Product Development Engineer - FaST

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 Film and Scatterometry Technology (FaST) division delivers industry-leading metrology solutions essential to advanced semiconductor manufacturing. Its portfolio includes systems for measuring film thickness, critical dimensions, composition, and resistivity—key to developing and scaling next-gen IC processes. FaST partners closely with customers from early R&D through high-volume production, ensuring performance and process alignment.

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.

Responsibilities

The Product Development Engineer plays a central role throughout the different phases of the product life cycle.  This position is part of a team responsible for developing and supporting next generation optical critical dimension metrology systems as well as supporting and improving current systems. The candidate will initially take on responsibility for improvement projects and support of field and manufacturing issues for the current generation product line. This role will lead to responsibility for next generation product development, from technology evaluation and selection, specifications development, product validation, verification, transfer to manufacturing, and support of customer ramp. The ideal candidate will demonstrate leadership attributes and be able to lead high performing teams to achieve program objectives in a timely manner.

The engineer must be able to complete the initial diagnosis of any system issue, uncover root cause and devise or drive a team to define solutions for complex problems. Must be able to support the detailed analysis and tradeoffs for the various solutions, develop plan of action, and effectively communicate plans to colleagues to execute. Must have the knowledge and experience to effectively work with experts in optics, electronics, mechanics, software, and algorithms as required to resolve issues. Some travel may be required for complex cases that require on-site support.

Additional details regarding responsibilities:

• Lead design efforts (or write specifications) for some components of a system, including design reviews, part procurement, test, integrate and write ECO's to release new parts.
• Contribute to the prototype testing by providing input to the prototype test plan and conducting experiments to verify performance of critical components, subsystems and modules.
• Provide input to the acceptance criteria for some incoming materials, including outsourced subsystems.
• Setup and drive small team efforts that address product-level issues (such as design issues, supplier issues, MFG escalations, or improvement projects).
• Lead development of performance and troubleshooting diagnostics for existing and new products.
• Lead product or feature introduction activities including preparation of first draft of test, alignment, calibration, manufacturing, or service manuals.
• Support training of operations and field personnel.
• Contribute to research, evaluation, and proposals for new product features in support of customer requirements.
• Develop and evaluate concepts and designs for the next generation systems.
• Drive team to resolve system issues at customer site or in manufacturing. Work with engineers at locations around the globe to solve issues escalated to engineering: establish root cause, develop plan of action (POA), guide local teams in execution of POA, and standardize solutions to improve design and/or procedures.
• Will require some travel (< 25%)

Qualifications

• PhD in Optics, Physics, Systems Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related technical field.
• Strong background in engineering or physical sciences with demonstrated analysis and problem solving skills.
• Hands-on experience constructing and aligning opto-mechanical system is highly desirable.
• Experience diagnosing and driving solutions to complex problems across whole systems by applying appropriate problem solving techniques.
• Ability to communicate effectively to all levels of the division, customers, vendors and across cultures.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree plus 5 years of relevant experience and accomplishments.

OR

• Master's degree plus 2 years of relevant experience and accomplishments

OR

• Ph.D. degree.

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

Base Pay Range: $117,800.00 - $172,800.00 Annually&#xa;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 talent.acquisition@kla.com or at +1-408-352-2808 to request accommodation.

For additional information, view the US Know Your Rights poster on the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission website.