Manager III – Customer Engineer

About the role

Applied Materials is seeking a Manager III – Customer Engineer to lead the customer engineering team in Kitakami, Japan. The role combines technical leadership, customer relationship management, and business accountability for the district.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and maintain relationships with all customers in the district, conducting regular visits and serving as the primary interface with product divisions.
• Manage, coach, and direct the district’s customer engineers, handling salary and career planning, performance appraisals, and corrective actions.
• Lead account planning with the District Sales Engineer and provide support plans for system sales, financial forecasting, and cost‑efficiency initiatives.
• Oversee system installations, RMA procedures, and escalation processes, ensuring timely execution and accurate tracking of engineer hours.
• Monitor and report on programs such as the CSD Award and mentor initiatives, and generate business‑required reports.

Required profile

• Ability to analyze complex situations, make judgment calls within defined policies, and recommend unit‑level changes.
• Experience receiving objective‑based assignments and delivering results aligned with business goals.
• Proven leadership in directing employees, administering company policies, and conducting technical presentations.
• Strong problem‑solving skills, with the capacity to assess impact of decisions on schedules and outcomes.

What we offer

• Supportive work culture that encourages learning, development, and career growth.
• Comprehensive health and wellbeing programs for employees at work and at home.
• Opportunities to work on cutting‑edge semiconductor and display equipment in a global leader.
• Relocation assistance and travel (≈10 % of time) for district activities.