Application Scientist in Portland, Texas - #72599 | VanderHouwen

Description

Job Id: 72599

Application Scientist
Our client is seeking an experienced Application Scientist to serve as a trusted technical partner supporting advanced semiconductor metrology solutions in a customer-facing environment. This individual will combine hands-on expertise, analytical problem-solving, and strong communication skills to help customers optimize measurement performance, troubleshoot complex challenges, and translate technical requirements into practical, production-ready solutions. The ideal candidate has prior experience working within semiconductor manufacturing environments, is comfortable operating in cleanroom settings, and thrives at the intersection of science, customer support, and cross-functional collaboration.

This role is on-site in San Francisco, California, Portland, Oregon, or Boise, Idaho.

Application Scientist Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary technical liaison for customers, providing responsive on-site and remote support for advanced semiconductor metrology applications.
• Develop, optimize, and maintain robust measurement methodologies and recipes that deliver reliable, repeatable results in production environments.
• Partner closely with customers to understand process challenges and translate operational needs into practical technical solutions.
• Troubleshoot complex measurement, modeling, and data-quality issues using structured problem-solving techniques and root cause analysis.
• Support instrument implementation activities, including installation assistance, startup activities, calibration, qualification, and routine performance verification.
• Monitor system performance trends and recommend corrective actions to maximize stability, accuracy, and uptime.
• Analyze complex datasets using model-based approaches to improve measurement sensitivity, consistency, and overall process confidence.
• Collaborate with internal engineering, service, and development teams to drive continuous product and application improvements.
• Deliver customer training related to tool operation, data interpretation, and best practices for measurement workflows.
• Prepare technical documentation, application notes, reports, and training materials tailored to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Travel to customer locations throughout the United States, with occasional international travel as business needs require.

Application Scientist Qualifications

• Master's degree or Ph.D. in Materials Science, Physics, Chemistry, Solid-State Physics, Engineering, or a related scientific discipline.
• Minimum of approximately four years of industry experience supporting semiconductor manufacturing, semiconductor metrology, or related applications in a customer-facing or process engineering capacity.
• Hands-on experience working in semiconductor fabrication environments, including cleanroom experience and comfort operating in a “bunny suit” setting.
• Experience with X-ray analytical techniques such as SAXS, GI-SAXS, XRD, XRR, XRF, or comparable semiconductor characterization and metrology methods. Experience with optical metrology techniques is also valued.
• Strong understanding of semiconductor manufacturing processes and thin-film characterization principles.
• Demonstrated experience analyzing complex datasets using model-based fitting approaches and statistical techniques.
• Proven ability to diagnose technical issues, identify root causes, and implement effective corrective actions.
• Strong analytical skills with working knowledge of statistics, process control concepts, and data interpretation methodologies.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to convey complex technical concepts clearly to customers and cross-functional teams.
• Proficiency in English required. Additional language skills, particularly Japanese, Chinese, Korean, or Hebrew, are considered a plus.
• Ability to travel up to 30% domestically, with occasional international travel.

Salary: (DOE)

Benefits
Benefits are available to eligible full-time employees and include coverage for medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short and long term disability, and matching 401k.

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