Customer Engagement - Applications Engineer

1000 KLA Corporation; Milpitas (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 204,000; Full time

Job summary

KLA Corporation in Milpitas, CA is seeking a Customer Engagement Applications Engineer to provide technical applications support on metrology products at customer sites, driving product penetration.

You will develop new use cases, work with cross-functional teams, and deliver clear technical presentations while applying analytical problem-solving to complex challenges. Travel >30% within the US is expected.

Qualifications

• PhD or Master’s with relevant experience, or Bachelor’s with work experience.
• Experience in semiconductor fabrication is desirable.
• Strong analytical and communication skills are required.
• Willingness to travel >30% within the US.

Responsibilities

• Deliver high-impact work across your area of expertise.
• Provide technical applications support on KLA metrology products at customer sites.
• Develop new applications, use cases and best-known methods.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to shape roadmap, customer demonstrations and release to production.
• Present technical information clearly to customers and internal teams.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Team collaboration

Communication skills

semiconductor fabrication experience

Optics knowledge

Spectroscopic ellipsometry

CD-SAXS metrology

Statistical analysis

Machine learning concepts

MATLAB

Python

Education

PhD

Master's degree

Bachelor's degree

Tools

MATLAB

Python

Job description

To make electronics, you need chips, wafers, transistors, reticles, and... To make these, you must see, test and manufacture them at scale—faster and better than ever before. That's where KLA comes in. Whether you're early in your career or an experienced professional, you'll solve complex challenges, work alongside brilliant minds and help shape the future of technology.

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 for 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.

The Customer Engagement (CE) division is a field-based group of technical experts who partner closely with customers to provide a comprehensive portfolio of KLA products that support yield improvement from R&D through high-volume production. The team helps align KLA’s solutions with customer needs, supports product performance, identifies new opportunities and gathers insights to guide future innovation—all while maintaining a high level of customer satisfaction.

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.

The Customer Engagement Applications Engineer will be responsible for providing technical applications support on KLA metrology products at customer sites with the goal of achieving product penetration and adoption.

Technical requirements and use cases vary customer to customer making the job challenging, interesting and rewarding.

Responsibilities and skillsets required are:

• Developing new applications, use cases and best-known methods for increasing value of KLA products for customers.
• Must have analytical and complex problem-solving skills, be self-motivated and driven to make a positive impact.
• Must be a strong team player, job responsibilities will include working with cross-functional teams to shape roadmap, customer demonstrations and release to production activities.
• Must have excellent written and communication skills including delivering technical presentations with clarity.
• Experience in semiconductor fabrication industry and semiconductor processing is desirable.
• Knowledge of optics, spectroscopic ellipsometry, CD-SAXS metrology, statistical analysis tools and machine learning concepts is desirable.
• Programming and scripting skills in MATLAB or Python is an added advantage.

Candidate must be willing to travel (> 30%) within US.

Minimum Qualifications PhD, or Master's Level Degree with work experience of 2 years or Bachelor's Level Degree with work experience of 3 years.

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.

Total Rewards

Base Pay Range: $120,000.00 - $204,000.00 Annually Primary Location: USA-CA-Milpitas-KLA

KLA’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.

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.

Equal Opportunity Statement

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. For additional information, view the US Know Your Rights poster on the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission website. We do not accept resumes from headhunters, placement agencies, or other suppliers that have not signed a formal agreement with us.