Senior Firmware & Software Engineer

KLA; Newport; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Contributory pension scheme

Cash health plan

Cycle to work scheme

Global bonus plan

Share scheme

Rewards scheme

Life assurance

Job summary

KLA is seeking a Senior Firmware & Software Engineer to design and develop embedded firmware and Windows desktop software for innovative measurement instruments. The role requires a Bachelor's degree in a relevant engineering field and significant experience in software engineering.

You will work with cutting-edge technologies, collaborate cross-functionally, and contribute to the development of advanced solutions that facilitate innovation within the electronics industry.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in software engineering fundamentals.
• Solid understanding of multithreaded and real-time design.
• Experience with hardware communication protocols (USB, SPI, I2C).

Responsibilities

• Design and develop embedded firmware for instrument hardware.
• Build Windows desktop software for instrument control.
• Conduct troubleshooting and root-cause analysis.

Skills

C/C++ programming

Microsoft .NET and C#

Embedded systems

Real-time control

Debugging

Multithreaded design

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Computer, Software Engineering, or Physics

Master’s or advanced degree (desired)

Tools

Microsoft Visual Studio

Git

Oscilloscope

Logic Analyzer

Job description

Company Overview

Filmetrics, a KLA company, is the market leader in 3D optical surface profiling and thin‑film thickness measurement systems. Filmetrics products combine innovative hardware solutions with intuitive, easy‑to‑use software, tied together with a pioneering online platform. Filmetrics is part of KLA Corporation which develops industry‑leading equipment and services that enable innovation throughout the electronics industry. We provide advanced process control and process‑enabling solutions for manufacturing wafers and reticles, integrated circuits, packaging, printed circuit boards and flat panel displays. In close collaboration with leading customers across the globe, our expert teams of physicists, engineers, data scientists and problem‑solvers design solutions that move the world forward.

Job Description

As a Senior Firmware & Software Engineer on this team, you will design, develop, release, and support the embedded firmware and Windows desktop software that power our families of surface profiler, thin film, sheet resistance and nanoindentation measurement instruments. Working at the intersection of software, firmware, and electronics, you will build everything from low‑level, real‑time firmware running on instrument hardware to rich C#/.NET desktop applications, leveraging cutting‑edge technologies and the latest advancements in software engineering and AI/ML/DL.

Responsibilities

• Deliver well‑defined features/components with high‑level guidance: estimate work, communicate risks/tradeoffs, and deliver on schedule
• Collaborate cross‑functionally across the development lifecycle to define architecture and create system‑ and subsystem‑level requirements/specifications
• Design, implement, and debug embedded firmware (C/C++) for microcontrollers and real‑time control of instrument hardware, including communication interfaces such as USB, Ethernet, serial/UART, SPI, and I2C
• Develop Windows desktop software in C#/.NET (WPF/WinForms) and C++ for instrument control, GUI, and data analysis; write maintainable, multithreaded code and use AI‑assisted tools responsibly under company security policies
• Partner closely with electrical and hardware engineers on board‑bringup, signal and schematic debugging, and firmware/hardware co‑development using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and in‑circuit debuggers
• Build robust unit/integration tests and use profiling to improve performance, memory usage, reliability, and security
• Participate in design reviews and incorporate feedback from stakeholders and subject‑matter experts
• Troubleshoot system/subsystem issues using logs and experiments; contribute to root‑cause analysis, implement fixes with guidance, and help prevent recurrence
• Demonstrate motivation to independently learn and apply new software technologies

Travel – Occasional travel may be required to KLA headquarters, customer sites, or other business locations. Travel is expected to be less than 10% of working time.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (required) + significant relevant experience; Master’s or advanced degree (desired) + relevant experience in Electrical, Computer, Software, Industrial, or Manufacturing Engineering, or Physics. A software engineer with a strong electrical engineering or hardware background is ideal.
• A solid understanding and demonstrated track record in the practice of software engineering fundamentals, including architecture, data structures, design patterns, event‑driven design, multithreaded and real‑time design, testing, and debugging.
• Experience with:
  • Microsoft .NET and C# for Windows desktop application development (WPF and/or WinForms)
  • C and C++ programming, including embedded firmware development
  • Embedded systems and microcontroller firmware, including real‑time control and hardware communication protocols (USB, serial/UART, SPI, I2C)
  • Interfacing software and firmware with electronic hardware, and using lab instruments such as oscilloscopes and logic analyzers for debugging
  • Microsoft Visual Studio development environment
  • Source code control systems such as Git
  • Adherence to software design and coding standards
• Working knowledge of electronics with the ability to read schematics and component datasheets and collaborate effectively with electrical and hardware engineering teams
• Ability to communicate effectively with peers, interdisciplinary engineering groups, customers, and suppliers, including delivering clear technical presentations
• Adept at collaborating with teams across the US, Europe, and Asia
• Self‑driven individual with strong technical ability, a systematic approach, and excellent problem‑solving skills

Preferred

• Experience contributing to architecture and design for complex subsystems and influencing technical decisions through strong design and code reviews
• Experience improving performance and diagnostics/observability for system‑level software
• Experience with RTOS, bare‑metal firmware, device drivers, and low‑level debugging
• Familiarity with digital and analog electronics, sensors, motion control, and signal processing
• Experience collaborating across teams on system integration and software releases for complex systems
• Experience delivering AI/ML capabilities in products
• UX skills including wireframing, prototyping, and user flow design

Benefits

• Annual leave starting at 25 days (plus bank holidays)
• Contributory pension scheme
• Cash health plan
• Cycle to work scheme
• Global bonus plan
• Share scheme
• Rewards scheme
• Life assurance

Minimum Qualifications: Doctorate (Academic) Degree and related work experience; Master’s Level Degree and related work experience; Bachelor’s Level Degree and related work experience.

KLA is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.