Technical Program/Project Manager (Opto-Mechanical focus)

KLA-Belgium; Milpitas (CA); On-site; USD 136,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

401(k) matching

ESPP

Job summary

KLA in Milpitas, CA is seeking an experienced Opto-Mechanical Program Lead to drive BBP hardware development and manufacturing readiness. You will define milestones, track schedules, manage suppliers, and coordinate across OptoMech, Optics, Electrical, Software, and Manufacturing to keep programs on track.

A technical degree and background in semiconductor capital equipment with strong cross-functional leadership and scheduling skills are required.

Qualifications

• Technical degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Engineering Management, or related field.
• Experience managing complex hardware development programs.
• Strong project scheduling and milestone tracking skills.
• Experience with supply chain, manufacturing operations, and material planning.
• Supplier qualification and vendor management experience.
• Excellent communication and cross-functional leadership skills.
• Semiconductor capital equipment experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate OptoMech development activities across BBP programs. Define, track, and drive project milestones, deliverables, and schedules.
• Own material tracking across all active projects. Monitor procurement status, lead times, shortages, and delivery schedules.
• Assess, qualify, and onboard new machine shop and component suppliers. Manage supplier performance related to quality, cost, and delivery.
• Work closely with OptoMech, Optics, Electrical, Software, Systems, Manufacturing, and Program teams. Facilitate communication between engineering teams and external suppliers.
• Develop and maintain dashboards for schedule, material, supplier, and project status. Identify bottlenecks and drive continuous process improvements.

Skills

Project scheduling

Cross-functional leadership

Supply chain

Vendor management

Materials planning

Communication

Education

Doctorate (Academic) Degree

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 Broadband Plasma (BBP) division is the market-leading optical inspection system used by logic, foundry, and memory customers to detect critical defects at advanced nodes. These tools combine broadband plasma technology with unmatched sensitivity and speed to support high-volume manufacturing.

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.

Lead and coordinate Opto-Mechanical (OptoMech) development activities across BBP programs, ensuring project schedules, materials, and supplier activities are managed effectively to enable successful product development and manufacturing readiness.

Program Planning & Execution

Lead and coordinate OptoMech development activities across multiple projects. Define, track, and drive project milestones, deliverables, and schedules. Identify schedule risks and work with engineering leads to develop mitigation plans. Provide regular project status updates to management and stakeholders.

Material Tracking & Build Readiness

Own material tracking across all active projects. Monitor procurement status, lead times, shortages, and delivery schedules. Coordinate with Supply Chain, Manufacturing, and Engineering teams to ensure build readiness. Drive resolution of material-related schedule impacts.

Vendor & Supplier Management

Assess, qualify, and onboard new machine shop and component suppliers. Manage supplier performance related to quality, cost, and delivery. Coordinate RFQs, quote reviews, and supplier selection activities. Maintain strong relationships with strategic vendors to support development and ramp needs.

Cross-Functional Coordination

Work closely with OptoMech, Optics, Electrical, Software, Systems, Manufacturing, and Program teams. Facilitate communication between engineering teams and external suppliers. Track action items, risks, and dependencies across projects. Support engineering change implementation and hardware release activities.

Metrics & Reporting

Develop and maintain dashboards for schedule, material, supplier, and project status. Identify bottlenecks and drive continuous process improvements. Present program status, risks, and mitigation plans to leadership.

Desired Qualifications

Technical degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Engineering Management, or related field. Experience managing complex hardware development programs. Strong project scheduling and milestone tracking skills. Experience with supply chain, manufacturing operations, and material planning. Supplier qualification and vendor management experience. Excellent communication and cross-functional leadership skills. Semiconductor capital equipment experience preferred.

Minimum Qualifications

Doctorate (Academic) Degree and evidence of relevant experience OR Master's Level Degree with a minimum of 3 years of relevant experience OR Bachelor's Level Degree with a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience.

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: $136,300.00 - $199,900.00 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.

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

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.