System Design Engineer

KLA; Ann Arbor (MI); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

KLA in Ann Arbor, MI is seeking a senior systems engineer to design and develop multi-disciplinary inspection and analytics systems. You will define requirements, interfaces, and tradeoffs across optics, mechanics, electronics, controls, and software, and lead integration from prototype to production.

You will mentor peers and drive roadmap-aligned work with stakeholders. The role requires strong communication, cross-functional leadership, and the ability to coordinate complex projects in a

Qualifications

• Doctorate or Master's with related work experience; Bachelor's with related work experience is acceptable.
• Strong communication and collaboration across multi-disciplinary teams.
• Ability to lead system-level design and problem solving across domains.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop multi-disciplinary systems and features.
• Plan and test system for performance, troubleshooting and support for better performance, manufacturability and serviceability.
• Define system-level requirements, subsystem interfaces, and technical tradeoffs across optical, mechanical, electrical, controls, and software domains.
• Lead integration, troubleshooting, root-cause analysis, and corrective actions from prototype through production and field escalation support.
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to requirements traceability, technical reviews, and roadmap planning.
• Coordinate project activities by aligning with stakeholders and performing system-level tasks.

Skills

Strong communication skills

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Doctorate degree (Academic) in related field

Master's Degree

Bachelor's Degree

Job description

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 LS-SWIFT division delivers high-throughput patterned wafer inspection systems that support advanced semiconductor manufacturing. Its mission is to provide industry-leading defect detection with optimal cost of ownership across a wide range of applications. LS systems enable precise, cost-effective inspection for cutting-edge process nodes, while SWIFT systems offer comprehensive macro inspection of all wafer surfaces-capabilities that are especially critical for advanced packaging, as well as logic, memory, and automotive applications.

What You'll Do

• Design and develop multi-disciplinary systems and features.
• Planning and testing system for performance, troubleshooting and support for better performance, manufacturability and serviceability.
• Define system-level requirements, subsystem interfaces, and technical tradeoffs across optical, mechanical, electrical, controls, and software domains.
• Lead integration, troubleshooting, root-cause analysis, and corrective actions from prototype through production and field escalation support.
• Hands on development in a lab or an actual HW.
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to requirements traceability, technical reviews, and roadmap planning.
• Lead system and subsystem integration, testing, and characterization activities. Define and maintain specifications to ensure optimal performance and reliability.
• Deliver structured training to Manufacturing Engineers and NPI Engineers. Maintain up-to-date product knowledge through regular trainings, including sessions at KLA headquarters.
• Coordinate project activities by actively aligning with stakeholders and perform system level tasks.
• Work with functional groups to define and review designs.
• Work with marketing and engineering teams to define system architecture.
• Support manufacturing and field service teams with optics- and system-related escalations. Resolve technical conflicts, set priorities in line with program objectives, and elevate topics when required.
• Drive programs and projects with KLA PLC rigor.
• Provide regular status updates to management through weekly reports and live presentations, ensuring transparency on progress, changes, and risks.
• Ensure alignment with defined group strategies and roadmaps. Conduct periodic reviews to evaluate progress and adjust plans as necessary.
• Act as a driver for new ideas, methods, and ways of working in a fast-evolving and highly competitive industry.
• Assess, evaluate risks, and drive projects forward with an eye for critical path.
• Communicate cross-functionally with a diverse team including engineering, marketing, manufacturing, and service to drive execution.
• Lead, encourage, empower, and influence team members to achieve excellence in engineering rigor, reliability, usability, and customer focus.
• Articulate and present execution plans for internal leadership as well as external customers.
• Identify bottlenecks and remove obstacles for the team to focus on value-add activities.
• Hold regular meetings between functional groups to ensure interdependencies are well understood and documented.
• Support roadmap development by detailing upcoming requirement changes and resources required.
• Proven ability to work independently with minimal supervision and to deliver results within defined timelines.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across functions.
• Occasional travel required up to 20%.

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.

About KLA

We provide advanced inspection tools, metrology systems, process solutions, and computational analytics that make electronics possible, tackling complex challenges. From electron a