Customer Application Engineer Jobs in California

At VAT, we change the world with vacuum solutions. As the world's leading supplier of high-performance vacuum valves, we have been driving innovation for more than 60 years. With over 3,200 employees worldwide, we operate from our headquarters in Haag, Switzerland, with manufacturing sites in Switzerland, Malaysia and Romania, as well as sales and service hubs around the world. We guided by our passions integrity, teamwork, customer centricity, and innovation - always working together as #oneVAT.Joining us means becoming part of a passionate, international team where your voice is heard, your ideas matter, and your career growth is supported. 

Team Lead, Field Application Engineer ( FAE ) - Key Accounts

We at VAT Group AG, headquartered in Switzerland, invite a highly motivated and experienced Team Lead to head our Field Application Engineering (FAE) Key Account team in the US, San Jose. In this role, you will lead a group of customer-facing application engineers supporting strategic key accounts, ensuring outstanding technical customer experience and alignment between customer needs and VAT's technology and product roadmap. As Team Lead FAE US - Key Accounts, you will be responsible for driving team performance, enabling scalability of the FAE organization, and acting as a key interface between customers, sales, product management, and R&D. 

WHAT WE OFFER

• Join a global leader at the forefront of semiconductor innovation, we are a globally leading company in the semiconductor industry
• A technologically advanced and innovative working environment with modern engineering and development environments
• Thrive in a collaborative, international environment that celebrates bold ideas and outstanding execution - where your leadership makes a direct impact
• Work closely with global customers and cross-functional teams to shape next-generation vacuum and semiconductor solutions
• Enable the development of innovative applications and contribute directly to product and technology roadmaps
• Enjoy an exceptional working environment with strong support for professional growth and leadership development
• Receive competitive compensation and benefits aligned with your expertise and responsibilities

YOUR CHALLENGES 

• Lead and manage the day-to-day activities of the US FAE Key Account team, ensuring alignment with business and customer priorities
• Take ownership of HR-related topics for the team, including onboarding, development, and performance support
• Train, mentor, and guide team members in their roles as key account focused Field Application Engineers
• Provide technical and business guidance for key account-related challenges and escalations
• Act as second-level support for critical customer escalations within the FAE US organization
• Drive the development and implementation of account-specific technical strategies aligned with VAT product and technology roadmaps
• Translate customer feedback into actionable inputs for product management, business units, and corporate R&D ("voice of customer")
• Integrate global FAE and IDM-related input into key account activities, including NPI programs, product improvements, and escalation management
• Contribute team insights and customer application knowledge to internal reporting forums such as QBRs, account meetings, TRMs, and global sales meetings
• Ensure team continuity by supporting substitution of team members and, when required, supporting engineering management responsibilities

YOUR COMPETENCIES

• University degree in Physics, Chemistry, Microelectronics, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering, or related semiconductor discipline
• Strong background in vacuum engineering and/or customer application engineering in semiconductor, Display, or Solar industries
• Proven experience working on system or subsystem level product development in a high-tech environment
• Solid understanding of VAT product portfolio and customer applications
• Demonstrated leadership ability with a strong interest in people management and team development
• Strong communication skills with the ability to translate technical topics into clear customer and internal messaging
• Ability to work effectively in a global matrix organization and collaborate across functions and regions
• Strong sense of accountability, with focus on quality, delivery, and commitment
• Fluent in English (spoken and written) for global customer and internal communication
• Ambassador of VAT values and culture
• Availability for occasional international collaboration and travel as required
• You can expect a dynamic and successful company where innovation, courage, fairness and transparency are encouraged and your ideas are welcome.

Interested? We look forward to receive your application. 

You can expect a dynamic and successful company where innovation, courage, fairness and transparency are encouraged and your ideas are welcome.