GC‑MS Engineer III – Cleanliness & Optics Specialist

About the role

Applied Materials seeks an experienced GC‑MS Engineer to lead cleanliness qualification and optics‑lifetime initiatives for semiconductor capital equipment. You will operate advanced GC‑MS systems, design outgassing test protocols, analyze molecular contamination, and drive root‑cause investigations across cross‑functional teams.

Key responsibilities

• Independently operate headspace and thermal‑desorption GC‑MS instruments, manage qualification, calibration, preventive maintenance, and troubleshoot sensitivity drift or column issues.
• Design and execute outgassing test protocols (e.g., ASTM E595, IPC‑TM‑650) for materials, components, and sub‑assemblies, including accelerated aging and bake‑out studies.
• Interpret chromatograms and mass spectra, perform quantitative analysis, and correlate findings with optics degradation mechanisms such as haze formation and transmission loss.
• Prepare engineering‑grade reports, present results to optics, process, and supplier‑quality teams, and recommend material or process changes.
• Maintain lab compliance with internal contamination‑control specifications and relevant industry standards (SEMI, ASTM), ensuring data integrity and audit readiness.

Required profile

• BS with 3+ years (or MS with 1+ year, or PhD) in Chemistry, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering or related field.
• 3–7 years hands‑on GC‑MS experience, including dynamic headspace thermal‑desorption techniques.
• Proven ability to design outgassing test protocols and work independently without close supervision.
• Strong knowledge of molecular contaminants affecting precision optics (siloxanes, phthalates, hydrocarbons, low‑MW polymers).

Required skills

• GC‑MS operation (headspace, thermal‑desorption), instrument qualification and preventive maintenance.
• Data analysis using MassHunter, ChemStation, Xcalibur and library searching (NIST/Wiley).
• Experience with ASTM E595, IPC‑TM‑650, and SEMI contamination‑control standards.
• Complementary techniques: FTIR, TOC, SEM/EDX, SPME‑GC‑MS.
• Statistical analysis (Minitab, JMP) and scripting (Python, R) for trend analysis.

What we offer

• Salary range $138,000 – $190,000 per year.
• Location in Santa Clara, CA with a supportive, innovative work culture.