Product Development Engineer Intern

KLA-Belgium; Milpitas (CA); On-site; USD 116,000 - 117,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) matching

Employee stock purchase plan

Tuition reimbursement

Paid time off

Wellness benefits

Job summary

KLA in Milpitas, CA seeks a PhD candidate to advance its Film metrology products. You will assist in development, release and support while building a deep understanding of customer applications to resolve challenging problems.

The role emphasizes data collection, analysis and actionable recommendations, with strong emphasis on clear communication in reports, minutes and summaries to internal teams and stakeholders.

Qualifications

• PhD candidate with a background in Experimental Physics or Engineering (electrical, mechanical, optical, etc.).
• Understanding of optical, electrical, mechanical and software systems and their interactions in complex industrial equipment.
• Enthusiastic communicator to provide detailed guidance and technical summaries for internal teams.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the development, release and support of KLA Film metrology products.
• Develop a deep understanding of customer applications and translate into product improvements.
• Collect and filter observations to generate problem statements and data collection plans.
• Analyze data and prescribe corrective actions with clear communication through reports and meeting notes.
• Communicate effectively orally and in writing, including after action reports and project summaries.

Skills

PhD candidate

Experimental Physics background

Engineering background

Optical systems understanding

Electrical systems understanding

Mechanical systems understanding

Software systems understanding

Enthusiastic communicator

Education

PhD in Physics or Engineering

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 Film and Scatterometry Technology (FaST) division delivers industry‑leading metrology solutions essential to advanced semiconductor manufacturing. Its portfolio includes systems for measuring film thickness, critical dimensions, composition, and resistivity—key to developing and scaling next‑gen IC processes. FaST partners closely with customers from early R&D through high‑volume production, ensuring performance and process alignment.

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.

Responsibilities

In this role you will be responsible for:
Assisting in the development, release and support of KLA Film metrology products. Integral to this role is using one’s technical knowledge and skill for the development of a deep understanding on the customer applications and develop the technologies and products to resolve the challenging problems. The successful candidate will develop the ability to collect and appropriately filter observations to generate problem statements, produce data collection plans, analyze data and prescribe corrective actions. Great communication is required, including oral, writing, and publishing after action reports, meeting minutes and project summaries.

Qualifications

PhD candidate with a background in Experimental Physics or Engineering (electrical, mechanical, optical, etc.) Understanding of optical, electrical, mechanical and software systems and their interactions in the context of complex industrial equipment is a plus. Enthusiastic communicator to provide detailed guidance to colleagues to solve problems, and technical summaries for internal functional teams and management.

Minimum Qualifications: PhD candidate with a background in Experimental Physics or Engineering (electrical, mechanical, optical, etc.)

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: $56.00 - $56.00 per hour based on pursuit of a Ph.D.

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
• 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. For additional information, view the US Know Your Rights poster on the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission website. KLA is hiring talented engineers, physicists, data scientists and other problem‑solvers all across the US. Do you have a passion for solving complex technical challenges? Check out our job openings! We do not accept resumes from headhunters, placement agencies, or other suppliers that have not signed a formal agreement with us.

Additional Information

Be aware of potentially fraudulent job postings or suspicious recruiting activity by persons that are currently posing as KLA employees. KLA never asks for any financial compensation to be considered for an interview, to become an employee, or for equipment. Further, KLA does not work with any recruiters or third parties who charge such fees either directly or on behalf of KLA. Please ensure that you have searched KLA’s Careers website for legitimate job postings. KLA follows a recruiting process that involves multiple interviews in person or on video conferencing with our hiring managers. If you are concerned that a communication, an interview, an offer of employment, or that an employee is not legitimate, please send an email to [e-mail] to confirm the person you are communicating with is an employee. We take your privacy very seriously and confidentially handle your information.