System Design Engineer

KLA; Milpitas (CA); On-site; USD 117,800 - 200,300; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

401(k) with match

Tuition reimbursement

Employee stock purchase plan (ESPP)

Paid time off

Job summary

KLA Milpitas, USA is seeking a senior engineering professional to design and develop multi-disciplinary systems for advanced semiconductor inspection. The role covers optical, mechanical, electrical, controls and software interfaces, with responsibility for integration, testing and field escalation support.

You will mentor junior engineers, drive technical reviews, and align with program roadmaps while coordinating with Manufacturing, Marketing and Service teams.

Qualifications

• Doctorate, Master’s, or Bachelor’s degree with related work experience as specified.
• Strong technical foundation across optical, mechanical, electrical, controls and software domains.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop multi-disciplinary systems and features.
• Lead integration, troubleshooting, and corrective actions from prototype through production.
• Provide regular status updates and coordinate with stakeholders across functions.

Skills

Systems engineering

Cross-functional collaboration

Problem solving

Education

Doctorate

Master’s degree

Bachelor’s degree

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 toward 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 scientists, software engineers, application development engineers and senior product technology process engineers. The LS‑SWIFT Division of KLA’s Global Products Group provides patterned wafer inspection systems for high‑volume semiconductor manufacturing. Its mission is to deliver market‑leading cost of ownership in defect detection for a broad range of applications in the production of semiconductors. Customers from the foundry, logic, memory, automotive, MEMS, advanced packaging and other markets rely upon high‑sample wafer inspection information generated by LS‑SWIFT products. LS (Laser Scanning) systems enable cost‑effective patterned wafer defect detection for the industry’s most sophisticated process technologies deployed in leading‑edge foundry, logic, DRAM and NAND fabs. SWIFT (Simultaneous Wafer Inspection at Fast Throughput) systems deliver all‑wafer‑surface (frontside, backside, and edge) macro inspection that is critical for automotive IC, MEMS and advanced packaging processes as well as foundry/logic and memory fabs. LS‑SWIFT operates from a global footprint that includes the US, Singapore, India and Germany, and serves a worldwide customer base across Asia, Europe and North America.

Job Description / Preferred Qualifications

• Design and develop multi‑disciplinary systems and features.
• Plan and test system for performance, troubleshoot and support better manufacturability and serviceability.
• Define system‑level requirements, subsystem interfaces, and technical trade‑offs 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 hardware.
• 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 Degree and related work experience of 3 years; Bachelor’s Degree and related work experience of 5 years.

Compensation & Benefits

Base Pay Range: $117,800.00 – $200,300.00 Annually.

Primary Location: USA-CA-Milpitas-KLA.

KLA’s total rewards package 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.

Legal & EEO 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 [e-mail] or +1‑408‑352‑2808 to request accommodation.

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