Subject Matter Expert Cleanliness (m/f/d) for the semiconductor industry

About the Role\n\nWe are establishing a dedicated Subject Matter Expert (SME) for Cleanliness within R\u0026D to ensure that cleanliness requirements are defined, designed for, and verified at component and system levels. In this role, you will work closely with the experts responsible for the operational side of cleanliness, who focus on Cleanliness \u0026 Contamination Control and ensure that the specifications defined during development are not only met but also consistently maintained throughout serial production.\n\nA key benefit of this new role is the ability to drive foundational cleanliness research and benchmarking and to support multiple development projects with cross\u2011cutting expertise. This includes activities such as evaluating advanced materials and coatings, identifying low\u2011outgassing or low\u2011particle\u2011generating materials, and validating new surface treatments that enhance cleanability. Your work will generate insights, standards, and best practices that benefit every current and future product platform.\n\nAs the SME for Cleanliness, you will define cleanliness specifications, guide design choices, assess manufacturability and cleaning compatibility, and develop verification methodologies to confirm clean-state compliance.\n\nKey Responsibilities\n\nFoundational Cleanliness Research \u0026 Benchmarking\n\n * Identify and validate materials, coatings, and surface structuring techniques that improve part cleanability, reduce outgassing, or minimize particle generation.\n * Perform lab testing, comparative studies, and structured evaluations to build a knowledge base of superior cleanliness solutions for future product designs.\n * Translate research into R\u0026D standards, design rules, and qualification criteria.\n\n\n\nDesign for Cleanliness Leadership\n\n * Define cleanliness requirements for components, assemblies, and system-level modules (e.g., particle limits, residual gas limits, surface cleanliness grades).\n * Establish design guidelines that ensure parts are inherently cleanable and maintainable throughout the lifecycle.\n\n\n\nGeometry \u0026 Accessibility Requirements\n\n * Advice on dimensions, radii, line-of-sight constraints, surface finishes, and accessibility considerations that affect cleanability.\n * Review designs for risk of particle traps, outgassing sources, contamination accumulation, or cleaning limitations.\n\n\n\nMaterial \u0026 Manufacturing Expertise\n\n * Specify suitable materials and manufacturing processes based on cleanability and resistance to cleaning agents, bakeout cycles, plasma treatments, and other decontamination methods.\n * Support operational functions in assessing suppliers and part designs for compliance with cleanliness-relevant constraints by defining requirements and providing troubleshooting assistance.\n\n\n\nVerification of Cleanliness\n\n * Support the definition and establishment of methods to verify that cleanliness specifications are met, including analytical, measurement, or inspection methods.\n * Support creation of test procedures for clean-state verification during NPI and engineering builds.\n\n\n\nCross-Functional Collaboration\n\n * Act as the R\u0026D counterpart to Cleanliness \u0026 Contamination Control in Operations, ensuring seamless continuity between design requirements and operational implementation.\n * Work closely with product designers, process engineers, quality engineers, and suppliers to ensure cleanliness risks are identified and mitigated early.\n\n\n\nKnowledge \u0026 Process Development\n\n * Build and maintain R\u0026D standards, documentation, and best practices for Design for Cleanliness.\n * Capture lessons learned, known failure mechanisms, contamination risks, and material compatibility issues.\n\n\n\nRequired Qualifications \u0026 Experience\n\nEducation\n\n * Bachelor\u2019s or Master\u2019s degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, Mechanical Engineering or related technical field.\n\n\n\nProfessional Experience\n\n * Experience in high-tech, semiconductor, vacuum, or precision instrumentation industries.\n * Hands-on understanding of contamination mechanisms, particulate control, outgassing behavior, or clean manufacturing environments.\n * Background with material compatibility, surface treatments, or precision manufacturing methods.\n\n\n\nDomain Expertise (Preferred)\n\n * Knowledge of vacuum technology, UHV materials, residual gas analysis (RGA), or electron\u2011optical systems.\n * Experience with particle measurement methods, cleanliness standards, or contamination control strategies.\n * Understanding of cleanroom best practices and controlled manufacturing processes.\n\n\n\nPreferred Qualifications\n\n * Advanced degree (Master\u2019s or Ph.D.) in a relevant engineering or physical science discipline.\n * Experience with bakeout processes, plasma cleaning, solvent compatibility, or surface preparation.\n * Familiarity with industry cleanliness standards (e.g., ISO cleanroom classifications, UHV cleanliness requirements).\n * Exposure to supplier qualification, material certification, or component-level cleanliness testing.\n\n\n\nPreferred Skills\n\nMaterial, Surface \u0026 Coating Expertise\n\n * Knowledge of surface chemistry or surface sciences, especially related to cleanability, outgassing, and contamination behavior.\n * Understanding of surface treatments, plasma processes, polishing methods, or micro\u2011structuring techniques that influence cleanability, outgassing behavior, or particle shedding.\n * Experience with elastomers, sealing technologies, o\u2011ring materials, and associated semiconductor\u2011grade coating technologies.\n * Ability to design and execute lab-level comparative testing for materials and coatings.\n\n\n\nTechnical \u0026 Analytical Skills\n\n * Strong analytical mindset to translate contamination risks into engineering requirements.\n * Ability to evaluate material/process compatibility for demanding cleaning or decontamination treatments.\n * Familiarity with metrology and analysis tools used to verify cleanliness and contamination levels.\n\n\n\nDesign \u0026 Review Skills\n\n * Ability to review drawings, 3D models, and assemblies for cleanliness-critical geometries.\n * Strong understanding of design-for-manufacturing considerations related to contamination control.\n\n\n\nCollaboration \u0026 Communication\n\n * Ability to work with mechanical, electrical, and process engineers to guide design decisions.\n * Clear communication of cleanliness requirements across R\u0026D and Operations teams.\n\n\n\nContinuous Improvement\n\n * Commitment to developing new standards, methods, and guidelines for Design for Cleanliness.\n * Proactive identification of contamination risks and implementation of preventive design measures.\n\n\n\n## Qualifications\n\n### Education:\n\nBachelor\u0027s Degree\n\n### Skills\n\n### Certifications:\n\n### Languages:\n\n### Years of Experience:\n\n4 - 7 Years\n\n### Work Experience:\n\n## Additional Information\n\n### \n\n### Shift:\n\nICT Overtime Eligible (Germany)\n\n### \n\n### Travel:\n\nYes, 10% of the Time\n\n### \n\n### Relocation Eligible:\n\nNo\n\n### Referral Payment Plan:\n\nEmployee Referral (Standard)\n\nApplied Materials is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to diversity in the workplace. All 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. \n