Software Engineering Manager-AI/ML

KLA; Ann Arbor (MI); On-site; USD 114,000 - 194,000; Full time

Job summary

KLA designs advanced inspection and metrology tools that power electronics. We are seeking a Software Engineering Manager to lead a team of software engineers focused on developing and deploying AI/ML solutions for our products.

The role combines technical leadership, people management, and influence over product capabilities. You will drive ML lifecycle orchestration, ensure production readiness, and collaborate with data, cloud, security, and governance teams to ensure responsible AI.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a tech field as required.
• 10+ years of software/ML/AI engineering experience.
• 4+ years leading technical teams.
• Strong understanding of AI/ML systems in production.
• Hands-on with APIs, CI/CD, testing, observability.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of software engineers, fostering innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Define, plan, and execute AI/ML software projects from conception to deployment, ensuring schedules, budgets, and quality.
• Provide architectural guidance for ML pipelines, LLM apps, and enterprise tool integration.
• Review designs and key technical decisions; ensure alignment with platform standards.
• Collaborate with data, cloud, and platform teams to align AI solutions with enterprise architecture.
• Work with security, legal, and governance teams to ensure responsible AI, privacy, and compliance.
• Communicate status, risks, and outcomes clearly to leadership and stakeholders.
• Ensure AI systems meet reliability, monitoring, and cost-management standards.
• Establish guardrails for responsible AI: data privacy, model risk, transparency, bias, and auditability.
• Drive continuous improvement through retrospectives, metrics, and adoption of best practices.

Skills

AI/ML systems understanding

People management

Software engineering leadership

APIs CI/CD testing observability

Effective stakeholder communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field

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 KLA's IT group supports business growth and productivity by connecting people, process and technology around the world. We work to improve the technology that drives our business to thrive and focus on empowering employee use of technology. This integrated approach to customer service, creativity and technological excellence enhances employee productivity, business analytics and process excellence.

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. We are looking for a Software Engineering Manager to lead and manage a team of software engineers focused on developing and deploying AI/ML solutions for KLA's advanced inspection and metrology products. This role combines technical leadership, team management, and strategic planning to drive innovation and enhance product capabilities through artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of software engineers, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement
• Define, plan, and execute AI/ML software development projects from conception to deployment, ensuring adherence to schedules, budgets, and quality standards
• Provide architectural and design guidance for: ML pipelines and model lifecycle management, LLM applications (e.g., RAG, agents, copilots, tool/function calling and integration of AI services into enterprise applications)
• Review designs and key technical decisions; ensure alignment with platform standards and best practices
• Partner with data, cloud, and platform teams to ensure AI solutions align with enterprise architecture
• Collaborate with security, legal, and governance teams to ensure responsible AI, privacy, and compliance requirements are met
• Communicate status, risks, and outcomes clearly to leadership and stakeholders
• Ensure AI systems meet standards for reliability, monitoring, cost management, and incident response
• Establish guardrails for responsible AI: data privacy, model risk, transparency, bias awareness, and auditability
• Drive continuous improvement through retrospectives, metrics, and adoption of best practices.

Preferred / Nice to Have

• Managing teams building LLM‑based applications or GenAI platforms
• Familiarity with cloud platforms (e.g., Azure, AWS, or GCP) and modern data stacks
• Exposure to MLOps practices, model monitoring, and AI governance frameworks
• Experience delivering AI solutions in enterprise domains such as manufacturing, supply chain, finance, or customer operations

Core Competencies

• AI Delivery: ML lifecycle, LLM applications, production readiness
• Technical Judgment: architecture reviews, trade‑off decisions
• Execution: roadmap planning, dependency management, risk mitigation
• Collaboration: product partnership, stakeholder communication
• Responsible AI: security, privacy, governance awareness
• People Leadership: coaching, feedback, performance management, hiring

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience)
• 10+ years of experience in software engineering, ML/AI engineering, or applied data roles
• 4+ years of people management experience leading technical teams
• Strong understanding of AI/ML systems and how they are built, deployed, and operated in production
• Hands‑on background with modern engineering practices (APIs, CI/CD, testing, observability)
• Ability to communicate effectively with both technical and non‑technical stakeholders.

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: $114,100.00 - $194,000.00 Annually Primary Location: USA-MI-Ann Arbor-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.

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.