Cleaning Contamination Control & Validation Engineer

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:

$133,500.00 - $183,500.00

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. 

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. 

POSITION SUMMARY

The Cleaning, contamination Control & Validation Engineer is a Quality team role that partners and supports the Engineering organization on the development of cleaning and contamination control methods, introduction of new methods and tools for contamination detection and improvement, defect troubleshooting & failure analysis and customer escalations issue resolutions. Working across the product lifecycle from Suppliers – Manufacturing – Field operations — this engineer develops contamination control solutions on part/module/system level, authors requirements and validation documentation, and drives cross-functional alignment to ensure product integrity, regulatory compliance, and customer satisfaction.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Cleaning & Contamination Control Development

• Partner with and support the Engineering organization to develop cleaning methods and contamination control solutions for current and advanced node equipment, based on physics, material interactions, and chemical reactions.

• Map the end-to-end flow from supply chain and manufacturing process to the field to identify all potential contamination introduction points.

• Conduct risk assessments (FMEA) at each process stage — supplier, incoming inspection, manufacturing in-process, packaging, shipment, and customer.

• Define contamination categories (metallic/ hydrocarbon/ organic particulates, chemical, cross-contamination etc.) relevant to each stage and equipment set.

• Work with stakeholders to identify potential solutions for current and advanced node and apply defense lines wherever applicable to control overall contamination.

• Support Engineering in qualifying cleaning processes and contamination control requirements on part/module/system level for new technology.

• Maintain a live risk register and ensure timely remediation of identified gaps.

• Handling of customer escalations related to cleaning and contamination issues

New Detection Methods & Tools — Development & Improvement

• Develop, evaluate, and qualify new methods and tools for contamination detection, measurement, and monitoring across process stages.

• Incorporate contamination inspection and detection tools based on needs across process stages, working with Engineering and Manufacturing.

• Drive measurement and detection capability improvements, including sensitivity, throughput, and correlation of signals to contamination sources.

• Benchmark detection methods and contamination control practices against industry standards and regulatory guidance to identify improvement opportunities.

• Define acceptance criteria, sampling plans, and testing requirements enabled by new detection methods and tools.

Customer Escalation Support

• Serve as the Quality point of contact for contamination-related customer escalations, partnering with Engineering, Field, and Manufacturing to drive resolution.

• Lead root cause analysis (8D, 5-Why, fishbone) and corrective/preventive action development for contamination events and customer complaints.

• Analyze contamination-related non-conformances, customer complaints, and field findings to drive containment and systemic improvements.

• Communicate escalation status, containment, and corrective actions to customers and internal stakeholders as required.

Defect Troubleshooting & Failure Analysis

• Troubleshoot defect problems, perform root cause analysis and resolve moderately difficult defect-quality issues.

• Design the failure analysis (FA) DOE for the key defect critical components to troubleshoot the wafer defect issue on the key R&D programs and major customer escalations.

• Perform the failure analysis, collect and analyze the data within safety guidelines; document and communicate the FA observation and recommend the solution path in defect troubleshooting.

• Interact with vendors/suppliers/manufacturing to evaluate/troubleshoot the latest defect related parts quality issues.

• Develop and publish best known method (BKM) procedures for the defect/contamination control.

Requirements, Validation & Documentation

• Author and maintain Contamination Control Plans, Validation Master Plans, and stage-specific Control Requirement Documents.

• Create and maintain validation protocols for equipment, processes, and cleanroom environments tied to contamination control.

• Develop supplier contamination control specifications with stakeholders and incorporate them into supplier quality agreements.

• Ensure all documentation is compliant with applicable regulatory standards (example: SEMI, ISO, customer-specific requirements).

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Continuous Improvement

• Act as a subject matter expert (SME) for contamination control, engaging Engineering, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Field, and Quality Assurance.

• Facilitate stakeholder reviews of risk assessments, detection methods, and control measures to secure cross-functional alignment.

• Manage revalidation triggers including changes in equipment, supplier, process, or environment, and drive continuous improvement of contamination control.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED

• Bachelor's degree in Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, or related technical field.

• Minimum 7-10 years of experience in related semiconductor field with preferable semiconductor fabrication field experience

• Experience of semiconductor fabrication environmental, health monitoring and testing methodologies.

• Demonstrated experience authoring validation protocols and contamination control documentation.

• Strong working knowledge of FMEA, risk management frameworks, and control plans.

• Familiarity with clean room protocols, SEMI standards, ISO, and other equivalent regulatory requirements.

• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and drive alignment across diverse stakeholder groups.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to translate technical requirements for non-technical audiences.

• Advanced degree (M.S. or MBA) in a relevant field.

• Certification in Quality Engineering (CQE), Quality Management (CQM), or equivalent.

• Six Sigma certification, proficiency with quality management systems (QMS)

CORE COMPETENCIES

Technical

• Contamination science & risk management

• Detection, inspection & measurement methods and tools

• Regulatory & Standards exercise

• Technical documentation

Collaboration & Problem-Solving

• Customer escalation & stakeholder engagement

• Cross-functional facilitation

• Clear and persuasive communication

• Problem-solving & analytical thinking
  
  

Travel: Yes, up to 25% of the time (domestic and international)

Additional Information

Time Type:

Full time

Employee Type:

Assignee / Regular

Travel:

Yes, 25% 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.