US Field Application Engineer

Location: Spring Valley, CA, US

Employment Type: FULL_TIME

Introduce Soitec and context of the position

Join Soitec, the world leader in engineered substrates for the semiconductor industry. We design and manufacture innovative semiconductor materials that are critical for miniaturizing chips, boosting performance, and cutting energy consumption. Our materials power the mobile, digital, automotive, and industrial revolutions, found in everything from smartphones and data centers to connected devices and electric vehicles.

What does the job consist?

We are seeking a motivated and experienced Field Application Engineer to be the primary technical liaison for our key customers across the United States. This is a critical, high-impact role that places you at the intersection of our cutting-edge substrate technology and the world’s semiconductor leaders designing advanced analog, mixed-signal, power management, and RF devices.

This position offers a chance to work across all Soitec products and markets, giving you a comprehensive overview of our business and deep involvement with our customers' most innovative applications.

As a Field Application Engineer, you will serve as the technical consultant, customer advocate, and critical link between our customers and internal teams:

Technical Leadership & Customer Interface

• Primary Technical Contact: Act as the face of Soitec, owning all technical engagement with US customers, including world-leading semiconductor companies.
• Product Expertise: Maintain deep knowledge of semiconductor processing and quality control of Soitec substrates.
• Driving Adoption: Proactively communicate the technical benefits and value proposition of new and existing Soitec products to customer engineering teams and management.
• Presentations & Demos: Develop and deliver technical presentations, product demonstrations, and training sessions targeted at existing and prospective customer engineers.

Customer Advocacy & Project Management

• Internal Voice of the Customer: Serve as the central advocate for customer technical requirements and standards within Soitec.
• Cross-Functional Coordination: Coordinate technical services—liaising with Sales, Production, and Quality departments—on newly developed techniques, process improvements, and new product qualifications.
• Project Execution: Coordinate engineering development samples and manage new part qualifications from initial request through final approval.

Quality, Risk, and Complaint Resolution

• Complaint Investigation: Coordinate the technical investigation of customer complaints and concerns regarding product quality and performance.
• Risk Assessment: Assist in the assessment of risk to customers associated with process changes and process control excursions.
• Data Analysis: Conduct and present statistical analysis (SPC, Cpk) of product and process control data.

Interactions & Environment

• External: Primarily customers technical and quality departments.
• Internal: Quality, Product Managers, and Sales teams across global sites.
• Work Style: Remote-based role requiring some travel (10-20%) for customer engagement and F2F team reviews. We seek a proactive presenter who thrives in social settings with strong interpersonal skills.

Requirements & qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Materials Science, Physics, Engineering, Chemistry, or a closely related field.
• 4 to 6 years of customer support management or Field Application Engineering experience within the semiconductor industry.
• Deep knowledge of silicon/semiconductors, wafer processing, testing, and/or characterization techniques.
• Knowledge of material characterization methods (e.g., SEM, SIMS, GOI, XRT, C-V, SRP, TEM).
• Expertise in statistical methods for process, product and quality control (SPC, Cpk, 8D, etc.)
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills with the proven ability to present complex technical information clearly to diverse audiences.
• A proactive, solutions-oriented approach to customer issues.
• Ability to work autonomously from a home office while traveling regularly for face-to-face deep dives at customer sites and global Soitec hubs.

 

Pay Transparency Note:

The base salary range for this full-time position is $130,000 – $180,000 per year. The range provided is a good faith estimate of the base salary for this role. The final salary offer will be determined based on various factors, including the candidate’s specific experience level, specialized technical skills, and geographic location. In addition to the base salary, this role is eligible for an annual performance bonus (depending on company and individual performance). In terms of Benefits, Soitec USA offers a comprehensive benefits suite, including:

• Health & Wellness: Premium medical, dental, and vision insurance options (including HSA/FSA). Soitec covers 87% of the premium for the employee.
• Retirement: 401(k) plan with a company match of up to 4% of your annual salary.
• Time Off: 15–20 days of paid holidays, 4 floating holidays and sick leave entitlement.
• Support: life insurance, and short/long-term disability coverage.
• Remote Work Support: Monthly home office and internet stipend.
• Equity according to Corporate policy

Soitec is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.