Supplier Engineer (Welding)

Job Title

Supplier Engineer (Welding)

Role Summary

Responsible for weld quality for ultra-high-purity (UHP) gas delivery systems used in semiconductor equipment, covering procedure qualification, welder certification, in-process inspection, and nonconformance resolution within a controlled cleanroom fabrication environment. Collaborates with manufacturing engineering, quality assurance, and supply chain to qualify internal and supplier weld sources and support field/root-cause investigations.

On-site role based in Penang with approximately 25% travel; relocation eligible.

Experience Level

Mid-level. Typically requires 5+ years of welding engineering or weld quality experience in semiconductor capital equipment, UHP gas systems, or a comparably regulated high-purity fabrication environment.

Responsibilities

Accountable for weld quality across the fabrication lifecycle and preservation of UHP gas system integrity.

• Develop, qualify, and maintain welding procedure specifications (WPS) and procedure qualification records (PQR) for orbital GTAW of UHP gas lines, gas panels, and chamber weldments.
• Establish and audit welder/operator qualification programs for orbital and manual welding personnel.
• Serve as site subject-matter expert on applicable SEMI standards including F78, F81, E49.8, and F70.
• Manage cleanroom weld practices: gowning discipline, purge gas control, ID/OD surface finish verification, and contamination prevention.
• Perform and oversee visual, boroscopic, and dimensional weld inspection; lead root-cause analysis and corrective actions for weld discrepancies and nonconformances.
• Provide metallurgical oversight of 316L stainless steel and related UHP alloys to control HAZ, heat-tint, interpass temperature, and purge gas requirements.
• Specify, evaluate, and maintain orbital welding equipment (power supplies, weld heads, tube-prep tooling); perform programming, PQ, preventive maintenance, and end-of-life qualification.
• Maintain and audit weld travelers, certification records, and traceability documentation to support customer and internal quality audits.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills and domain experience; nice-to-have items listed separately.

• 5+ years welding engineering or weld quality experience in semiconductor capital equipment, UHP gas systems, or comparably regulated high-purity fabrication environments.
• Hands-on or oversight experience with orbital GTAW equipment from AMI, Polysoude, Orbitalum, or comparable OEMs, including weld schedule development and machine qualification.
• Working knowledge of SEMI standards F78, F81, E49.8, and F70.
• Strong understanding of 316L stainless steel metallurgy as applied to UHP gas line and chamber weld fabrication, including electropolishing and passivation concerns.
• Experience in certified cleanroom manufacturing (Class 100/ISO 5 or better) and contamination-control protocols for gas panel and gas box assembly.
• Familiarity with WPS/PQR development and welder performance qualification under AWS D1.2, ASME Section IX, or equivalent codes adapted for orbital tube welding.
• Working knowledge of VCR/VCO/face-seal fitting cleanliness requirements and UHP component handling practices.
• Proven root-cause and corrective-action skills (8D, fishbone, 5-Why) applied to weld defects and process escapes.

Nice-to-have:

• Experience supporting supplier qualification or supplier weld audits for semiconductor equipment OEMs or their supply base.
• Experience with gas panel engineering documentation, MFC/component-level FMEA, or ANSI/ASQ Z1.4 sampling plans.
• Familiarity with additional SEMI standards relevant to UHP gas delivery (e.g., F19, F57).

Education Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Welding Engineering, Materials/Metallurgical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent hands-on experience in lieu of a degree. Preferred certifications include AWS Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) or equivalent. Equivalent practical experience accepted.

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.