Director: Cobot Service Automation

Location: Santa Clara,CA

Time Type: Full time

Job Description

Who We Are

Applied Materials is a global leader in materials engineering solutions used to produce virtually every new chip and advanced display in the world. We design, build and service cutting-edge equipment that helps our customers manufacture display and semiconductor chips – the brains of devices we use every day. As the foundation of the global electronics industry, Applied enables the exciting technologies that literally connect our world – like AI and IoT. If you want to push the boundaries of materials science and engineering to create next generation technology, join us to deliver material innovation that changes the world. 

What We Offer

Salary:

Location:

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. 

Job Title: Director: Cobot Capability - Maintenance & Fab Automation

Location: Santa Clara, USA
Reports To:  Service Business Unit Head
 

Role Summary:

The Director of Maintenance Service Fab Automation will lead the strategy, development, and deployment of collaborative robotic solutions that modernize Preventive Maintenance (PM), equipment servicing, and technician support across Applied’s product families. This leader will define and execute a multi-year roadmap integrating advanced mechatronics, software, controls, and human-robot collaboration to drive significant gains in uptime, safety, service quality, and overall fab productivity.

Leveraging current and emerging cobot technologies to advance autonomous maintenance, this role will champion precision, repeatability, and reliability improvements while enabling next generation, robotics driven maintenance automation across the organization.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership & Vision

• Develop and own the enterprise roadmap for cobot integration into PM and maintenance workflows, aligned with corporate and fab operational priorities.

• Lead long range planning for cobot platforms, partner ecosystems, and scalable deployment strategies.

• Establish success metrics and KPIs covering reliability, cycle time reduction, equipment availability, system design requirements for cobot servicing, and technician enablement.

• Interface with internal and external customers on technology and roadmap requirements

Technology & Program Ownership

• Direct the end-to-end design, engineering, verification, and production rollout of cobot-enabled PM capabilities.

• Lead cross disciplinary engineering teams across robotics, hardware, software, and controls.

• Ensure all solutions meet fab safety, compliance, tool integration, and reliability standards.

• Develop frameworks for cobot serviceability in chamber/platform design, predictive maintenance integration, and digital twin–based simulation.

Deployment, Integration & Execution Excellence

• Drive factory readiness, including pilot execution, qualification processes, technician readiness, and change management plans.

• Govern program execution across schedule, budget, risks, and mitigation actions, ensuring disciplined delivery across multiple facilities.

• Implement robust governance practices, including milestone reviews, partner alignment, and technical decision forums.

Cross-Functional & External Partnerships

• Partner closely with BU Engineering, FSO, Manufacturing, R&D, Safety, Quality, and Supply Chain to ensure seamless adoption and integration of cobot capabilities.

• Establish and scale design tenets for automated service to include robotic‑interface capabilities into equipment design to drive next‑generation service efficiency, equipment performance, and operational excellence.

• Build and manage strategic relationships with cobot OEMs, integrators, and component suppliers.

• Represent the program in executive, customer, and industry settings to communicate strategy, progress, and business impact.

Organizational Leadership & Talent Development

• Build, mentor, and scale a high performing team of product managers, engineers and automation leaders, and maintenance transformation specialists.

• Foster a culture grounded in innovation, safety, continuous improvement, and data driven decision making.

Qualifications:

• 12–15+ years of experience in robotics, automation, semiconductor equipment engineering, or related high-tech fields.

• Demonstrated success leading complex, integrated hardware/software engineering teams.

• Strong technical expertise in mechatronics, controls, machine vision, safety systems, robot integration, and fab operations.

• Excellent communication, executive presence, and organizational leadership skills.

• Experience with fab PM processes, equipment reliability engineering, or high-volume semiconductor manufacturing.

Success Measures

• Measurable reduction in PM cycle time and unplanned downtime.

• Improved fab output, equipment availability, and maintenance quality.

• Scalable cobot deployment roadmap delivered on schedule.

• Strong cross functional adoption and technician proficiency.

• Robust supplier and technology ecosystem supporting cobot capabilities.

Position requires understanding of Applied Materials global Standards of Business Conduct and compliance with these standards at all times. This includes demonstrating the highest level of ethical conduct reflecting Applied Materials' core values.

Additional Information

Time Type:

Employee Type:

Travel:

Relocation Eligible:

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.