Sr. Reliability Engineer - SEM Systems

KLA-Belgium; Milpitas (CA); On-site; USD 167,000 - 245,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

401(K) including company matching

Employee stock purchase program (ESPP)

Tuition reimbursement

Paid time off

Job summary

KLA in Milpitas, California, seeks a Sr. Reliability Engineer for SEM systems to drive reliability and uptime of wafer inspection tools. You will investigate failure mechanisms, perform root-cause analysis, and lead DOE studies, collaborating with hardware, firmware, and manufacturing teams.

The role requires advanced degrees and 10+ years in semiconductor capital equipment, travel about 15% internationally, and a track record of improving product robustness.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Physics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Reliability Engineering, or related technical field.
• 10+ years of experience developing, supporting, or improving semiconductor capital equipment.
• Deep understanding of SEM or other precision systems.
• Experience with failure analysis and reliability methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Drive reliability and uptime of SEM systems used for wafer inspection and review.
• Evaluate designs, processes, and tests to identify failure modes.
• Develop and implement DOE to validate performance and durability.
• Define accelerated life, environmental, and stress testing.
• Establish reliability requirements and qualification plans.
• Review data to ensure targets are met.
• Partner with suppliers on qualification and manufacturing readiness.
• Lead factory acceptance and qualification activities.
• Investigate field and factory failures using statistical analysis and data science.
• Drive corrective actions based on reliability data and root causes.
• Influence engineering, manufacturing, and supplier teams.

Skills

SEM systems

Failure analysis

Root-cause investigation

DOE design of experiments

Data analysis

Reliability engineering

Influence cross-functional teams

Education

Doctorate degree

Master’s degree

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

SEM equipment

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 e‑Beam division plays a critical role in KLA’s inspection ecosystem, with tools that deliver high‑resolution, timely insights into defects and critical locations on the wafer. Used alongside KLA’s patterned and bare wafer inspectors, e‑Beam systems help our customers quickly identify and understand yield‑impacting issues—enabling faster, more effective actions to correct the manufacturing process.

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. Sr. Reliability Engineer – SEM Systems Join a team solving complex reliability challenges on advanced SEM systems used in semiconductor manufacturing. This is a hands‑on engineering role where you’ll identify failure mechanisms, investigate root causes, and drive real‑world solutions that improve system performance and uptime. We’re looking for someone who enjoys working closely with hardware, digging into the data, and taking ownership from problem identification through implementation, not just analyzing issues, but fixing them.

Job Duties, but not limited to:

• Drive reliability and uptime of SEM systems used for wafer inspection and review, targeting industry‑leading system availability.
• Evaluate system designs, manufacturing processes, and acceptance testing to identify potential failure modes before they reach customers.
• Develop and implement Design of Experiments (DOE) to validate component and system performance, reliability, and durability.
• Define and assess accelerated life testing, environmental testing, and stress testing, including thermal, vibration, vacuum, contamination, and high‑voltage conditions.
• Establish reliability requirements and qualification plans for critical components, subsystems, and complete systems.
• Review design, manufacturing, and test data to ensure products consistently meet reliability and performance targets.
• Partner with suppliers to qualify components, validate manufacturing processes, and ensure compliance with technical requirements.
• Lead factory acceptance and qualification activities to verify products meet specifications before release.
• Investigate field and factory failures using statistical analysis, data science techniques, and advanced modeling tools.
• Drive corrective actions and continuous improvement efforts based on reliability data and root‑cause findings.
• Influence engineering, manufacturing, and supplier teams to implement solutions that improve product robustness and long‑term performance.

Qualifications, but not limited to:

• Advanced degree in Physics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Reliability Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 10+ years of experience developing, supporting, or improving semiconductor capital equipment.
• Deep understanding of Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) or other precision systems (eg. optical microscopy, lithography systems, etc..)
• Familiar with some or all the following: Electron optics Precision mechanical systems High‑vacuum systems High‑voltage systems Cleanroom and contamination control environments Wafer handling and positioning systems Motion control and automation Experience developing qualification plans and executing reliability testing for complex electromechanical systems.
• Strong background in failure analysis, root cause investigation, and reliability engineering methodologies.
• Experience working directly with suppliers on component qualification and manufacturing readiness.
• Ability to influence technical decisions across engineering, manufacturing, quality, and supplier organizations.
• Knowledge of semiconductor industry standards, including SEMI standards and ISO quality systems is a plus.
• Willing to travel 15% international.
• Minimum Qualifications: Doctorate (Academic) Degree and related work experience of 5 years; Master’s Level Degree and related work experience of 8 years; Bachelor’s Level Degree and related work experience of 12 years.

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

Total Rewards Base Pay Range: $167,300.00 - $245,367.00 Annually

Primary Location: USA-CA-Milpitas-KLA

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Life
• 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. 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. We do not accept resumes from headhunters, placement agencies, or other suppliers that have not signed a formal agreement with us.

Additional Information

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