Physicist/Scientist III-X-ray Imaging (E3) - Benicia, CA, United States
$120,000 - $165,000 USD yearly
Originally posted 28 July 2026 by the employer.
About the role
This role defines novel inspection systems concepts, configurations, and modules within semiconductor equipment engineering. You will develop new or modified inspection and metrology systems while conducting research, analysis, and experiments in physics.
What you'll do
- Define novel inspection systems concepts and configurations, designing statistically valid experiments and analyzing data. - Design, engineer, and qualify modules and sub-modules for inspection and metrology tools. - Develop new or modified inspection and metrology systems, resolving physics-related application and system issues in both lab and field environments. - Define system requirements and specifications, troubleshoot hardware/system issues, and support product risk management. - Execute feasibility studies of complete systems and sub-systems, conduct performance analysis, and prepare demonstrations of new capabilities. - Guide less experienced physicists and scientists, participate in vendor selection, and contribute to customer engagements.
What you'll need
- Conceptual and practical expertise in physics or a related discipline with basic knowledge of related engineering domains. - Demonstrated experience defining system requirements, specifications, and experimental setups for semiconductor equipment. - Experience solving complex system problems and conducting feasibility studies for new hardware concepts. - Background in qualifying modules, sub-modules, and advanced substrate technologies.
Nice to have
- Experience with X-ray equipment and X-ray imaging systems.
Skills: novel inspection systems, metrology systems, semiconductor equipment, physics, module qualification
This role has been open 98 days — well above the 50-day median for Semiconductor Equipment Engineering roles.
Semiconductor Equipment Engineering · Metrology Inspection
|
Open roles in category
203
|
Median days open
50 d
|
Median salary
$159k
|
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 (203 roles · 23 employers) |
|---|---|---|
| Open roles in this specialty | 25 | 203 |
| Open roles in the wider Process, Fab & Equipment family | 1150 | 10037 · 107 employers |
| Median days open | 63 d | 50 d (+13 d vs this employer) |
| Median salary (USD postings) | — | $159k |
Skills observed across this category: novel inspection systems, metrology systems, semiconductor equipment, physics, module qualification
Who's hiring in this category
- KLA Corporation · 77 open roles · median 41 d
- Applied Materials (this employer) · 26 open roles · median 66 d
- Onto Innovation · 21 open roles · median 73 d
- Lam Research · 19 open roles · median 39 d
- Micron Technology · 12 open roles · median 31 d
- Entegris · 10 open roles · median 61 d
How we counted: 203 open Semiconductor Equipment Engineering (Metrology Inspection) roles from 23 employers tracked in the SemiconductorJobs index, counted 20 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.