Specialist, Software Technology PLC Programming

KLA-Belgium; Chennai District; On-site; INR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

KLA, the Semiconductor Products and Customers group, seeks an experienced PLC Software Engineer in Chennai, India. The role involves designing, developing, and testing PLC software and simulation concepts for machine functions, following IEC 61131-3 standards.

The candidate will work with Beckhoff TwinCAT and other PLC environments, contribute to SDLC processes, and collaborate across hardware, software, and systems teams. Some travel to client sites may be required.

Qualifications

• BE / BS / BTech / Master degree in Automation, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, or Computer / Software Engineering.
• Solid hands-on experience in Beckhoff TwinCAT or other PLC development with Fieldbus fundamentals.
• Knowledge of Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC).
• Experience in analysis, design, development, and unit testing.
• Proven ability to communicate with all levels of staff and project management across business and technical areas.
• Willingness to travel to Germany, the USA, and other customer locations on short-term assignments.

Responsibilities

• Develop PLC software and maintain simulation concepts for PLC-controlled machine functions.
• Design, program, and modularize PLC applications according to IEC 61131-3.
• Develop PLC control logic primarily in Structured Text (ST) and Object-Oriented Programming.
• Perform requirements analysis, software design, development, and unit testing.
• Provide technical expertise to estimation processes and project planning.
• Collaborate with system engineering, PLC/software teams, hardware, and other development sites.

Skills

PLC development

SDLC knowledge

Analytical skills

Team communication

Troubleshooting

Willingness to travel

Education

Engineering degree (Automation/Electrical/Mechatronics/Computers)

Tools

Beckhoff TwinCAT

Siemens STEP7

Siemens TIA

CODESYS

Rockwell

Structured Text

Job description

Group/Division The Semiconductor Products and Customers (Semi PC) business unit

designs, builds and sells KLA's product portfolio to help chip manufacturers meet high-quality standards to enable technologies like AI, data centers, automotive and electronic devices. Our inspection, metrology, and analytics systems detect and monitor defects across logic and memory chips, specialty semiconductors, wafers, reticles, advanced packaging, process equipment and materials. We also develop technologies for specialty processes, IC substrates, and PCB manufacturing, including etch and deposition, component inspection, and imaging and analytics.

What You'll Do

In this role, you will play a key part in advancing business priorities by delivering high-impact work across your area of expertise.

• PLC Software development.
• Develop and maintain simulation concepts for PLC-controlled machine functions.
• Understand and make changes to existing software.
• Design, program, and modularize PLC applications according to IEC 61131-3.
• Develop PLC control logic primarily in Structured Text (ST) and Object-Oriented Programming.
• The technology environment is based on IEC 61131-3, Structured Text, Beckhoff TwinCAT, modular function-block-based PLC logic, fieldbus communication, and machine interfaces.
• Perform requirements analysis, software design, development, and unit testing.
• Providing technical expertise to the estimation process as input to the project plan.
• Contributes to the continued improvement of the organization's development procedures, by looking for opportunities for improvement and proposing ideas for solutions.
• Acquire and demonstrate technical knowledge of LIS product software.
• Follow KLA defined software development processes.
• Perform root-cause analysis and implement sustainable corrective actions.
• In conjunction with the Software Manager, highlights, reviews and mitigate technical risks.
• The role works closely with system engineering, PLC/software teams, application software teams, hardware and electronics development, other development sites, and partner teams.

Minimum Qualifications

• BE / BS / BTech / Master degree in Automation, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, or Computer / Software Engineering with 8+ years of PLC development experience using IEC 61131-3 standard.
• Solid, hands-on experience in Beckhoff TwinCAT or other PLC development along with Fieldbus fundamentals.
• Thorough knowledge of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) and software engineering principles.
• Hands-on experience in analysis, design, development, and unit testing.
• Proven ability to interact and communicate effectively with all levels of staff and project management — across both business and technical areas — keeping discussions at the appropriate level of abstraction.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, organizational, interpersonal, and motivational skills, with the ability to move seamlessly from theoretical concepts to practical implementation.
• Willingness to travel to Germany, the USA, and other customer locations on short-term assignments.

Preferred

• Hardware-in-the-loop or automated PLC testing
• Knowledge of C#, Python, C / C++, and Windows Internals.
• EtherCAT and CANOpen knowledge PLC Keywords: Beckhoff TwinCAT, Siemens TIA, Siemens STEP7, CODESYS, Rockwell or similar systems

About KLA

We provide advanced inspection tools, metrology systems, process solutions, and computational analytics that make electronics possible, tackling complex challenges. From electron and photon optics to machine learning and data analytics, we seek perfection at the most fundamental level of matter in the universe. If you want to make electronics that push industries forward and make the world a better place, join us.

Use of AI Statement

At KLA, our interviews seek to understand your individual skills, problem-solving approach and authentic thinking. To ensure a fair and consistent evaluation, the use of AI, recording tools or other technologies to generate, suggest or provide responses during interviews—whether virtual or in person is not permitted unless explicitly approved in advance as part of a reasonable accommodation or invited by the interviewer. Use of these tools may interfere with our ability to evaluate your individual qualifications and affect your candidacy. KLA is committed to advancing innovation through responsible AI, and we value candidates who share this mindset.

KLA is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

We offer a competitive, family friendly total rewards package. We design our programs to reflect our commitment to an inclusive environment, while ensuring we provide benefits that meet the diverse needs of our employees.