Used to be a great company to work - Engineering Manager Applied Materials Employee Review

3.0
Feb 17, 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Well positioned in Semiconductor industry

Cons

15 years ago about 10% of the key leadership role in the company hailed from Indian background and everyone got the same opportunity on merit. Come to 2025 literally more than HALF the VPs, GM and key roles across the company are now Indian. It seems Indian executives have worked hard focusing on hiring Indians at every opportunity over last few years. Many deserving people have been overlooked in favor of an Indian when a promotion and key position opens especially when hiring manager is typically an Indian.

Explore other reviews about Applied Materials

5.0
May 13, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Wonderful staff - great company all around

Cons

Cannot think of any cons.

4.0
Jun 24, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Good health insurance, pay is just enough to not quit, 4% 401k contribution gives 3% match, stock purchase program is 15% discount no annually. Work is hit and miss, sometimes your left to struggle and there very little support, other times things are planned out and well executed. This company promotes from within more often than not so there is a ladder to climb. The work is 12hr shifts which is good for long weekends, but if things are busy with lots of projects you will be asked to come in for overtime. 60hr weeks 2x a month is very common. You can say no, but it’s discouraged in a few ways 😉

Cons

Management is very hit and miss, for the last decade we’ve had the avg stay of a manger <1yr. If you have a good one, they get burnt out from unreasonable expectations, and if you have a bad one they’re so disconnected you get nothing out of it. As a whole, due to leadership being promoted from within they tend to be very resistant to making any changes to their system because it worked a decade ago. This industry moves rapidly, because it was the best a decade ago does not mean it’s the best today. The raise structure is silly. Every year they’ve changed to it to have more disconnect from you and the people who approve raises. Most managers claim they’re told how much each employee is getting from someone that the employee is never met, and then have to argue over how to distribute an additional 5% over the entire team. This means if you work as hard as you can, and really stand out from your peers, you can get an additional 2% for an annual raise and your manager will claim that the best possible.

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