade studies.
Installed Base Support & Continuous Product Improvement (CIP)
Own laser and optics technical strategy for currently released products.
Drive continuous improvement programs focused on
Productivity
Reliability
Availability
Cost reduction
Serviceability
Yield improvement
Process performance
Lead root-cause investigations for critical field issues and customer escalations.
Develop corrective and preventive actions for recurring product issues.
Identify opportunities for hardware, software, and process upgrades across the installed base.
Cross functional interfaces: Product Management, Process, Systems Engineering, Manufacturing, Service, Quality, Supply Chain, EHS/Laser Safety, and Customer Engineering.
Supplier Management & Strategic Partnerships
Serve as executive technical interface to laser manufacturers, optical suppliers, coating vendors, and metrology suppliers.
Develop supplier technology roadmaps aligned with future product requirements.
Evaluate supplier capabilities, technology readiness, and risk.
Lead technical supplier reviews and joint development programs.
Drive component performance, reliability, and cost improvements through supplier engagement.
Support supplier qualification and sourcing decisions.
Establish strategic partnerships that provide sustainable competitive advantage.
External Engineering Partner Leadership
Direct and oversee third-party engineering services companies engaged in optical, laser, mechanical, controls, and systems development activities.
Develop statements of work, technical requirements, deliverables, and acceptance criteria.
Lead technical reviews including
Requirements reviews
Concept reviews
Preliminary Design Reviews (PDR)
Critical Design Reviews (CDR)
Qualification reviews
Ensure external developments meet performance, schedule, quality, and cost objectives.
Coordinate activities across internal and external engineering teams.
Provide technical leadership while maintaining accountability for final system performance.
Laser & Optical Systems Leadership
Lead development and optimization of
Fiber laser systems
Diode laser systems
Beam delivery systems
Beam shaping optics
Diffractive optical elements (DOE)
Refractive optical elements (ROE)
Homogenizers
Polarization control systems
Optical coatings
Stray-light mitigation systems
In-situ optical diagnostics
Wafer temperature measurement systems
Customer & Business Engagement
Engage directly with strategic semiconductor customers to understand future device and process requirements.
Support executive customer reviews and technical roadmap discussions.
Translate customer requirements into product and technology development plans.
Provide technical leadership during customer escalations and critical issue resolution.
Innovation & Intellectual Property
Generate and champion invention disclosures and patent filings.
Build strategic intellectual property portfolios in laser processing, optics, metrology, and thermal processing.
Lead technical due diligence activities related to acquisitions, partnerships, and technology evaluations.
Publish and present technical work internally and externally when appropriate.
Organizational Leadership
Leads direct report in a matrix team and managing external partners while providing technical leadership
Mentor physicists, optical engineers, systems engineers, and technologists.
Establish technical standards and best practices throughout the organization.
Influence technical direction of laser annealing roadmap.
Act as a recognized company expert in laser annealing and optical systems.
Critical Success Metrics
New product introduction success
Installed-base reliability improvements
Customer satisfaction and escalation closure
Laser and optics cost-reduction achievements
Supplier technology and quality performance
Patent generation and innovation impact
Third-party development effectiveness
Technology roadmap development and execution
Team technical capability growth
Reliability/availability improvement
Qualification cycle-time reduction
Supplier quality improvement
Patents/patent disclosures
Preferred Experience
Laser annealing, laser spike annealing, or millisecond annealing systems
High-power lasers (kW-class)
Advanced optical system design for high power lasers
Semiconductor capital equipment
Laser safety systems
Wafer temperature metrology and pyrometry
Strategic supplier management
Management of outsourced engineering development team
Additional Information
Time Type
Full time
Employee Type
Assignee / Regular
Travel
Yes, 10% of the Time
Relocation Eligible
Yes
The salary offered to a selected candidate will be based on multiple factors including location, hire grade, job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and with consideration of internal equity of our current team members. In addition to a comprehensive benefits package, candidates may be eligible for other forms of compensation such as participation in a bonus and a stock award program, as applicable.
For all sales roles, the posted salary range is the Target Total Cash (TTC) range for the role, which is the sum of base salary and target bonus amount at 100% goal achievement.
Applied Materials is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law.
In addition, Applied endeavors to make our careers site accessible to all users. If you would like to contact us regarding accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please contact us via e-mail at Accommodations_Program@amat.com, or by calling our HR Direct Help Line at 877-612-7547, option 1, and following the prompts to speak to an HR Advisor. This contact is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.
