Electrical Engineer - Industrial 1/O and Control Systems

Who We Are

Applied Materials is the global leader in materials science and engineering solutions that are at the foundation of virtually every new semiconductor chip and advanced display in the world. The equipment that we create and service is essential to advancing AI and accelerating the commercialization of next-generation semiconductor chips. Join us and push the boundaries of materials science and engineering in a company at the foundation of the electronics industry. The work we do together advances the world’s technology.

What We Offer

Salary:

$124,000.00 - $171,000.00

Location:

Santa Clara,CA

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. 

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Electrical Engineer - Industrial I/O and Control Systems

About the Role

Applied Materials' Platform Center of Excellence (PCOE) Controls Hardware Team is seeking an experienced Electrical Engineer to drive the selection, integration, validation, and deployment of industrial I/O and control system technologies used across advanced semiconductor manufacturing equipment.

This role focuses on industrial automation platforms, distributed I/O architectures, machine control systems, functional safety technologies, and control system suppliers. You will work closely with internal business units, product engineering teams, and strategic suppliers to develop scalable control system solutions that improve reliability, maintainability, and standardization across Applied Materials' product portfolio.

The ideal candidate combines strong electrical and control systems knowledge with practical experience in industrial automation technologies such as EtherCAT, Beckhoff, DDI, PLC-based controls, distributed I/O systems, and machine safety architectures.

Key Responsibilities

Industrial I/O and Control System Architecture

• Evaluate, develop, and deploy industrial I/O and machine control system solutions for semiconductor manufacturing equipment.
• Define system-level requirements and architectures for distributed I/O platforms, control networks, safety systems, and machine interfaces.
• Support standardization of control system platforms across multiple product lines and business units.
• Analyze technical trade-offs involving performance, reliability, maintainability, lifecycle cost, and scalability.
• Drive technology assessments and recommendations for future control system roadmaps.

Platform Integration and Validation

• Lead integration and validation of commercial and custom industrial I/O platforms including controllers, remote I/O modules, communication networks, and safety systems.
• Develop validation strategies to characterize control system performance, robustness, diagnostics, and fault recovery behavior.
• Investigate and resolve complex system-level issues involving controls hardware, communication networks, I/O subsystems, and field installations.
• Support product qualification, deployment, and sustaining engineering activities.

Industrial Networking and Functional Safety

• Support implementation of industrial communication technologies including EtherCAT and related industrial networking solutions.
• Evaluate machine safety architectures and safety-rated control systems to ensure compliance with equipment requirements and industry standards.
• Participate in safety assessments, risk reduction initiatives, and functional safety design reviews.
• Drive standardization of safety-related hardware and control system solutions.

Cross-Functional Technical Leadership

• Collaborate with product engineering, software, firmware, manufacturing, quality, and program management teams to deliver control system solutions that meet performance, cost, quality, and schedule objectives.
• Communicate technical recommendations, validation results, risks, and project status to stakeholders and leadership teams.
• Influence technical decisions across multiple product teams and business units.
• Provide technical leadership during architecture reviews, design reviews, and supplier engagements.

Supplier and Technology Management

• Manage technical relationships with industrial automation and control system suppliers.
• Drive supplier roadmap alignment to support long-term platform strategies.
• Evaluate emerging automation technologies and identify opportunities for adoption.
• Support component lifecycle management, obsolescence planning, and supply chain risk mitigation.
• Coordinate supplier qualification and technology evaluation activities.

What Success Looks Like

Successful candidates will:

• Deliver reliable and scalable industrial control system solutions that meet business and customer requirements.
• Drive standardization of control platforms across multiple products and business units.
• Successfully integrate and deploy new I/O and control technologies with minimal operational disruption.
• Build strong technical partnerships with internal stakeholders and strategic suppliers.
• Influence the long-term direction of Applied Materials' industrial automation and control system strategy.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering or related discipline.
• 7+ years of experiencein industrial automation, machine controls, industrial I/O systems, or semiconductor equipment development.
• Experience working with distributed I/O systems and industrial control architectures.
• Strong understanding of industrial networking technologies including:

• • EtherCAT
  • Ethernet-based industrial protocols
  • Industrial serial communication technologies

• Experience with control system integration, validation, troubleshooting, and root-cause analysis.
• Familiarity with industrial automation hardware including:

• • Remote I/O systems
  • Safety controllers
  • Machine control platforms
  • Industrial communication interfaces

• Strong technical communication and presentation skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively within cross-functional teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with analog and digital mixed signal industrial I/O solutions.
• Experience with machine safety systems and functional safety concepts.
• Knowledge of SEMI S2 and semiconductor equipment safety requirements.
• Experience with industrial automation, robotics, motion control, or semiconductor manufacturing equipment.
• Familiarity with control system qualification, verification, and reliability assessments.
• Experience managing supplier technical engagements and technology roadmaps.

Desired Competencies

• Strong systems-level thinking and technical judgment.
• Ability to evaluate complex architectures and make data-driven recommendations.
• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to influence technical direction without direct authority.
• Effective prioritization and execution across multiple concurrent programs.
• Strong collaboration and stakeholder management skills.

Additional Information

Time Type:

Full time

Employee Type:

Assignee / Regular

Travel:

Yes, 10% of the Time

Relocation Eligible:

No

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 [email protected], or by calling our HR Direct Help Line at 877-612-7547, 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.