New College Grad Physicist/Scientist (PhD - Santa Clara, CA_
Company websiteappliedmaterials.com (Applied Materials, opens in new tab)
Base salary $138K to $190K
Employer-published annual base salary, USD. Advertised base range in Santa Clara, CA
You apply on the employer's own site. Six Figure Work does not handle applications.
- LocationSanta Clara, CA
- WorkplaceWorkplace not stated
- Status at last checkSource accepting applications when checked
- Last checked (23 min ago) · observed since
About this job
Who We Are
Applied Materials is the global leader in materials science and engineering solutions that are at the foundation of virtually every new semiconductor chip and advanced display in the world. The equipment that we create and service is essential to advancing AI and accelerating the commercialization of next-generation semiconductor chips. Join us and push the boundaries of materials science and engineering in a company at the foundation of the electronics industry. The work we do together advances the world’s technology.
What We Offer
Salary:
$138,000.00 - $190,000.00Location:
Santa Clara,CAYou’ll benefit from a supportive work culture that encourages you to learn, develop, and grow your career as you take on challenges and drive innovative solutions for our customers. We empower our team to push the boundaries of what is possible—while learning every day in a supportive leading global company. Visit our Careers website to learn more.
At Applied Materials, we care about the health and wellbeing of our employees. We’re committed to providing programs and support that encourage personal and professional growth and care for you at work, at home, or wherever you may go. Learn more about our benefits.
Position Summary
Conducts scientific research and technology development in photonics, optics, optical metrology, and electromagnetic systems. Applies physics-based principles, modeling, simulation, and experimental methods to develop innovative optical solutions, improve system performance, and enable next-generation products.
Key Responsibilities
- Design, develop, and characterize optical and photonic systems, components, and architectures.
- Perform modeling and simulation of optical, electromagnetic, and photonic phenomena.
- Design and execute experiments to validate theoretical predictions and system performance.
- Analyze experimental and measurement data to identify performance limitations and optimization opportunities.
- Develop novel optical metrology and sensing approaches.
- Collaborate with hardware, software, systems, and product engineering teams to integrate optical technologies into products.
- Drive technology innovation through invention disclosures, patent generation, and technical leadership.
- Communicate technical findings through reports, presentations, and design reviews.
- Engage with academic, industrial, and research partners on advanced technology development.
Typical Technical Areas
- Integrated photonics
- Silicon photonics
- Optical metrology
- Interferometry
- Optical imaging systems
- Fiber optics and optical communications
- Laser systems and beam delivery
- Electromagnetic modeling and simulation
- Computational optics
- Optical sensing and instrumentation
- Nanophotonics and plasmonics
- Machine learning for optical system design and analysis
Qualifications
- Ph.D. in Physics, Applied Physics, Optical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Photonics, or a related field.
- Strong background in optics, electromagnetics, or photonics.
- Experience with optical design and simulation tools (e.g., Zemax, Lumerical, COMSOL, FDTD/FEM platforms).
- Proficiency in scientific programming and data analysis.
- Demonstrated ability to translate scientific concepts into practical engineering solutions.
- Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.
Success Measures
- Innovation and technical contributions to optical technologies.
- Performance improvements in photonic systems and measurement capabilities.
- Quality and rigor of scientific investigations.
- Intellectual property generation and technical leadership.
- Effectiveness in cross-disciplinary collaboration and product impact.
Additional Information
Time Type:
Full timeEmployee Type:
New College GradTravel:
Not SpecifiedRelocation Eligible:
YesThe salary offered to a selected candidate will be based on multiple factors including location, hire grade, job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and with consideration of internal equity of our current team members. In addition to a comprehensive benefits package, candidates may be eligible for other forms of compensation such as participation in a bonus and a stock award program, as applicable.
For all sales roles, the posted salary range is the Target Total Cash (TTC) range for the role, which is the sum of base salary and target bonus amount at 100% goal achievement.
Applied Materials is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law.
In addition, Applied endeavors to make our careers site accessible to all users. If you would like to contact us regarding accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please contact us via e-mail at [email protected], or by calling our HR Direct Help Line at 877-612-7547, option 1, and following the prompts to speak to an HR Advisor. This contact is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.
Source: Applied Materials on Workday · View original posting (opens in new tab)
Pay in context
This role's base floor ($138,000) is above 33% of the 492 Science & Research roles in California listed on this site; 3 others list the same floor. Their median floor is $158,777; the middle half runs from $126,066 to $200,000.
Only jobs on this site count, and each one publishes a base salary of $100,000 or more, so this compares six-figure jobs with each other, not with the whole market. Computed Nov 8, 2026.
This listingNew College Grad Physicist/Scientist (PhD - Santa Clara, CA_$138K to $190K
AGS and Spares - Supplier Engineer (E5)$140,000 to $192,500
Quality Welding Engineer (E5)$140,000 to $192,500
1602648 - Supplier Account Management V$140,000 to $192,500
Module Process Engineer V - (E5)$140,000 to $192,500
Sr Staff Module Process Engineer - CMP$140,000 to $192,500
Supplier Quality Engineer V$140,000 to $192,500
Chart as a table
| Role | Published base |
|---|---|
| New College Grad Physicist/Scientist (PhD - Santa Clara, CA_ (this listing) | $138K - $190K |
| AGS and Spares - Supplier Engineer (E5) | $140,000 - $192,500 |
| Quality Welding Engineer (E5) | $140,000 - $192,500 |
| 1602648 - Supplier Account Management V | $140,000 - $192,500 |
| Module Process Engineer V - (E5) | $140,000 - $192,500 |
| Sr Staff Module Process Engineer - CMP | $140,000 - $192,500 |
| Supplier Quality Engineer V | $140,000 - $192,500 |
Observed changes
- First observed on the employer's board
- Began meeting the published-salary criteria
- Observed since
- Employer-stated posting date
- 2026-09-22
Where this pay comes from
Location as the employer wrote it: Santa Clara,CA
$138,000.00 - $190,000.00
- Method
- Employer text, read with fixed rules and re-verified
- Checked
- Rule set
- us-base-v2
The pay passage appears in the employer's own job text. Fixed, deterministic rules located it, and the passage below was checked against the stored copy of the posting.
What we verified
- The pay figures come from the employer's own listing, quoted exactly above.
- The pay is an annual base salary in US dollars with a minimum of at least $100,000.
- The role was publicly listed on the employer's job board when last checked.
We do not verify what the employer will actually offer, whether the employer is still recruiting for the role, or anything beyond what the employer published. Full methodology.