Plasma Sensing Systems Engineer - Santa Clara, CA, United States
$161,000 - $221,000 USD yearly
Originally posted 15 June 2026 by the employer.
About the role
As a Systems Engineer, you will design, integrate, and optimize complex systems for semiconductor manufacturing equipment. The role focuses on delivering sensor, algorithm, and control system modules for plasma etch systems from concept to production deployment.
What you'll do
- Lead and execute systems engineering projects combining sensor, algorithm, and control system modules for plasma etch systems from concept to production deployment. - Develop and optimize algorithms for automation and advanced control of etch subsystems, including Radio Frequency (RF) Power, Pulsed Voltage (PVT), Flow, and Temperature. - Identify and address gaps in sensor technologies necessary to diagnose equipment performance in a production environment. - Build and qualify prototypes of new designs, or procure subsystems from outsourced suppliers and test for compliance with detailed specifications. - Design and implement solutions combining classical mathematical algorithms with deep learning approaches to solve productivity challenges. - Collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders across Field, Marketing, Product, Applications, Software, and Systems teams to gather requirements and integrate sensor and control system solutions.
What you'll need
- PhD or Master's degree in Engineering or Physics. - 3-5 years of experience in the semiconductor equipment industry. - Demonstrated expertise in one or more disciplines: RF/DC Plasma Systems, Plasma Sensing, or Algorithm Development. - Data analysis skills using MATLAB, Python, or similar tools. - Experience in a multidisciplinary R&D environment across software, hardware, and algorithms.
Skills: plasma etch systems, RF Power, Pulsed Voltage, sensor technologies, control system modules
This role has been open 144 days — well above the 59-day median for Semiconductor Equipment Engineering roles.
Semiconductor Equipment Engineering · Etch Process
|
Open roles in category
46
|
Median days open
59 d
|
Median salary
$168k
|
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 (46 roles · 11 employers) |
|---|---|---|
| Open roles in this specialty | 10 | 46 |
| Open roles in the wider Process, Fab & Equipment family | 1140 | 10079 · 106 employers |
| Median days open | 53 d | 59 d (−6 d vs this employer) |
| Median salary (USD postings) | — | $168k |
Skills observed across this category: plasma etch systems, RF Power, Pulsed Voltage, sensor technologies, control system modules
Who's hiring in this category
- Lam Research · 13 open roles · median 65 d
- Applied Materials (this employer) · 10 open roles · median 53 d
- KLA Corporation · 5 open roles · median 43 d
- STMicroelectronics · 5 open roles · median 54 d
- GlobalFoundries · 4 open roles · median 131 d
- Micron Technology · 3 open roles · median 107 d
How we counted: 46 open Semiconductor Equipment Engineering (Etch Process) roles from 11 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.