Director of Technology - Wafer Cleaning - Santa Clara, CA, United States
$189,000 - $260,000 USD yearly
Originally posted 13 May 2026 by the employer.
About the role
Directs process technology for research, development, and implementation of post-chemical mechanical planarization cleaning products within the CMP Product Business Group. Focuses on technical management and roadmaps to resolve complex defectivity and yield issues.
What you'll do
- Direct process technology for the research, development, and implementation of post-CMP cleaning products. - Manage the application of scientific theory and processes in the technical management of post-chemical mechanical planarization cleaning products. - Develop long-term technology strategies and maintain product roadmaps to address high value problems with respect to defectivity and yield. - Benchmark CMP PBG post-CMP cleaning products against competitor solutions and industry wafer cleaning offerings. - Lead post-CMP cleaning process development teams through direct management and cross-functional influence. - Define performance metrics and report progress against development milestones and customer roadmaps.
What you'll need
- >10 years' experience in wafer cleaning processes at a semiconductor equipment manufacturer or semiconductor fabrication company. - Proven expertise in semiconductor wet cleaning technology. - Comprehensive understanding of semiconductor wafer clean industry product offerings. - Fundamental understanding of theories and practices regarding particle adhesion, particle attachment, particle removal, and corrosion of advanced metals. - Demonstrated experience directing the resolution of complex process development and yield issues.
Nice to have
- PhD in a relevant scientific or engineering discipline.
Skills: post-CMP cleaning products, semiconductor wafer clean industry, wet cleaning technology, particle adhesion, corrosion
This role has been open 163 days — well above the 70-day median for Process Engineering roles.
Process Engineering · Semiconductor Process
|
Open roles in category
1049
|
Median days open
70 d
|
Median salary
$137k
|
See the full market breakdown ▾Category comparison, skills in demand, and who else is hiring
| Metric | Applied Materials | All employers we track in this specialty (1049 roles · 56 employers) |
|---|---|---|
| Open roles in this specialty | 78 | 1049 |
| Open roles in the wider Process, Fab & Equipment family | 1123 | 10039 · 106 employers |
| Median days open | 66 d | 70 d (−4 d vs this employer) |
| Median salary (USD postings) | — | $137k |
Skills observed across this category: post-CMP cleaning products, semiconductor wafer clean industry, wet cleaning technology, particle adhesion, corrosion
Who's hiring in this category
- Micron Technology · 333 open roles · median 130 d
- GlobalFoundries · 88 open roles · median 87 d
- Applied Materials (this employer) · 77 open roles · median 60 d
- Texas Instruments · 57 open roles · median 53 d
- STMicroelectronics · 50 open roles · median 46 d
- Entegris · 43 open roles · median 42 d
How we counted: 1049 open Process Engineering (Semiconductor Process) roles from 56 employers tracked in the SemiconductorJobs index, counted 24 Oct 2026. Specialty figures count only roles carrying this exact specialty label, so an employer's related work in neighbouring specialties is not included there — it is counted in the wider Process, Fab & Equipment family row. Figures refresh nightly.
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