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Physicist / Scientist III

Applied Materials
September 04, 2026
Full-time
On-site
San Jose, California, United States
$138,000 - $190,000 USD yearly
Other Semiconductor Jobs, Level - Mid-Career

Job Title

Physicist / Scientist III

Role Summary

The Physicist / Scientist III designs and develops inspection and metrology systems and modules for semiconductor equipment. The role conducts research, plans and executes statistically valid experiments, analyzes data, defines system requirements, troubleshoots physics-related application issues, and supports lab and field deployments.

Experience Level

Mid-level. No explicit years of experience specified in the posting.

Responsibilities

Typical responsibilities include:

  • Define concepts and configurations for novel inspection systems and sub-systems.
  • Design, qualify and engineer modules and sub-modules for new products.
  • Plan and execute statistically valid experiments; collect and analyze data to support decision-making.
  • Develop new or modified inspection and metrology systems and perform feasibility studies.
  • Define system requirements and specifications; troubleshoot system and application problems.
  • Support physics-related issues in the lab and in the field; participate in technical customer engagements.
  • Evaluate new technologies, participate in vendor selection, and assess competitive and market needs.
  • Guide and mentor less experienced physicists/scientists and lead small projects.

Requirements

Key requirements:

  • Proven experience in experimental physics, metrology, or related R&D with strong data-analysis skills.
  • Experience designing experiments and applying statistical analysis for validation and risk management.
  • Demonstrated ability to design systems or modules, define requirements, and troubleshoot hardware and application issues.
  • Experience supporting lab testing and field deployments and responding to customer/application problems.
  • Project leadership and mentoring experience; strong problem-solving and communication skills.
  • Willingness to travel (approximately 10%); relocation not eligible for this posting.
  • Nice-to-have: experience with inspection/metrology systems, vendor evaluation, and direct customer technical engagement.

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.

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Date Posted: 2026-09-03