Principal Applications Engineer - Mass Spectrometry

Job Details

Location: Milpitas, California, USA
Position Type: Full time

About the Role

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Principal Applications Engineer to join our team. This role reports to the Director of Applications and collaborates closely with business development, marketing, sales, and engineering teams. You will lead the development of application-specific solutions for Aston, the company’s flagship product. You will also lead technical engagements with customers in semiconductor manufacturing and related applications, prepare and present customer-facing materials, contribute to product roadmaps, and support new product definition and introduction.

Responsibilities

• Develop deep operational knowledge of mass spectrometry (MS) products under development.
• Perform hands-on instrument configuration, calibration, validation, and performance testing.
• Develop new market-driven applications in collaboration with potential customers.
• Support Aston evaluations at semiconductor original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and fabrication plants (fabs).
• Provide on-site setup, debugging, and performance analysis of Aston systems.
• Identify key application-specific requirements early in the customer engagement process.
• Develop application-specific Aston solution bundles based on tailored hardware and software features.
• Develop support plans and execution timelines for key customer engagements.
• Strengthen key customer relationships through technical expertise and relationship management.
• Identify new application opportunities and write internal or customer-facing proposals.
• Deliver customer-facing presentations and conduct presale product demonstrations.
• Develop and deliver hardware- and software-related operational training sessions for customers.
• Acquire and analyze samples from prospective customers and provide sample analysis reports to support sales opportunities.
• Contribute to the definition of next-generation product roadmaps.
• Support product development by translating system specifications into component performance requirements and participating in development reviews.

Requirements

• Master’s degree and 6+ years of work experience, or Ph.D. and 2+ years of work experience, in physics, chemistry, electrical engineering, or a related field.
• 5+ years of hands-on experience developing mass spectrometry-based solutions for novel applications.
• Experience with analytical instruments such as mass spectrometers, gas analyzers, or plasma diagnostics.
• Familiarity with semiconductor manufacturing processes, including etch, CVD, and ALD.
• Sound understanding of the new product introduction process, including defining product requirements, evaluating prototypes, and diagnosing and debugging system-level issues.
• Proven success delivering customer-facing presentations and conducting presale product demonstrations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Knowledge of control hardware (e.g., PLCs) and scripting platforms (e.g., Python and LabVIEW) is desirable.
• Up to 30% domestic and international travel is expected.

Soft Skills

• Self-motivated and comfortable working in early-stage or dynamic environments.
• Strong team-building and collaborative mindset.

Performance Metrics

• Effective management of customer relationships.
• High customer satisfaction.
• High rate of successful Aston evaluations.

Career Opportunities

Potential career paths include product management or field solutions leadership.