Senior Director, Finance

About the Role

Applied Materials is seeking a strategic and operational finance leader to serve as Senior Director, Finance, supporting some of the company's highest priority growth, innovation, and infrastructure investments. This role provides financial leadership across a complex portfolio of R&D, advanced technology, infrastructure, and customer partnership initiatives while serving as a trusted advisor to senior business and functional leaders. The successful candidate will lead a team of finance professionals and partner across Engineering, Operations, Corporate Finance, Tax, Legal, Accounting, Business Units, and Executive Leadership to drive investment decisions, optimize capital deployment, support customer-funded innovation programs, and deliver scalable financial processes that accelerate business growth. This role combines strategic finance, investment analysis, business partnership, capital planning, and operational execution in a highly visible environment.

What We Offer

Salary: $192,000.00 - $264,000.00

Location: Santa Clara, CA (Hybrid)

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Business Partnership – Serve as a trusted finance advisor to senior leadership across different US lab infrastructure organizations including EPIC, APTD. Influence key business decisions through financial analysis, scenario modeling, and executive-level recommendations. Support long-range planning, annual operating plans, strategic reviews, and business performance management.
• Capital Investment & Infrastructure Finance – Lead financial planning, forecasting, and governance for large-scale capital investment programs including R&D laboratories, engineering facilities, and innovation infrastructure. Develop affordability models, business cases, ROI frameworks, and investment prioritization recommendations. Partner with corporate and business leaders to optimize capital allocation and ensure investments align with strategic objectives.
• Customer Partnerships & Commercial Finance – Lead financial support for strategic customer collaboration programs, joint development activities, and alternative business models. Partner with business, legal, accounting, and operations teams to structure customer agreements and funding models. Evaluate commercial opportunities and ensure financial outcomes support long-term value creation.
• Process Improvement & Transformation – Drive finance process improvements that enhance accuracy, efficiency, and scalability. Leverage digital tools, advanced analytics, and AI-enabled solutions to improve productivity and decision quality. Lead cross-functional initiatives that improve financial governance and business processes.
• Talent Leadership – Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing finance organization. Build organizational capability, succession pipelines, and future finance leaders. Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business, Engineering, or related field.
• 15+ years of progressive finance leadership experience in a global technology, semiconductor, manufacturing, or industrial environment.
• Significant experience in FP&A, business finance, strategic finance, corporate finance, or investment analysis.
• Experience supporting executive leadership and influencing cross-functional stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• MBA and/or CPA preferred.
• Semiconductor, advanced manufacturing, or technology industry experience.
• Experience supporting capital-intensive environments.
• Strong background in investment analysis, portfolio management, and financial modeling.
• Experience leading transformation initiatives and enterprise-wide projects.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in highly matrixed organizations.

Critical Competencies

• Strategic Thinking
• Executive Communication
• Investment & Capital Allocation
• Business Partnership
• Financial Modeling & Analytics
• Influence Without Authority
• Organizational Leadership
• Change Management
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Talent Development
• Operational Excellence

Additional Information

Time Type: Full time

Employee Type: Assignee / Regular

Travel: Yes, 10% of the Time

Relocation Eligible: No