Senior DFx Mechanical Engineer (SANTA CLARA)

Who We Are

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. 

What We Offer

Salary:

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You’ll benefit from a supportive work culture that encourages you to learn, develop, and grow your career as you take on challenges and drive innovative solutions for our customers. We empower our team to push the boundaries of what is possible—while learning every day in a supportive leading global company. Visit our Careers website to learn more. 

At Applied Materials, we care about the health and wellbeing of our employees. We’re committed to providing programs and support that encourage personal and professional growth and care for you at work, at home, or wherever you may go. Learn more about our benefits . 

Key Responsibilities

• Advanced knowledge of and the ability to incorporate DFx best practices to optimize product cost, quality and manufacturing cycle time. Leads medium complexity programs in DFX BKM process and tools development. Monitors industry and marketplace trends, exploring new tools and techniques. Mentors more junior DFX engineers.
• Analyzes high complexity designs to ensure components and assemblies are manufacturable and produceable. Collaborates with key suppliers on manufacturability and produceability improvements on designs. Leads medium complexity programs with cross-functional teams to develop produceability, manufacturability, and assembly-related BKMs. Coaches more junior engineers on how to identify and execute manufacturability, produceability, and assembly improvements according to DFx principles.
• Evaluates and implements high complexity cost reduction ideas to reduce part/assembly costs in the machined, sheet metal, frames, and plastic commodities. Identifies use cases for commonly used OEM's to leverage re-use. Very good knowledge of how cost apportionment drives cost reduction opportunities and priorities. Leads medium complexity programs to develop and improve BKM's in product cost tools and processes. Complexity –complex BTP parts, OEM's, and medium complexity assemblies ; $500 - $1500
• Advanced knowledge of ITO principles. Identifies and implements opportunities to maximize core content, and ensure late configurability in the manufacturing sequence on highly complex modules or products. Leads medium complexity programs with cross-functional teams to develop ITO BKMs. Coaches others on how to identify and execute ITO improvements.  
• Advanced understanding of shipping/cargo restrictions by mode of transportation, customer facilities restrictions, and proper labeling. Ensures proper crate packaging on highly complex assemblies/modules to prevent product damage during transportation. Coaches others on how to identify and execute transportability improvements. Leads medium complexity programs with cross functional teams to develop tools and processes that improve transportability. Researches, pilots and implements intelligent packaging technologies.
• Performs virtual review of highly complex assembly/module 3D models and review of initial physical builds to identify and eliminate aesthetic issues (cable routing, color, consistency of mating features/surfaces, etc). Leads medium complexity programs with cross functional teams to development aesthetics-related BKM's. Leverages lessons learned from like products to ensure aesthetic consistency.
• Participates in design reviews, providing advanced level of DFX input focused on manufacturability, produce ability, cost, assembly, test, transportability, and aesthetics. Lead PLC DFX workshop (partner with Program Manager) to align on scope for DFX review (functional description, cost apportionment, mfg strategy, etc). Leads medium complexity programs with cross functional teams to develop BKM's in DMU and DFX workshop processes and tools.
• Advanced knowledge of and experience with the day-to-day operations, standards, and policies of a semiconductor equipment manufacturing plant or facility.

Functional Knowledge

• Demonstrates depth and/or breadth of expertise in own specialized discipline or field  

Business Expertise

• Interprets internal/external business challenges and recommends best practices to improve products, processes or services

Leadership

• May lead functional teams or projects with moderate resource requirements, risk, and/or complexity  

Problem Solving

• Leads others to solve complex problems; uses sophisticated analytical thought to exercise judgment and identify innovative solutions

Impact

• Impacts the achievement of customer, operational, project or service objectives; work is guided by functional policies

Interpersonal Skills

• Communicates difficult concepts and negotiates with others to adopt a different point of view

Additional Job Description

• Knowledge of AI and its implementation in design tools and engineering workflows
• GD&T (Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing) Knowledge
  • Strong working knowledge of ASME Y14.5 standards.
  • Ability to interpret, apply, and review GD&T callouts on engineering drawings and 3D models.
  • Hands-on experience with tolerance stack-up analysis (1D/2D/3D).
  • Collaborate with design, manufacturing, quality, and suppliers to ensure design-for-manufacturability (DFM) and design-for-inspection (DFI) were met.
  • Support Root Cause Analysis (RCA) for dimensional issues and drive corrective actions.
  • Guide engineers on best practices for datums, feature control frames, and functional tolerancing.
• Strong understanding of AI prompt engineering techniques:
  • Clear role definition, Context framing, Step-by-step reasoning instructions, Output formatting control
• Ability to convert engineering problems into structured AI prompts.
• Experience using Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT, or similar LLM-based tools.
• Analytical mindset to validate AI-generated outputs against engineering standards.
• Experience integrating AI tools into engineering or manufacturing workflows.
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Additional Information

Time Type:

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Travel:

Relocation Eligible:

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 View email address on apply.placed-app.com, or by calling our HR Direct Help Line at View phone number on apply.placed-app.com, 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.