Product Development Engineer

Base Pay Range: $111,300.00 - $189,200.00 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 identified below. Interns are eligible for some of the benefits identified below. Our pay ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The range displayed above reflects the minimum and maximum pay for this position in the primary location identified in this posting. Actual pay depends on several factors, including location, job-related skills, experience, and relevant education level or training. If applicable, your recruiter can share more about the specific pay range for your preferred location during the hiring process.

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. The RAPID division is the world leading provider of reticle inspection solutions for the semiconductor industry. The company provides inspection solutions to both the mask shops and the semiconductor fabs to ensure that lithography yields are consistently high thus enabling cost-effective manufacturing.

Job Description/Preferred Qualifications

The qualified candidate will join a high-caliber team developing the next generation EUV actinic mask inspection platform. The candidate is expected to coordinate across different functions:  working with mechanical, optical, electrical, software, and other systems engineers in order to meet stringent technical, schedule, and budgetary requirements.

Candidates should have a strong and diverse technical background.

The role will involve requirements development, system design, and testing of complex inspection systems using expertise from multiple technical disciplines.

Excellent verbal and written communication skills are required.

The selected candidate will:

• Help develop requirement specifications and test plans

• Work with functional groups to define and review designs.

• Participate in prototype integration and testing of assemblies, subsystems and systems.

• Create and execute test plans and perform analysis to validate system performance.

• Create and document calibration, manufacturing, and service procedures

• Will trouble shoot system and subsystem issues and work with various subsystem teams to find and implement solutions

• Support internal and external customers in implementing processes to build and use the tool effectively and optimize tool performance. Lead troubleshoot efforts in manufacturing and in the field

Preferred qualifications:

• Strong background in engineering or the physical science and demonstrated analysis and problem solving skills

• Strong diagnostic and trouble shooting skills in optics, opto-mechanics, and motion control systems

• Experience with lasers and illumination systems, CCD/CMOS cameras is a plus

• Experience with scripting languages, such as Python, would be a plus

• Agility and ability to thrive on a fast paced program and respond quickly to field and internal escalations

• Must be an effective communicator able to share technical information with functional groups and provide executive level reports to management and customers

• Industrial experience in one or more of the following:

  • System engineering

  • Mechatronics

  • Optical systems

  • Imaging systems 

  • Complex systems

  • Vacuum systems

Occasional travel will be required

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

The company offers a total rewards package that is competitive and comprehensive including but not limited to the following:  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.

KLA is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status or any other status protected by applicable law. 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 talent.acquisition@kla.com 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 talent.acquisition@kla.com to confirm the person you are communicating with is an employee. We take your privacy very seriously and confidentially handle your information.