Sr. Mechanical Design Engineer

KLA; United States; On-site; USD 141,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

401(k) matching

Stock purchase program

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

KLA is seeking a Senior Mechanical Design Engineer in Milpitas, CA to lead the mechanical redesign of critical semiconductor inspection modules with UHV and HV systems. You will drive subsystem architecture, manage supplier interfaces, and mentor junior engineers throughout the product lifecycle.

The role requires advanced GD&T, FEA, and experience in precision mechanisms, with a strong emphasis on manufacturability, reliability, and cost.

Qualifications

• Doctorate, Master’s, or Bachelor’s with related work experience in semiconductor capital equipment.
• Strong GD&T and tolerance analysis capabilities.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary technical projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of complex UHV/HV mechanical systems and assemblies.
• Own subsystem architecture, requirements flow-down, and interfaces.
• Drive redesigns to improve performance, reliability, and manufacturability.
• Lead tolerance analysis and verification activities.
• Perform structural, thermal, vibration, vacuum, and reliability analyses.
• Lead design reviews and mitigate technical risks.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams for system integration.
• Mentor junior engineers and promote engineering best practices.
• Support product roadmap planning and architecture development.

Skills

Precision mechanical design

UHV vacuum systems

HV mechanical integration

GD&T

FEA & thermal analysis

Supplier management

Root-cause analysis

Technical leadership

Creo/ProE or CAD tooling

Data-driven engineering

Education

Doctorate (Academic) Degree

Master’s Degree

Bachelor’s Degree

Tools

Creo/ProE

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 RAPID division is the world leading provider of reticle inspection solutions for the semiconductor industry. The company provides inspection solutions to both the mask shops and the semiconductor fabs to ensure that lithography yields are consistently high thus enabling cost-effective manufacturing.

Job Description/Preferred Qualifications

The Senior Mechanical Design Engineer will lead the mechanical redesign of critical semiconductor inspection modules involving Ultra-High Vacuum (UHV), High Voltage (HV), precision mechanisms, and complex electro‑mechanical integration. This role will provide technical leadership throughout the product lifecycle—from requirements definition through design, qualification, manufacturing transfer, and sustaining support.

The engineer will drive subsystem architecture, design decisions, supplier strategy, risk management, and cross‑functional execution while mentoring junior engineers and influencing product direction.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of complex UHV and HV mechanical systems and assemblies.

• Own subsystem architecture, requirements flow‑down, interface definition, and technical decision‑making.

• Drive major redesign initiatives to improve performance, reliability, manufacturability, serviceability, and cost.

• Lead tolerance analysis, error budgeting, GD&T strategy, and performance verification.

• Define and execute structural, thermal, vibration, vacuum, and reliability analyses.

• Lead design reviews and develop mitigation plans for technical risks.

• Partner with Systems, Electron Optics, Electrical Engineering, Manufacturing, Reliability, and Supply Chain teams to ensure successful integration.

• Build strong technical relationships with suppliers and oversee fabrication, qualification, and process transfers.

• Lead root‑cause investigations and resolution of complex field, manufacturing, and integration issues.

• Develop qualification strategies and validate subsystem performance against requirements.

• Mentor junior engineers and establish engineering best practices.

• Support product roadmap planning and future architecture development.

Desired Skills and Experience

• Deep expertise in precision mechanical design for semiconductor capital equipment.

• Extensive knowledge of UHV system design, vacuum hardware, contamination control, and vacuum‑compatible materials.

• Strong understanding of high‑voltage mechanical integration, electrical isolation, feedthroughs, and safety considerations.

• Expert‑level GD&T, tolerance analysis, error budgeting, and design‑for‑manufacturing practices.

• Experience leading multidisciplinary technical projects.

• Advanced knowledge of FEA, thermal analysis, modal analysis, creep, stress relaxation, and structural mechanics.

• Demonstrated supplier management experience including design reviews, qualification, process transfer, and problem resolution.

• Strong troubleshooting and root‑cause analysis skills.

• Excellent technical communication, leadership, and collaboration abilities.

• Expert proficiency with Creo/ProE or similar CAD tools.

• Experience in the development and integration of semiconductor capital equipment.

• Hands‑on experience in vibration measurement, analysis, troubleshooting, and mitigation for precision systems.

• Strong data analysis skills, including statistical evaluation, interpretation, and presentation of engineering data.

Typical Experience

• Semiconductor equipment, electron beam systems, vacuum systems, or precision instrumentation experience strongly preferred.

Minimum Qualifications

Doctorate (Academic) Degree and related work experience of 3 years; Master’s Level Degree and related work experience of 6 years; Bachelor’s Level Degree and related work experience of 8 years

Base Pay Range: $141,300.00 - $240,200.00 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.

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.

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.