Technical Project/Program Management Director

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:

$172,000.00 - $237,000.00

Location:

Santa Clara,CA

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. 

Role Summary 

The Technical Program Manager (TPM) Director will serve as the central orchestrator of large, complex module programs spanning Logic and Memory business units and key strategic customers (e.g., Samsung, SK Hynix, Micron, Intel). This role requires a unique blend of technical depth in semiconductor process technologies, business acumen, and executive-level communication to drive program execution from concept through high-volume manufacturing enablement. The TPM will be the binding force across engineering, business development, CTO, and customer organizations — ensuring alignment, speed, and accountability at every stage. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Customer Program Ownership: Lead end-to-end program management for strategic customer engagements, including Technology Review Meetings (TRMs), yield improvement task forces, and cost reduction initiatives. Own program scoping, planning, risk management, and execution to plan of record. 

• Executive Stakeholder Management: Prepare and present executive-level materials (slide decks, agendas, executive summaries) for meetings with customer VPs, CTOs, EVPs, and internal senior leadership. Represent Applied Materials with credibility and technical authority. 

• Cross-Functional & Cross-BU Coordination: Drive alignment across multiple BUs (e.g., MDP, Etch, CTO, Logic Modules, Memory Modules), integrated development teams (IDTs), and cross-functional teams (CFTs) through structured weekly and monthly review cadences. 

• Global Team Leadership: Coordinate program execution across US headquarters and international sites (Korea, Japan, Taiwan), managing across time zones, cultural contexts, and customer organizational structures. 

• Risk & Decision Management: Proactively identify, assess, and retire program risks. Lead trade-off assessments and critical-path analysis to drive timely decision-making and escalation. 

• Communication & Program Rigor: Maintain disciplined program cadence with detailed meeting minutes, action item tracking, milestone reporting, and weekly/monthly executive status updates. Ensure transparency on program performance, risks, gaps, and help needed. 

• Business Development Integration: Partner with business development and strategy teams to shape new module engagement opportunities, translate customer requirements into actionable program plans, and align demo/development priorities with business objectives. 

Qualifications 

Required 

• Education: BS/MS in Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Physics, or a related semiconductor discipline. PhD preferred. 

• Experience: 12+ years in the semiconductor industry with at least 5 years in technical program management, business management, or engineering leadership roles. 

• Technical Depth: Strong working knowledge of advanced semiconductor process technologies — including but not limited to DRAM, Logic/Foundry nodes, BEOL integration, FEOL device engineering, etch, deposition, and module integration. 

• Customer-Facing Experience: Proven track record of managing programs directly with major semiconductor manufacturers (IDMs, foundries, memory makers) at the VP/Director level and above. 

• Program Management Expertise: Demonstrated ability to manage large, multi-workstream programs with rigorous schedule, budget, and risk management discipline. 

• Communication: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to distill complex technical topics into clear executive summaries and customer-ready presentations. 

Preferred 

• Experience in semiconductor equipment or materials companies (e.g., Applied Materials, Lam Research, Tokyo Electron). 

• Familiarity with Product Development Process (PDP) frameworks, phase-gate methodologies, and program management tools (e.g., Accolade/PDBoK). 

• Bilingual (English/Korean, English/Mandarin, or English/Japanese) strongly preferred given the global customer base. 

• Experience leading cost reduction, yield improvement, or technology roadmap alignment programs with customers. 

• Track record of managing programs that span multiple technology nodes or product generations simultaneously. 

What Sets This Role Apart 

This is not a traditional TPM role. The ideal candidate will mirror the profile of our top-performing program leaders who: 

• ✓  Own the full customer engagement lifecycle — from strategic planning through TRM execution and action item follow-through 

• ✓  Operate seamlessly across technical depth and business strategy 

• ✓  Build trusted relationships with customer executives (VP, CTO, Master-level) and internal senior leadership 

• ✓  Drive urgency and accountability across globally distributed, cross-functional teams 

• ✓  Communicate with precision — executive summaries, meeting minutes, and program dashboards are second nature 

What Sets This Role Apart 

This is not a traditional TPM role. The ideal candidate will mirror the profile of our top-performing program leaders who: 

• ✓  Own the full customer engagement lifecycle — from strategic planning through TRM execution and action item follow-through 

• ✓  Operate seamlessly across technical depth and business strategy 

• ✓  Build trusted relationships with customer executives (VP, CTO, Master-level) and internal senior leadership 

• ✓  Drive urgency and accountability across globally distributed, cross-functional teams 

• ✓  Communicate with precision — executive summaries, meeting minutes, and program dashboards are second nature 

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.