Mechanical Engineer III – Value Engineering

Employer description

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:

$108,000.00 - $148,500.00

Location:

Gloucester,MA

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. 

As a Mechanical Engineer, you’ll leverage your strong foundation in physics, mathematics, and materials science to process and resolve mechanical problems, design and implement custom mechanical tooling and associated processes, and enable the handling, assembly, and disassembly of parts, components, sub-assemblies, and final assemblies throughout the product life cycle. You’ll be responsible for designing, developing, and modifying mechanical engineering layouts, schematics, and specifications. You will oversee manufacturing and installation processes, ensuring adherence to industry standards and regulations– and you’ll coordinate the procurement and assembly of mechanical components and equipment for design projects, identifying sources of critical parts and subsystems to resolve technical issues. 

General Profile:

Requires specialized depth and/or breadth of mechanical engineering expertise, with strong application in cost optimization, supply chain alignment, and product lifecycle improvement.

Interprets internal and external business drivers—including cost, supply risk, manufacturability, and performance—and applies best practices to deliver value-driven engineering solutions.

Solves complex mechanical and system-level problems by balancing design intent, reliability, cost, and supply chain considerations. Takes a broad, systems-level perspective to identify innovative and scalable solutions.

Works independently , receives minimal guidance. Acts as a resource for colleagues with less experience.

Role Responsibilities

Identify, analyze, and resolve complex mechanical issues across systems, subsystems, fabricated structures, machined components, sheet metal assemblies, and purchased parts, with emphasis on cost reduction, supply resiliency, manufacturability, and reliabilityLead or execute value engineering initiatives, including cost reduction projects, alternate material evaluations, supplier transitions, process changes, and component redesign effortsDevelop, modify, and optimize mechanical designs, machined components, and tooling solutions while maintaining system performance and product requirementsPartner with strategic suppliers to develop, qualify, and improve mechanical components, assemblies, coatings, fabricated structures, and manufacturing processesApply Design for Cost (DfC), Design for Manufacturability (DfM), Design for Assembly (DfA), and Design for Supply Chain (DfSC) principles to drive scalable and cost-effective solutionsSupport and lead ECO evaluation and execution, ensuring design changes deliver measurable value while managing technical and operational riskSupport NPI cost evaluation, design convergence, and localization efforts, ensuring designs meet cost, quality, manufacturability, and supply chain objectivesWork cross-functionally with Engineering, Supply Chain Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Global Commodity Management, Quality, and Program Management teams to drive end-to-end value improvementsDefine and execute mechanical validation and qualification testing, including structural, thermal, vibration, fatigue, environmental, and reliability assessmentsPerform engineering analysis related to GD&T, tolerance stack-up, material selection, thermal performance, structural integrity, manufacturability, and process capabilityGenerate and review engineering specifications, supplier technical requirements, test plans, qualification documentation, and released engineering drawingsDrive supplier qualification and multi-sourcing activities, including technical assessments, capability reviews, first article evaluations, and manufacturing process validationContribute to value tracking activities, including savings validation, PPV support, cost modeling, should-cost analysis, and opportunity identificationEffectively communicate technical tradeoffs involving cost, performance, manufacturability, reliability, and supply chain considerations to influence business decisions 

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering or related engineering discipline4-7 years of experience in mechanical engineering, product engineering, manufacturing engineering, supplier engineering, or related technical rolesStrong experience with mechanical design principles including sheet metal, weldments, machined components, structural analysis, material selection, and GD&TDemonstrated application of Design for Excellence (DfX) principles, particularly Design for Cost and Design for ManufacturabilityExperience supporting engineering changes, supplier technical discussions, and cross-functional product development activitiesProficiency with CAD systems and engineering documentation practicesStrong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to translate technical opportunities into measurable business value 

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in value engineering, cost reduction, supplier engineering, manufacturing engineering, or supply chain engineering environmentsKnowledge of Applied Materials and/or Varian product lifecycle processes, including NPI, ECO execution, supplier qualification, and product supportExperience with sheet metal fabrication, weldments, machining, castings, coatings, and assembly processesExperience leading supplier transitions, multi-sourcing initiatives, localization projects, or redesign-for-cost activitiesKnowledge of should-cost analysis, value analysis/value engineering (VA/VE), and cost modeling methodologiesFamiliarity with semiconductor capital equipment, vacuum systems, structural frames, beamline systems, wafer handling equipment, or similar complex electromechanical productsExperience qualifying alternate materials, manufacturing processes, and global suppliersWorking knowledge of quality systems, failure analysis, reliability methods, and root cause investigation toolsStrong understanding of system-level integration across mechanical, electrical, manufacturing, and supply chain disciplines 

Additional Information

Time Type:

Full time

Employee Type:

Assignee / Regular

Travel:

Relocation Eligible:

No

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.