Applications Engineer

SUMMARY

The Silicon Valley Innovation Center (SVIC) from Pfeiffer Vacuum Inc. has been put in place to support our local semiconductor customers. This position receives requests for technical support and participates in product evaluations by our customers. Responsibilities include interacting with customers and colleagues from our development centers, analyze the applications and the product performance, issue recommendations, possibly suggest and help design product modifications, perform testing in our lab or at customers.

This position reports to the Customer Engineering Manager.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Exercise of judgment, discretion, and tact in all business matters and business relationships is required. Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to maintain clear and cooperative working relationships with co-workers and demonstrate regular attendance and punctuality are essential. The organization’s leadership promotes collaborative problem solving in both formal and informal work teams. Participation in and contribution to teamwork within the organization is required. Necessary interpersonal skills include being a self-starter, motivated, creative, flexible, self-confident, deadline oriented and able to multi-task. Employees must follow all quality and safety procedures of the company, including those at customer sites if applicable, and must abide by the corporate Code of Conduct in all situations.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

None

Duties:

1. Communicate with customer to understand their needs and their specifications.
2. Analyze the needs and propose solutions, sometimes within a multi-disciplinary team.
3. Share findings with relevant development centers and product teams.
4. Contribute to sales presentations showcasing all technical features and processes, present to customers.
5. Organize, set up, follow customer demos.
6. Answer customer support request presented by customers or sales colleagues.
7. Perform vacuum simulations.
8. Develop test set-ups.
9. Run characterization tests.
10. Test applications extensively to ensure a high quality and high reliability.
11. Connect with customers to analyze user experience and gain constructive feedback.
12. Help maintain lab and lab equipment.
13. Make recommendations for new tools, equipment.
14. Build strong relations with customers.
15. Participate to the search for innovative and even disruptive solutions.
16. Create and present application prototypes.
17. Participate to new business model prospection.
18. Maintain a high knowledge in the vacuum industry by attending professional conferences, leading seminars with colleagues and build a network with local partners and suppliers,
19. Assist colleagues when need arises.
20. Act as resident technological expert advisor for our products.
21. Manage and determine projects including estimated time and costs.
22. Maintain a strong understanding of business strategies, goals and missions.
    

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Tasks require walking, sitting, bending, reaching, mobility, frequent lifting and pushing/pulling. Work requires computer skills (word processing, spreadsheet, and data-entry), attention to detail and accuracy. Communication skills including listening and speaking are required for interaction with other employees, vendors, and customers. Strong interpersonal skills, the ability to balance multiple tasks and any stress associated with the duties and responsibilities of this position are essential requirements in the performance of this job.

Secondary duties with added requirements may be assigned from time to time.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

Company Values

Pfeiffer Vacuum believes that we are all suppliers and customers of someone in our organization. Our employees must be able to demonstrate this customer-centric belief - which means that you are value-adding, reliable, performance-driven, innovative, service-minded and agile – in all of their business activities. We expect that our company values of open mindedness, trust, communication, thinking strategically/being creative, being courageous, accountable and humble, ethical sensitivity/compliance, resilience/facing diversity and fostering a culture of empowerment, engagement and collaboration will drive the actions of our employees.

General Qualifications:

1. Ability to manage many different jobs and meet deadlines consistently.
2. Ability to handle client and customer issues tactfully and professionally.
3. Highly organized and detail-oriented.
4. Creative, analytical, and driven.
5. Thrives in a fast-paced work environment.
6. Enjoys complex problem-solving and collaboration.
7. Experience in planning projects with large data sets and making decisions for data-driven analytics.
8. Strong customer service skills
9. Ability to balance and prioritize multiple projects and priorities. (similar to #1)

Education and/or Experience

1. Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in a technical/scientific area of study (chemistry background a plus)
2. 3-5 years of experience managing projects serving the semiconductor industry, knowledge of semiconductor processing and manufacturing tools
3. Knowledge of vacuum technology a plus
4. Knowledge in various programming languages (Java, Perl, Python, C++ etc.)
5. Customer interaction experience a plus

Language Skills

The ability to communicate clearly in English verbally and in writing is essential. Reports, email correspondence, schedules and graphic presentations are all typical requirements of this position, and must be effectively and professionally communicated. Demonstrated communication skills including experience in communicating ideas to clients in various ways.

Mathematical Skills

Superior math skills required. Strong knowledge of the mathematics that supports the industry is essential in order to provide technical assistance and expertise as required.

Reasoning Ability

Must be able to multitask and operate in a fast paced environment while maintaining a disciplined approach to oversee major customers’ needs. The ability to understand the customers’ requirements and plan the support strategy is essential. Must be able to solve both practical and complex problems and deal with a variety of factors in situations where only limited standardization exists.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

Valid driver’s license is required.

TOOLS AND/OR EQUIPMENT

This position uses a computer extensively with demonstrated abilities in the use of Microsoft products as well as other common office type equipment.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

This position may work in various environments including office, factory or home settings. Employees who are authorized to work from home are expected to comply with all company requirements for core work hours or in-person attendance at company meetings or events.

Pfeiffer Vacuum is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with disability.

If you are an individual with disabilities who needs accommodation or you are having difficulty using our website to apply for employment, please contact Jill Guilmain at 603-578-6519.