Not a good place to work - Process Engineer Applied Materials Employee Review

1.0
Jun 1, 2015
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Nice people to work with and convenient Cafe

Cons

These are only from my experience in Etch group in Santa Clara: No system in place. No real problem solving. No right way to store the BKMs and learning, so many times issues are repeat. No respect for employees. Safety system is lacking. IP protection system is not efficient. TR system is not followed at its best. Many engineers are only glorified technicians. Long waiting time to get approvals due to unnecessary bureaucracy (even for urgent cases such as ergonomic equipment). Failing major strategies (like the TEL merger). Possible favoritism due to the knowledge of Mandarin language.

Explore other reviews about Applied Materials

5.0
Jun 10, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Fun/enagaging, team based and very welcoming. Tech company

Cons

Tech company, and the culture is unique

2.0
Apr 8, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Salary, I was compensated very well, the I hated working there so much that I resigned without anything even lined up. It was a good move for my mental health.

Cons

The leadership in general are not very intelligent, disorganized, and uncommunicative. They were decades behind in certain areas that lead to massive inefficiencies and overwork. (Out of respect I will not be specific). I suggested an improvement that would have taken task time down from 8 hours to virtually real time, but the executive Team, in their arrogance, did not allow me to implement the system. Sometime later, the cumbersome, unreliable system was not working and a deadline approaching. I worked 20 hours per day for 7 days and built an entire real time reporting system - then resigned. No one at AMAT was ever helpful. It always seemed an inconvenience to give a colleague outside ones group the time of day. I gained absolutely ZERO new skills or professional development at AMAT all my time there. Many of the employees at the time, including senior management, felt free to publicly express invectives against the current POTUS in their suffering TDS. Another reason I could not work in the environment. Rules for thee and not for me.

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