Field Application Engineer
About the role
The Field Application Engineer supports the deployment, qualification, optimization, and production ramp of advanced ion beam deposition systems in high-volume manufacturing environments. This role serves as a key technical liaison between customers and internal engineering teams, ensuring successful implementation and adoption of thin film deposition technologies. The engineer collaborates closely with customers and cross-functional teams to execute process best-known methods, drive system qualifications, and provide hands-on technical support throughout the product lifecycle. The position combines process engineering expertise, customer-facing communication, and practical problem-solving to help customers achieve production readiness and operational excellence.
Responsibilities
- Lead system qualification, validation, and customer acceptance activities at manufacturing and production facilities.
- Execute established process best-known methods (BKMs) and support the transfer of proven processes into customer production environments.
- Perform process characterization, data collection, statistical analysis, and technical reporting to ensure performance objectives and customer requirements are achieved.
- Diagnose and resolve complex process, equipment, and system performance issues in collaboration with engineering, service, and applications teams.
- Support equipment installation, commissioning, startup, and production qualification activities at customer sites.
- Identify and mitigate process deviations, operational challenges, and equipment-related concerns that impact productivity, yield, or system performance.
- Conduct root cause investigations and implement corrective and preventive actions to resolve customer escalations and improve process reliability.
- Deliver technical training to customers on system operation, process execution, maintenance practices, and operational best practices.
- Create and maintain qualification reports, process documentation, technical records, and customer-facing deliverables.
- Gather customer feedback and field performance insights to support continuous product improvement and future technology development.
- Partner with cross-functional teams including Applications Engineering, Product Management, Operations, Service, and Product Engineering to ensure successful customer outcomes.
- Travel domestically and internationally to support equipment deployment, process qualification, production ramp activities, and ongoing customer support initiatives.
Requirements
- 5+ years of experience as a Field Application Engineer.
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Physics, or Material Science.
- Experience qualifying and supporting production equipment in customer manufacturing environments.
- Demonstrated ability to independently troubleshoot complex process and equipment issues.
- Experience working directly with customers in a technical support, applications engineering, process engineering, or field engineering capacity.
- Hands-on experience with thin-film processes and optical coating applications.
- Experience in vacuum processes for semiconductor, photonics, or advanced materials manufacturing.
- Ability and willingness to travel approximately 75% domestically and internationally.
- Strong customer-facing communication and presentation skills.
- Proven ability to analyze process and equipment data and document findings clearly.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
- Experience working in a clean room environment and wearing a clean room suit.
- Familiarity with ion beam deposition systems or similar advanced deposition technologies.
- Comfort working in semiconductor, photonics, or advanced materials manufacturing environments.
- Experience performing process characterization, data collection, and statistical analysis.
- Ability to prepare technical reports and customer-facing documentation.
- Experience delivering technical training to external customers or internal teams.
- Collaborative mindset with experience working in cross-functional engineering and operations teams.
Work Environment
The role is primarily based in the Sugar Land, Texas area, supporting advanced ion beam deposition systems in high-tech manufacturing environments. The engineer frequently works in clean room facilities, including wearing appropriate clean room attire and following strict contamination control procedures. The position involves significant domestic and international travel, estimated at approximately 75%, to customer manufacturing sites for equipment deployment, process qualification, production ramp support, and ongoing technical assistance. Work is performed in collaboration with cross-functional teams and customers, often on-site at production facilities, and may involve extended periods on the manufacturing floor to support installations, troubleshooting, and optimization activities. The environment is fast-paced and technology-driven, offering exposure to cutting-edge thin film deposition, vacuum processes, and advanced semiconductor and photonics manufacturing.
Pay and Benefits
Pay range: $94,000.00 – $126,000.00/yr. Individual compensation offered within this range depends on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.
Benefits:
- Medical, Dental, and Vision
- Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)
- 401(k) with Company Match
- Holiday, Vacation, and Sick Time
- Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
- Commuter Benefits
- Life and Accident Insurance
- Disability Insurance
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Identity Theft Remediation
- Emergency Travel Assistance