<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-09-02</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2003-09-09</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001094392</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>RUDOLPH TECHNOLOGIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>rtec</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001262607</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SOBEL ELIOT M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE RUDOLPH RD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>PO BOX 1000</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>FLANDERS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>07836</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>V.P., Manufacturing</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1248</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>

        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>14.62</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-10-18</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-10-17</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>

        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>26.42</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-05-13</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-05-12</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>

    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Includes shares acquired through Employee Stock Purchase Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">20% of the shares of Common Stock subject to the Option becomes exercisable twelve months after the date the Option was granted and 1/60th of the shares of Common Stock subject to the Option vest each month thereafter.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The previously filed Form 3 incorrectly ommitted 322 shares beneficially owned by the reporting person.  459 shares were acquired pursuant to a purchase under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan on 10/31/2003.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Eliot M. Sobel</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-11-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

