Systems Engineer IV (E4) - Santa Clara, CA, United States
$161,000 - $221,000 USD yearly
Originally posted 8 June 2026 by the employer. Relisted by the employer on 25 September 2026.
About the role
As a Systems Engineer IV (E4), you will design, integrate, and optimize complex optical systems, architectures, and modules for semiconductor inspection and metrology products.
What you'll do
- Lead optical, mechanical, electrical, software, algorithm, and systems teams to deliver critical modules and subsystems for optical inspection and metrology tools. - Convert market and program requirements into high-level and detailed system requirements, developing conceptual optical designs, light budgets, and error budgets. - Conduct system design reviews according to Program and Product Life Cycle (PLC) development processes while maintaining schedules and cost targets. - Develop alignment methods, specify tooling, and partner with vendors and suppliers to deliver required optical components and modules. - Develop test plans and procedures, and design, construct, and calibrate optical and opto-mechanical benches to test components, modules, and subsystems. - Support system integration during assembly and final testing of new product designs, transferring engineering knowledge to manufacturing, reliability, and service teams.
What you'll need
- MS or PhD in Optical Physics, Optical Sciences, Optical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field. - 5–15 years of engineering experience, ideally in the semiconductor capital equipment industry. - Theoretical and working knowledge of optical physics and systems engineering. - Proficiency with industry standard design and analysis tools, including Zemax or Code V, Python, and MATLAB. - Demonstrated experimental lab and engineering design skills.
Nice to have
- DUV and imaging optics experience.
Skills: complex systems, materials engineering solutions, semiconductor equipment, system architectures, subsystem modules
This role has been open 136 days — well above the 54-day median for Semiconductor Equipment Engineering roles.
Semiconductor Equipment Engineering · Manufacturing Equipment
|
Open roles in category
3894
|
Median days open
54 d
|
Median salary
$126k
|
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 (3894 roles · 84 employers) |
|---|---|---|
| Open roles in this specialty | 637 | 3894 |
| Open roles in the wider Process, Fab & Equipment family | 1140 | 10080 · 106 employers |
| Median days open | 53 d | 54 d (−1 d vs this employer) |
| Median salary (USD postings) | — | $126k |
Skills observed across this category: complex systems, materials engineering solutions, semiconductor equipment, system architectures, subsystem modules
Who's hiring in this category
- Applied Materials (this employer) · 637 open roles · median 54 d
- Lam Research · 571 open roles · median 39 d
- KLA Corporation · 288 open roles · median 66 d
- Micron Technology · 278 open roles · median 47 d
- ASML · 186 open roles · median 74 d
- ASM International · 156 open roles · median 82 d
How we counted: 3894 open Semiconductor Equipment Engineering (Manufacturing Equipment) roles from 84 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.