Senior Staff Optical Design Engineer

kla; Milpitas (CA); On-site; USD 159,000 - 271,000; Full time

Job summary

KLA, a global leader in semiconductor technology, is seeking a Senior Staff Optical Design Engineer for their Broadband Plasma Division in Milpitas, CA. This role focuses on the design of advanced optical subsystems for wafer inspection products, requiring expertise in optics and strong collaboration skills. The successful candidate will be integral to developing cutting-edge solutions that enhance the manufacturing of next-generation electronic devices. With a commitment to innovation and technology, KLA offers competitive compensation and benefits aimed at fostering growth in a supportive environment.

Benefits

Medical, dental, vision insurance

401(K) with company matching

Employee stock purchase program

Tuition reimbursement program

Paid time off and paid company holidays

Qualifications

• Doctorate degree with 5 years of related experience or a Master's with 8 years.
• Solid background in optics, physics, or related field.
• Experience with lens design and complex optical systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead optical architecture design and trade-offs for high-performance systems.
• Collaborate with teams to define optical performance metrics.
• Implement optical alignment and metrology concepts.

Skills

Optics

Physics

Mechanical Engineering

Mathematical Modeling

Communication

Problem Solving

Education

Doctorate Degree

Master's Level Degree

Tools

CodeV

Matlab

LightTools

FRED

Zemax

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 Broadband Plasma Division (BBP) provides market-leading patterned wafer optical inspection systems for leading-edge IC manufacturing. Logic, foundry, and memory customers depend on BBP products to detect yield-critical defects for process debug and excursion monitoring at advanced process nodes. BBP flagship products include the 29xx and 39xx series which leverage Broadband Plasma technology to capture a wide range of defects with ultimate sensitivity at the optical inspection speeds needed for inline defect monitoring.

Job Description/Preferred Qualifications

We are looking for a Senior Staff Optical Design Engineer to join our team within the BBP division to develop the cutting-edge wafer inspection products! Optics is the core part of BBP products, which include high-brightness light-sources, broadband coatings, complex optical subsystem and high-speed sensors. This role will be responsible for the complete design process of one or multiple optical subsystems to support BBP roadmap:

• Provide technical leadership by owning and investigating optical architecture and design options to find the best option by through systematic trade off among different performance metrics as well as costs & schedule implications.

• Closely collaborate with external suppliers and internal functional teams such as technology and system engineering to gather optical performance dependencies.

• Translate system requirements into optical, mechanical and metrology requirements.

• Develop and implement optical alignment and metrology concept to achieve targeted optical performances.

• Follow KLA design processes, including design reviews, part procurement from vendors, testing, integration and release.

• Solve problems that arise within the proto or released inspection system.

Preferred Qualifications

• Solid background in optics, physics or related field such as imaging system aberrations, Fourier optics, polarization, Radiometry etc.

• Lens design and requirement development for diffraction limited optical imaging systems

• Experienced in developing optical alignment, error budgets, and metrology for high precision and highly complex optical system.

• Proficient in modeling optical performance of as-built optical system using CodeV, Matlab, LightTools, FRED and Zemax etc.

• A self-starter with intellectual curiosity, a quick learner who desires to grow by acquiring new knowledge and skills in multi-disciplinary hardware technologies.

• Detail oriented, methodical problem-solving and critical thinking skills;

• Effective written and verbal communication skills.

• Work well with others in either a leading or supporting role.

Minimum Qualifications

Doctorate (Academic) Degree and related work experience of 5 years; Master's Level Degree and related work experience of 8 years

Base Pay Range: $159,300.00 - $270,800.00 AnnuallyPrimary 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 [e-mail] or at [phone] to request accommodation.

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 websitefor 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.