Computing Platform NPI R&D Engineer

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

Location:
Rehovot,ISR

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.

• Receive and analyze HLD documents from R&D computing architecture; translate computational requirements into hardware specifications.

• Research and evaluate computing platform solutions from leading vendors, identifying configurations that meet performance, reliability, power, and form-factor requirements.

• Define platform specifications: CPU generation and configuration, memory capacity and speed, storage topology (NVMe, SAS/SATA, RAID), networking (Ethernet, InfiniBand, fiber), and GPU/AI accelerator integration where required.

• Lead vendor engagement: issue RFQs, conduct technical reviews with vendor platform architects, and negotiate platform customization requirements.

• Drive the full structured NPI review cycle from Kickoff (KO) through PDR, CDR, DVR, FDR, and ECO -owning the technical content and scheduling of each gate.

• Define and manage the Bill of Materials (BOM) for new computing platforms, ensuring accuracy and configuration control throughout the development process.

• Author technical deliverables at each gate: requirements documents, platform selection rationale, validation test plans, and manufacturing transfer packages.

• Identify and resolve technical obstacles that could delay the program schedule; escalate risks early and propose mitigation strategies.

• Design and execute hardware validation plans: performance benchmarking, stress testing, thermal characterization, and compatibility validation with the tool's software stack.

• Collaborate with R&D and software teams to verify driver compatibility, BIOS/firmware configuration, and OS/application performance on the selected platform.

• Lead the transition of validated platforms from engineering to manufacturing, including production BOM release and manufacturing documentation.

• Support the manufacturing team during initial production builds and resolve any hardware-related integration issues.

• Collaborate with engineering peers across multiple disciplines -Electronics, Mechanics, Safety, and others -to ensure the computing platform integrates cleanly into the overall tool design.

• Serve as the technical interface with procurement for component sourcing, lead time management, and supply chain risk mitigation.

• Engage with external integrators and customer sites as needed to support platform integration and field validation activities.

• Coordinate with the SPI team to ensure that NPI platform decisions account for long-term serviceability and component lifecycle.

• BSc or BA in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a closely related technical field.

• 5+ years of hands-on experience with computing hardware platforms: a deep working knowledge of x86 server architecture, CPU/memory/storage configuration, RAID design, networking hardware, and GPU/accelerator integration.

• Proven ability to define hardware specifications from functional requirements -translating software workload descriptions into server configuration decisions.

• Experience engaging with computing hardware vendors in a technical capacity: evaluating platforms, understanding vendor roadmaps, and customizing off-the-shelf configurations.

• Familiarity with structured engineering processes (PDR/CDR or equivalent design review gates) in a hardware development or productization context.

• Strong BOM management discipline; experience maintaining configuration-controlled hardware specifications.

• Fluent English -written and verbal -required for vendor engagement, cross-site collaboration, and technical documentation.

• Structured, analytical approach to technical decision-making; able to present hardware tradeoff analysis clearly to both engineering and management audiences.

• Background in semiconductor equipment, defense computing systems, data center engineering, or high-tech industrial computing environments.

• Experience with GPU/AI accelerator integration (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel Gaudi) in server platforms.

• Familiarity with PLM and BOM management tools (TeamCenter, Agile PLM, or equivalent).

• Technical background in computing, communications, intelligence systems, or airborne computing - highly relevant.

• Experience with hardware qualification and validation methodologies (performance benchmarking, thermal testing, reliability testing).

• Exposure to manufacturing transfer and production ramp activities for hardware products.