Product Development Engineering

KLA; Hillsboro (OR); On-site; USD 100,100 - 170,200; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

401(k) including company match

ESP P / stock purchase

Tuition reimbursement

Wellness benefits

Paid time off

Family care leave

Job summary

KLA, a global leader in semiconductor metrology and inspection, invites a Product Development Engineer to join the Surfscan SFS-ADE team in Hillsboro, OR. You will help develop and sustain state-of-the-art wafer inspection equipment for customers worldwide.

The role emphasizes system engineering, architecture, performance characterization, and cross‑functional collaboration with R&D, software, hardware, and service teams. Occasional international travel up to 50% is expected.

Qualifications

• Doctorate or Master’s with related work experience (0/3/5 years respectively).
• Strong systems engineering background and experience with complex systems.
• Experience with data processing, analytics, and statistical analysis; Python/MATLAB a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate cross‑functional escalations with R&D, Applications, Software, Hardware, and Service.
• Provide sustained engineering support for fielded systems and customer adoption.
• Define and review system specifications aligning with product roadmaps.
• Contribute to architecture, performance characterization, and validation of metrology systems.
• Act as system-level technical owner for customer support and ensure solutions meet performance, quality, and reliability.

Skills

Systems Engineering

Optical Systems

Mechatronics

Electrical Engineering

Mechanical Engineering

Data Analytics

Python

MATLAB

Travel 50%

Education

Doctorate

Master’s Degree

Bachelor’s Degree

Tools

Python

MATLAB

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 Surfscan SFS‑ADE group includes a team of engineers, technology development, apps engineers and product marketing focused on technology that enables wafer, IC and equipment manufacturers to develop, qualify and monitor their process tools. Defects and process non‑uniformities detected on Surfscan equipment allow for early identification of yield excursions. The flagship Surfscan products include the SPx platforms for wafer surface quality and wafer defect inspection tools and systems for inspection of polished wafers, epi wafers and engineered substrates during the wafer fabrication process.

Job Description

The SFS‑ADE division engineering is looking for a highly motivated individual to join a growing team of system engineers to develop and sustain state‑of‑the‑art wafer inspection equipment. The Product Development Engineer, so called the system Home team, independently responds to miscellaneous solutions or support plans while adopting KLA advanced instrument tools in SFS or ADE products to provide the maximum value to wafer fabrication customers.

Responsibilities

• Lead and drive resolution of complex customer escalations by coordinating cross‑functional division teams including R&D, Applications, Software, Hardware, and Service, ensuring root cause is identified and corrective actions are implemented effectively.
• Provide sustained engineering support for fielded systems to enable successful customer adoption, long‑term product sustainability, and high customer satisfaction.
• Define, document, and review system specifications and technical requirements, ensuring alignment with product roadmaps.
• Contribute to system design and development activities, including architecture definition, performance characterization, and validation of advanced metrology systems.
• Act as a system‑level technical owner for customer support by understanding customer requirements, translating them into actionable technical expectations, and ensuring solutions meet performance, quality, and reliability objectives.
• Support customers globally through international travel as required, providing onsite troubleshooting, escalation support, and technical engagement to strengthen customer partnerships.

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of Systems Engineering principles with experience developing, deploying, and supporting complex systems in the semiconductor industry.
• Demonstrated technical depth in one or more areas: optical systems, opto‑mechanics, mechatronics, electrical engineering, or mechanical engineering.
• Solid foundation in physics, mathematics, and computational methods, with strong analytical and system‑level problem‑solving skills.
• Experience with data processing, analytics, and statistical analysis; proficiency in Python and MATLAB is a plus.
• Ability to operate effectively in fast‑paced environments, take ownership of technically ambiguous problems, and lead or support customer escalations.
• Willingness and ability to travel internationally up to 50% to support customers and onsite escalations.

Minimum Qualifications

Doctorate (Academic) Degree and 0 years related work experience; Master’s Level Degree and related work experience of 3 years; Bachelor’s Level Degree and related work experience of 5 years.

Pay and Benefits

Base Pay Range: $100,100.00 - $170,200.00 Annually. Primary Location: USA‑OR‑Hillsboro‑Beaverton. 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.

Equal Opportunity Employer

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 +1‑408‑352‑2808 to request accommodation.