GC-MS Engineer III (E3) - Santa Clara, CA, United States
$138,000 - $190,000 USD yearly
Originally posted 25 September 2026 by the employer.
Identify and quantify molecular contamination (hydrocarbons, siloxanes, phthalates, and other outgassing species) that degrade optics performance and compromise tool cleanliness specifications.
About the role
This role involves independently operating GC-MS (and related outgassing analysis techniques) to identify and quantify molecular contamination that degrades optics performance, causes haze/damage, or compromises tool cleanliness specifications. The role focuses on supporting cleanliness qualification and optics lifetime initiatives for semiconductor capital equipment.
What you'll do
- Independently operate GC-MS systems, including headspace GC-MS and thermal desorption GC-MS (TD-GC-MS), for material outgassing and cleanliness analysis.
- Design and execute outgassing test protocols for materials, components, and subassemblies (e.g., per ASTM E595, IPC-TM-650, or internal cleanliness specifications) used in tool chambers and near critical optics.
- Interpret chromatograms and mass spectra to identify contaminant species (siloxanes, phthalates, hydrocarbons, amines, and other volatile/semi-volatile organic compounds) at trace/ultra-trace levels.
- Lead root-cause investigations connecting GC-MS findings to field failures, optics lifetime shortfalls, or excursions in cleanliness monitoring.
- Prepare clear, engineering-grade reports and present findings to optics engineering, process engineering, supplier quality, and program management.
- Ensure lab practices align with internal contamination control specifications and industry standards (SEMI standards, ASTM outgassing methods).
What you'll need
- BS with 3+ years of experience or MS with 1+ years of experience or PhD in Chemistry, Material Sciences, Chemical Engineering, or related technical field.
- 3-7+ years of hands-on GC-MS experience, including dynamic headspace thermal desorption GC-MS.
- Demonstrated experience designing outgassing or material cleanliness test protocols (ASTM E595, IPC-TM-650, or equivalent internal methods).
- Strong working knowledge of molecular contamination sources relevant to precision optics (siloxanes, plasticizers/phthalates, hydrocarbons, low-molecular-weight polymers).
- Proficiency with GC-MS data software (MassHunter, ChemStation, Xcalibur, or equivalent) and library searching (NIST/Wiley).
Nice to have
- Experience in semiconductor capital equipment, precision optics, aerospace, or other industries with stringent outgassing/cleanliness requirements.
- Familiarity with SEMI standards related to contamination control (e.g., SEMI F21, F72, or facility/tool cleanliness specs).
- Experience correlating molecular contamination data with optics performance metrics (haze, transmission, coating lifetime).
- Working knowledge of complementary analytical techniques: SPME GC-MS, FTIR, TOC analysis, Ion Chromatography, particle counters, surface contamination analysis (XPS, XRF, TOF-SIMS, etc.).
- Statistical analysis skills (Minitab, JMP) or scripting (Python/R) for trend analysis and DOE.
- Experience supporting supplier qualification or new product introduction (NPI) programs.
This role has been open 15 days — well below the 53-day median for Semiconductor Equipment Engineering roles.
Semiconductor Equipment Engineering · Manufacturing Equipment
|
Open roles in category
3768
|
Median days open
53 d
|
Median salary
$126k
|
See the full market breakdown ▾Category comparison, and who else is hiring
| Metric | Applied Materials | All employers we track in this specialty (3768 roles · 83 employers) |
|---|---|---|
| Open roles in this specialty | 612 | 3768 |
| Open roles in the wider Process, Fab & Equipment family | 1088 | 9739 · 108 employers |
| Median days open | 54 d | 53 d (+1 d vs this employer) |
| Median salary (USD postings) | — | $126k |
Who's hiring in this category
- Applied Materials (this employer) · 622 open roles · median 53 d
- Lam Research · 545 open roles · median 43 d
- Micron Technology · 270 open roles · median 44 d
- KLA Corporation · 253 open roles · median 67 d
- ASML · 199 open roles · median 64 d
- ASM International · 163 open roles · median 78 d
How we counted: 3768 open Semiconductor Equipment Engineering (Manufacturing Equipment) roles from 83 employers tracked in the SemiconductorJobs index, counted 10 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.