Senior Control Systems Engineer – Precision Motion & Custom Actuators

Location: Ann Arbor, MI

Time Type: Full time

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. Central Engineering is KLA's largest engineering organization comprised of 9 Centers-of-Excellence (CoE) in various disciplines applied across all product groups in the company. These CoE include Handling & Automation, Precision Motion Control, Sensors & Image Acquisition, Platform Design, and Packaging Engineering, among others. Talent includes over 500 engineers across global centers in Israel, China, India, and the US. Each CoE contributes not just talent and deliverables per discipline toward product programs, but also subject matter expertise, best practices, roadmaps, specialized facilities, apparatus, models, and analytics. These differentiate KLA not only in WHAT we do, but also in HOW we do it.

Job Description/Preferred Qualifications

The Opportunity

This role is built for an experienced control systems engineer who wants deep technical ownership and system‑level influence on ultra‑high‑performance motion platforms. At KLA, you will define and drive control architectures for next‑generation semiconductor inspection and metrology systems—working on real hardware, custom actuators, and performance limits where theory meets physics. You will own control strategy decisions from early concept through integration, validation, and production! You’ll work alongside senior engineers across actuator design, mechanics, software, and optics, influencing how the system is architected—not just how it is controlled.

Job Duties:

• Control architecture ownership for ultra‑precision motion and positioning subsystems.
• Design and implementation of sophisticated feedback and feed-forward control strategies for custom actuators, including magnetic, piezoelectric, and air‑bearing systems.
• Model‑based analysis of system dynamics, including plant characterization, system identification, and performance trade‑off studies.
• Tuning and optimization of multi‑axis motion systems to achieve ambitious requirements in accuracy, stability, efficiency, and adaptability.
• Technical leadership in multi-functional integration, partnering closely with mechanical, actuator, electronics, software, optics, and system teams.
• Contribution to requirements definition, error budgets, and design reviews, with control performance as a first‑order system driver.
• Hands‑on experimental work, including hardware‑in‑the‑loop testing, real‑time implementation, and root‑cause analysis of sophisticated system behavior.
• Documentation and communication of control strategies, assumptions, and results across global engineering teams.
• Informal mentorship and technical guidance for less‑experienced controls engineers.

Qualifications, but not limited to:

• Educational background in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering Electrical Engineering, or a closely related field.
• Significant experience developing and deploying control systems for high‑performance electromechanical or motion platforms.
• Deep understanding of control theory, system dynamics, and modeling as applied to real, imperfect hardware.
• Hands‑on experience with custom actuators or precision motion systems, not just the off-the-shelf components.
• Proficiency with MATLAB/Simulink and/or Python for modeling, simulation, tuning, and data analysis.
• Exposure to sophisticated control techniques (robust, adaptive, efficient, nonlinear, or multivariable systems).
• Familiarity with real‑time control environments, experimental validation, and performance solving.
• Comfort operating in ambiguity, making architectural trade‑offs, and balancing theoretical with practical constraints.
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally as needed.

Preferred Background (Nice to Have)

• Experience with ultra‑precision motion systems, machine dynamics, or semiconductor capital equipment.
• Track record of influencing system design through control and dynamics insight.

Why Join This Team

• Technical ownership with visible impact on flagship systems
• Opportunity to stay hands‑on while influencing architecture and direction
• Collaboration with experienced engineers across multiple teams
• Long‑term, stable product cycles combined with ambitious, first‑principles engineering problems

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: $120,700.00 - $205,200.00 Annually

Primary Location: USA-MI-Ann Arbor-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 [email protected] or at +1-408-352-2808 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 [email protected] to confirm the person you are communicating with is an employee. We take your privacy very seriously and confidentially handle your information.