Quality Welding Engineer (E5)

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:

$140,000.00 - $192,500.00

Location:

Austin,TX

You’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. 

Job Summary

We are seeking an experienced Quality Welding Engineer to support fabrication of ultra-high-purity (UHP) gas delivery systems for semiconductor process equipment, including gas panel assemblies and chamber weldments. This role owns weld quality across the fabrication lifecycle — procedure qualification, welder certification, in-process inspection, and nonconformance resolution — within a controlled cleanroom manufacturing environment. The ideal candidate combines deep orbital welding and stainless steel metallurgy expertise with fluency in the SEMI standards that govern UHP gas system integrity.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, qualify, and maintain welding procedure specifications (WPS) and procedure qualification records (PQR) for orbital GTAW of UHP gas lines, gas panels, and chamber weldments.

• Establish and audit welder/operator qualification programs for orbital and manual welding personnel working on UHP systems.

• Serve as the site subject matter expert on applicable SEMI standards, including F78 (particle contamination / cleanroom compatibility), F81 (surface roughness for UHP components), E49.8 (orbital weld documentation and acceptance), F70 (UHP gas distribution system components), and related SEMI specifications governing gas delivery hardware.

• Own weld quality within cleanroom fabrication cells: gowning discipline, purge gas control, ID/OD surface finish verification, and contamination prevention throughout the weld process.

• Perform and oversee visual, boroscopic, and dimensional weld inspection against acceptance criteria; drive root-cause analysis and corrective action for weld discrepancies and nonconformances.

• Provide metallurgical oversight of 316L stainless steel (and related UHP alloys) including heat-affected-zone control, oxide/heat-tint discoloration limits, interpass temperature, and purge gas (Ar/back-purge) requirements to preserve corrosion resistance and surface passivation.

• Specify, evaluate, and maintain orbital welding equipment — power supplies, weld heads, and tube-prep tooling — from manufacturers such as Arc Machines Inc. (AMI), Polysoude, Orbitalum, and equivalent, including PQ/programming, preventive maintenance, and end-of-life qualification.

• Partner with manufacturing engineering, quality assurance, and supply chain teams to qualify internal and supplier weld sources against consistent acceptance standards.

• Support root-cause investigations and 8D/CAPA activities for weld-related field or customer escrow issues.

• Maintain and audit weld travelers, certification records, and traceability documentation to support customer and internal quality audits.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Welding Engineering, Materials/Metallurgical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent hands-on experience in lieu of degree.

• 5+ years of welding engineering or weld quality experience in semiconductor capital equipment, UHP gas systems, or a comparably regulated high-purity fabrication environment.

• Standards expertise: Demonstrated working knowledge of SEMI F78, F81, E49.8, and F70

• Direct hands-on or oversight experience with orbital GTAW welding equipment from Arc Machines Inc. (AMI), Polysoude, Orbitalum, or comparable OEMs, including weld schedule development and machine qualification.

• Strong understanding of 316L stainless steel metallurgy — including electropolishing, sulfur content effects on weld penetration, ID surface finish, and passivation — as applied to UHP gas line and chamber weldment fabrication.

• Experience working within a certified cleanroom manufacturing environment (Class 100/ISO 5 or better), including contamination control protocols specific to gas panel and gas box assembly.

• Familiarity with WPS/PQR development and welder performance qualification under AWS D1.2, ASME Section IX, or equivalent codes, adapted for orbital tube welding.

• Working knowledge of VCR/VCO/face-seal fitting cleanliness requirements and UHP component handling practices.

• Strong root-cause and corrective-action (8D, fishbone, 5-Why) problem-solving skills applied to weld defects and process escapes.

Preferred Qualifications

• AWS Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) or equivalent certification.

• Prior experience supporting supplier qualification or supplier weld audits for semiconductor equipment OEMs or their supply base.

• Experience with gas panel engineering documentation, MFC/component-level FMEA, or ANSI/ASQ Z1.4 sampling plans in a quality context.

• Familiarity with additional SEMI standards relevant to UHP gas delivery (e.g., F19, F57) and general semiconductor equipment quality systems.

Work Environment

This role is based in a combined office and cleanroom manufacturing environment in Austin, TX. Cleanroom gowning is required for time spent on the production floor. Some domestic travel may be required.

Additional Information

Time Type:

Full time

Employee Type:

Assignee / Regular

Travel:

Yes, 10% of the Time

Relocation Eligible:

Yes

The 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.