About VAT Group

At VAT, we change the world with vacuum solutions. As the world’s leading supplier of high-performance vacuum valves, we have been driving innovation for more than 60 years. With over 3,200 employees worldwide, we operate from our headquarters in Haag, Switzerland, with manufacturing sites in Switzerland, Malaysia and Romania, as well as sales and service hubs around the world. We are guided by our passions integrity, teamwork, customer centricity, and innovation – always working together as #oneVAT.

Joining us means becoming part of a passionate, international team where your voice is heard, your ideas matter, and your career growth is supported.

Field Application Engineer  (GSE BU)

This role serves as the key technical bridge between VAT and its customers, delivering expert support across processes and applications. 

The ideal candidate will identify customer pain points, anticipate future needs, and propose the right solutions to generate new business and drive performance improvements.

Success in this role requires strong communication skills, effective cross-functional collaboration, and solid time management — all essential for thriving in a fast-paced, customer-centric environment.

• Identify customer pain points and translate them into clear, specific technical requirements — whether for adapting VAT products to fit new applications or for replacing competitor solutions.
• Execute and lead product demonstration activities at customer sites; proactively track testing progress to ensure products are fully qualified at the fab on schedule.
• Respond to customer technical inquiries with accurate, well-reasoned answers covering product application, performance, and compatibility.
• Act as a trusted technical liaison between VAT and the customer, translating customer needs into product development inputs while aligning VAT engineering solutions with customer expectations.
• Work closely with Product Managers to define current and future product requirements, helping to protect and grow VAT's market position globally.
• Maintain regular communication with the HQ Engineering Team to stay up to date on the latest product roadmap, technical developments, and strategic priorities.
• Support the sales team in acquiring new customers and during technical negotiations; take an active role in shaping product specifications from the technical side.
• Act as a professional VAT representative in customer engagements, leveraging product and service knowledge to identify opportunities and recommend solutions that support customer success.
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Required Skills

• Solid understanding of semiconductor processes and applications.
• Excellent communication skills — written, verbal, and in presentations (both one-on-one and group settings).
• Ability to break down complex technical information into clear, concise action items.
• Strong sense of ownership and follow-through on commitments.
• Collaborative team player who works effectively across functions and with international teams.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to manage and resolve conflicts in a constructive, professional manner.
• Comfortably operating within a global matrix organization and adapting to a fast-changing environment.
• Skilled at building and sustaining long-term relationships with key customer accounts.

Minimum Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in an FAE or customer-facing engineering role within the semiconductor equipment, component, or semiconductor manufacturing industry (e.g., etching, thin film, diffusion).
• Solid hands-on experience with semiconductor front-end equipment or components.
• Prior experience working directly with fabs, particularly with leading-edge customers, is a strong advantage.

Education

Bachelor’s degree or above in Physics, Chemistry, Microelectronics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related semiconductor field.

Our commitment to inclusion, fairness and equal opportunities

We believe in meaningful careers, continuous learning, and equal opportunities for everyone to drive our innovation and success. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and are dedicated to fostering an inclusive and respectful workplace. If you have concerns, our compliance channel is available at our website. All reports are handled with strict confidentiality and in accordance with our Code of Conduct.