C++ Technical Lead

About the role

Applied Materials is the global leader in materials science and engineering solutions powering semiconductor chips and advanced displays. As a C++ Technical Lead in Chennai, India, you will design, develop, and maintain complex software solutions for Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) and Equipment Automation (EA). Day-to-day work includes owning features across the full development lifecycle, troubleshooting distributed systems, defining verification strategies, mentoring junior engineers, and leading small-to-medium technical projects with minimal supervision.

What you’ll do

• Design, develop, and maintain complex software solutions for Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) and Equipment Automation (EA).
• Analyze business and system requirements and translate them into scalable software architecture, detailed design specifications, and implementation plans.
• Develop and maintain software documentation, design specifications, test procedures, and release notes.
• Participate in code reviews, design reviews, and architectural discussions to ensure software quality, reliability, scalability, and maintainability.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including product management, quality assurance, and customer support teams.
• Communicate effectively with internal and external customers for requirements gathering, project planning, issue resolution, and technical troubleshooting.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives by identifying opportunities for productivity enhancements, and software modernization.
• Mentor junior engineers and provide technical guidance on software design, development practices, and problem-solving methodologies.

What you’ll bring

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, Information Systems, Cybersecurity, Mathematics, or a related technical field.
• 10+ years of software development experience in enterprise, industrial automation, MES, manufacturing, or related domains.
• Strong understanding of Operating Systems (Windows/Linux), Networking fundamentals and protocols, Data Structures and Algorithms, Object-Oriented Design and Design Patterns, Inter-Process Communicatio
• Develop high-quality, maintainable, and well-documented software using C/C++, C#, .NET, and related technologies following established coding standards and best practices.
• Own software features throughout the development lifecycle, including design, implementation, unit testing, integration testing, deployment, and post-release support.
• Troubleshoot, analyze root causes, and resolve complex software issues across distributed systems; design and implement robust bug fixes and performance improvements.
• Define and execute software verification and validation strategies, including test plans for simulators, test benches, laboratory environments, and production systems.
• Lead small to medium-sized technical projects and drive deliverables to completion with minimal supervision.

Nice to have

• Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience in Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), Factory Automation, Semiconductor Equipment Software, or Industrial Control Systems.
• Experience with distributed systems, service-oriented architectures, and modern software development methodologies.
• Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines, DevOps practices, automated testing, and source control systems.
• Strong understanding of software architecture principles and system integration.
• Demonstrated ability to lead technical initiatives, influence design decisions, and drive engineering excellence.
• Proven leadership skills with experience leading small projects, mentoring engineers, and coordinating cross-functional teams.
• Strong knowledge of industry best practices, software quality standards, secure coding practices, and business processes.

Skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, Information Systems, Cybersecurity, Mathematics, or a related technical field.