Director, Physicist/Scientist - Lasers

Job Title

Director, Physicist/Scientist - Lasers

Role Summary

Technical leader responsible for laser and optical systems strategy, product development, supplier engagement, and customer-facing technical leadership for laser annealing platforms in semiconductor capital equipment.

Lead cross-functional internal teams and external partners to define roadmaps, drive new-product introductions, improve installed-base performance, and build technical IP in laser processing, optics, metrology, and thermal processing.

Experience Level

Senior-level. The posting implies an executive technical leadership role; specific years of experience are not stated.

Responsibilities

Lead technical vision, product development, supplier strategy, and customer engagement for laser and optical subsystems used in semiconductor manufacturing.

• Define long-term laser and optics technology roadmaps and set technical investment priorities.
• Lead development of next-generation laser annealing platforms from concept through production.
• Define system architectures for high-power laser subsystems, beam delivery and shaping optics, metrology (wafer temperature, pyrometry), sensing, and safety.
• Drive proof-of-concept demonstrations, technical risk assessments, and architecture trade studies.
• Own installed-base technical strategy and continuous improvement programs (reliability, availability, cost, serviceability, yield).
• Lead root-cause investigations and corrective/preventive actions for critical field issues and escalations.
• Serve as executive technical interface to suppliers and establish strategic partnerships and supplier technology roadmaps.
• Direct and manage third-party engineering engagements, statements of work, and technical reviews (PDR/CDR/qualification).
• Engage with strategic customers and support executive technical reviews and escalations.
• Generate and steward invention disclosures and patents; lead technical due diligence on acquisitions and partnerships.

Requirements

Key skills and experiences required or expected for success in this role.

• Must-have: Proven technical leadership in developing laser/optical systems for semiconductor equipment and demonstrated success bringing complex hardware/software products from concept to production.
• Must-have: Experience managing cross-functional teams and external engineering partners, including supplier evaluation, qualification, and joint development.
• Must-have: Strong problem-solving experience with field failure investigations and implementing corrective and preventive actions.
• Must-have: Experience engaging with strategic customers and translating requirements into development plans.
• Must-have: Willingness to travel (approximately 10%). Relocation eligibility noted by employer.
• Nice-to-have: Specific experience in laser annealing, laser spike or millisecond annealing systems, and kW-class high-power lasers.
• Nice-to-have: Advanced optical system design (beam shaping, homogenizers, DOEs/ROEs), optical coatings, stray-light mitigation, and in-situ diagnostics.
• Nice-to-have: Wafer temperature metrology/pyrometry experience and prior work in semiconductor capital equipment and laser safety systems.
• Nice-to-have: Track record of patent generation and technical publications.

Education Requirements

Not specified.

About the Company

Company: Applied Materials

Headquarters: Santa Clara, CA, United States

Global leader in materials engineering solutions for the semiconductor and display industries, designing, manufacturing, and servicing equipment used to produce chips and advanced displays worldwide. Enables customers' production of semiconductor devices and display technologies and supports innovations like AI and IoT.