Applications Engineering Manager

KLA; Milpitas (CA); On-site; USD 127,000 - 216,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

Life insurance

401K with company match

Employee stock purchase program (ESPP)

Student debt assistance

Tuition reimbursement

Wellness benefits and EAP

Paid time off

Paid holidays

Family care leave

Job summary

KLA Milpitas is seeking an experienced Applications Engineering leader to drive new product introductions and validate products across global customers. You will guide alpha/beta testing, develop BKMs, and deliver technical documentation to enable rapid deployment.

You will lead customer evaluations, demonstrations, and cross‑functional collaboration with Sales, Marketing and Field teams to accelerate adoption.

Qualifications

• M.S. or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Materials Science, Optics, Semiconductor Engineering, or related technical discipline.
• 8+ years of experience in the semiconductor equipment industry, semiconductor manufacturing, or related process technologies.
• Demonstrated expertise in reticle manufacturing, reticle inspection, lithography, process control, or optical inspection technologies.
• Proven experience leading Applications Engineering, Product Applications, Field Applications, Product Development, or related technical teams.
• Experience supporting New Product Introduction (NPI), including alpha and beta testing, product characterization, and customer qualifications.
• Track record of successfully driving customer evaluations, technical demonstrations, and product adoption programs for strategic customers.
• Experience managing complex customer escalations and leading cross‑functional teams to resolve technical challenges.
• Outstanding leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence across global organizations.
• Experience developing and delivering technical training programs and establishing best practices, BKMs, and knowledge‑sharing processes.

Responsibilities

• Own applications support for new product development, including alpha and beta testing, application characterization, and product validation.
• Drive the development of Best Known Methods (BKMs), Applications Notes, and technical documentation to enable successful product deployment and adoption.
• Lead customer evaluations and demonstrations for beta products and emerging technologies.
• Partner with Sales, Marketing, and Field Applications teams to showcase product value and accelerate customer adoption.
• Oversee critical customer and field escalations, ensuring timely resolution through effective cross‑functional collaboration.
• Partner with Engineering, Service, and Field teams to perform root cause analysis and implement sustainable corrective actions.
• Collaborate with Product Marketing, Engineering, and Field Applications teams to identify customer requirements, define new product features, and drive capability enhancements.
• Provide strategic input based on customer feedback, competitive benchmarking, and field experience to shape future product roadmaps.
• Establish and drive worldwide Applications Engineering training programs to ensure consistent technical competency and execution excellence across regions.
• Lead, coach, and develop a team of Applications Engineers to achieve technical excellence, operational effectiveness, and career growth.

Skills

NPI leadership

Customer engagement

Cross-functional teamwork

Communication

Root cause analysis

Technical training

Project management

Presentation skills

Mentoring engineers

Education

Advanced degree in EE/Physics/Materials

Job description

Company Overview

KLA is a global leader in diversified electronics for the semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem. Virtually every electronic device in the world is produced using our technologies. No laptop, smartphone, wearable device, voice-controlled gadget, flexible screen, VR device or smart car would have made it into your hands without us. KLA invents systems and solutions for the manufacturing of wafers and reticles, integrated circuits, packaging, printed circuit boards and flat panel displays. The innovative ideas and devices that are advancing humanity all begin with inspiration, research and development. KLA focuses more than average on innovation and we invest 15% of sales back into R&D. Our expert teams of physicists, engineers, data scientists and problem-solvers work together with the world’s leading technology providers to accelerate the delivery of tomorrow’s electronic devices. Life here is exciting and our teams thrive on tackling really hard problems. There is never a dull moment with us.

Group/Division

With over 40 years of semiconductor process control experience, chipmakers around the globe rely on KLA to ensure that their fabs ramp next‑generation devices to volume production quickly and cost‑effectively. Enabling the movement towards advanced chip design, KLA's Global Products Group (GPG), which is responsible for creating all of KLA's metrology and inspection products, is looking for the best and the brightest research scientist, software engineers, application development engineers, and senior product technology process engineers. The RAPID division is the world leading provider of reticle inspection solutions for the semiconductor industry. The company provides inspection solutions to both the mask shops and the semiconductor fabs to ensure that lithography yields are consistently high thus enabling cost-effective manufacturing.

Job Description/Preferred

Key Responsibilities 1. Lead New Product Introduction (NPI) and Product Validation

• Own applications support for new product development, including alpha and beta testing, application characterization, and product validation.
• Drive the development of Best Known Methods (BKMs), Applications Notes, and technical documentation to enable successful product deployment and adoption.

Key Responsibilities 2. Drive Customer Engagement and Product Demonstrations

• Lead customer evaluations and demonstrations for beta products and emerging technologies.
• Partner with Sales, Marketing, and Field Applications teams to showcase product value and accelerate customer adoption.

Key Responsibilities 3. Manage Technical Escalations and Customer Success

• Oversee critical customer and field escalations, ensuring timely resolution through effective cross‑functional collaboration.
• Partner with Engineering, Service, and Field teams to perform root cause analysis and implement sustainable corrective actions.

Key Responsibilities 4. Influence Product Strategy and Capability Development

• Collaborate with Product Marketing, Engineering, and Field Applications teams to identify customer requirements, define new product features, and drive capability enhancements.
• Provide strategic input based on customer feedback, competitive benchmarking, and field experience to shape future product roadmaps.

Key Responsibilities 5. Develop Global Applications Capabilities

• Establish and drive worldwide Applications Engineering training programs to ensure consistent technical competency and execution excellence across regions.
• Promote knowledge sharing through BKMs, Apps Notes, training materials, and technical forums.

Key Responsibilities 6. Build and Develop a High‑Performing Team

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of Applications Engineers to achieve technical excellence, operational effectiveness, and career growth.
• Drive a culture of accountability, innovation, customer focus, and continuous improvement.

Minimum Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications

• M.S. or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Materials Science, Optics, Semiconductor Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 8+ years of experience in the semiconductor equipment industry, semiconductor manufacturing, or related process technologies.
• Demonstrated expertise in reticle manufacturing, reticle inspection, lithography, process control, or optical inspection technologies.
• Proven experience leading Applications Engineering, Product Applications, Field Applications, Product Development, or related technical teams.
• Experience supporting New Product Introduction (NPI), including alpha and beta testing, product characterization, and customer qualifications.
• Track record of successfully driving customer evaluations, technical demonstrations, and product adoption programs for strategic customers.
• Experience managing complex customer escalations and leading cross‑functional teams to resolve technical challenges.
• Outstanding leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence across global organizations.
• Experience developing and delivering technical training programs and establishing best practices, BKMs, and knowledge‑sharing processes.

Base Pay Range: $127,300.00 - $216,400.00 Annually Primary Location: USA-CA-Milpitas-KLAKLA's total rewards package for employees may also include participation in performance incentive programs and eligibility for additional benefits including but not limited to: medical, dental, vision, life, and other voluntary benefits, 401(K) including company matching, employee stock purchase program (ESPP), student debt assistance, tuition reimbursement program, development and career growth opportunities and programs, financial planning benefits, wellness benefits including an employee assistance program (EAP), paid time off and paid company holidays, and family care and bonding leave. Interns are eligible for some of the benefits listed. Our pay ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The range displayed reflects the pay for this position in the primary location identified in this posting. Actual pay depends on several factors, including state minimum pay wage rates, location, job-related skills, experience, and relevant education level or training. We are committed to complying with all applicable federal and state minimum wage requirements where applicable. If applicable, your recruiter can share more about the specific pay range for your preferred location during the hiring process.

KLA is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We will ensure that qualified individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us at [e-mail] or at [phone] to request accommodation.