Not for the faint hearted - Senior Member of Technical Staff Applied Materials Employee Review

3.0
10 Jan 2012
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Very high pace of work and technical demands - challenging - you work on the cutting edge and AMAT is actively looking for new business areas to pursue. Some mix of the good qualities of a big company (institutions and internal functions work OK, overall consistency of workforce is OK - few idiots hired, year to year performance is solid) with some of the good qualities of a small company (people are actively looking for new business and feel connected to the bottom line). The AMAT name goes a long way when talking to suppliers and vendors and that makes you more effective.

Cons

Hire and fire culture still exists in 2011-2012, ten years after the bust. Forced shutdowns means vacation time is eaten up. You have job security if you move around in the company and look for opportunities inside. If you stick in the same spot you will eventually get RIF'ed no matter what your competency. Huge turnover rate means you get people coming and going and coming back all the time. Causes AMAT to have a bad rep sometimes when the person who is about to leave just drops the supplier/vendor relationship like a lead balloon.

Explore other reviews about Applied Materials

5.0
27 May 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Good company , benefits , lots of room for growth

Cons

Slow changes , tech related software on the IT side are very old.

4.0
25 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Strong place to start your career. If you do the Fusion Program you will learn a lot. Good training and benefits. Amazing Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Coworkers are smart and grounded people.

Cons

Stingy with salary, raises, and promotions. The engineer roles are broken up into Jr and Senior so the title progression goes Engineer I, I Sr, II, II Sr, etc which slows career progression and pay. Only the CA office gets extra pay due to the expense of living there, even if the MA office is expensive.

See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All