Global Product Support (GPS) Engineer IV (E4)...

The Global Product Support Engineer IV is a senior individual contributor responsible for owning and resolving the most complex field and factory issues for Sculpta systems. This role operates at the intersection of Field Service, Systems Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, and R&D , leading high-severity escalations, root cause investigations, and reliability improvements that directly impact machine availability and customer confidence.

This is a high-autonomy, high-visibility technical leadership role , expected to operate independently on ambiguous, high-impact problems.

Key Responsibilities

Advanced Escalation & Technical Ownership

• Own high-severity L4 system escalations , driving end-to-end technical resolution and closure.

• Serve as the primary technical interface between Field Service, Systems Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, and R&D.

• Lead structured troubleshooting of complex electro-mechanical, vacuum, plasma, controls, and integration-related issues.

Root Cause Analysis & Data-Driven Problem Solving

• Lead root cause investigations using system logs, alarms, sensor data, failure analysis results, and field observations.

• Perform trend analysis, Pareto analysis, correlation studies, and fleet-level assessments to identify systemic failure drivers.

• Quantify issue impact using metrics such as machine availability (MA), MTBI, recurrence rate, and customer risk .

• Translate data insights into clear technical hypotheses, corrective actions, and validation plans .

Reliability Improvement & CAPA Execution

• Define and drive corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) across hardware, software, process, and operational domains.

• Partner with engineering teams to validate solutions through lab testing, qualification, and field verification.

• Track post-implementation performance using data to confirm sustained improvement and issue closure.

Field & Customer Support

• Provide senior-level technical support to key customers, including on-site support during critical escalations .

• Support customer installs, upgrades, recoveries, and early product deployments.

• Communicate complex technical findings clearly and confidently to customers and internal stakeholders.

NPI & Continuous Improvement

• Support New Product Introduction (NPI) and early customer ramp activities with structured, data-backed field feedback.

• Identify recurring failure patterns and lead continuous improvement programs (CIPs) to improve uptime, reliability, and serviceability.

• Contribute to improvements in diagnostic coverage, monitoring, and data quality.

Knowledge Capture & Technical Leadership

• Author and review technical documentation including BKMs, CENs, ISBs, and troubleshooting guides , incorporating data-based insights.

• Mentor junior GPS engineers and Field Service Engineers in structured troubleshooting and data-driven debugging.

• Share best practices and lessons learned across the global support organization.

• Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD in Mechanical, Electrical, Systems, or a related Engineering discipline.

• 8+ years of experience in product support, systems engineering, or semiconductor capital equipment (advanced degree may reduce required experience) .

• Strong hands-on experience with complex electro-mechanical systems.

• Demonstrated ability to solve complex technical problems using data-driven analysis and engineering judgment .

• Proven ability to operate independently on ambiguous, high-impact technical challenges.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with vacuum systems, plasma chambers, robotics, motion control, or RF subsystems.

• Strong experience with data analysis and visualization tools , including JMP, advanced Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, macros/VBA, Power Query), or similar tools .

• Experience analyzing large data sets from system logs, alarms, sensors, fleet data, and field reports.

• Familiarity with FRACAS, DFMEA, fleet analytics, and availability / MTBI metrics .

• Experience supporting high-volume manufacturing fabs and customer escalations.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills with customers and senior technical leadership.

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 a global leader in materials engineering solutions used to produce virtually every new chip and advanced display in the world. We design, build and service cutting-edge equipment that helps our customers manufacture display and semiconductor chips - the brains of devices we use every day. As the foundation of the global electronics industry, Applied enables the exciting technologies that literally connect our world - like AI and IoT. If you want to push the boundaries of materials science and engineering to create next generation technology, join us to deliver material innovation that changes the world., 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 (https://hrportal.ehr.com/applied/) .

Applied Materials’ Sculpta® platform redefines precision patterning at the most advanced semiconductor technology nodes, where nanometer-level accuracy directly impacts yield, performance, and cost. Built on deep innovation across mechanical design, motion control, vacuum systems, and system-level integration, Sculpta solves problems conventional tools cannot.

This role is for senior support engineers who want true ownership-using data, engineering judgment, and hands-on expertise to deliver fab-ready systems that run reliably at scale in the world’s leading semiconductor fabs.