Sr. Electron Optical Systems Design Engineer

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 e-Beam division plays a critical role in KLA’s inspection ecosystem, with tools that deliver high-resolution, timely insights into defects and critical locations on the wafer. Used alongside KLA’s patterned and bare wafer inspectors, e-Beam systems help our customers quickly identify and understand yield-impacting issues—enabling faster, more effective actions to correct the manufacturing process.

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.

Preferred Qualifications

Mission
Lead the design, analysis, validation, and optimization of advanced electron optical systems and subsystems that enable industry-leading inspection, review, and metrology performance. Drive innovation in electron sources, electron columns, detectors, and related technologies while providing technical leadership within product and advanced development programs.

Key Responsibilities

Electron Optical Architecture & Technical Leadership
Lead the development of electron optical subsystems for new products and advanced technology programs. Define subsystem requirements, performance budgets, and interfaces across electron sources, columns, detectors, deflection systems, calibration solutions, and vacuum subsystems. Conduct technical trade studies, contribute to technology roadmaps, lead design reviews, and mentor junior engineers. Serve as a technical expert within assigned areas and influence key engineering decisions.

Electron Optical Design
Lead the design and optimization of advanced electron optical subsystems, including electron sources, lenses, aberration correction, beam transport, and detection systems. Develop solutions that improve resolution, current density, throughput, stability, and manufacturability. Drive subsystem performance from concept through validation while providing technical guidance to project teams.

Analysis & Modeling
Apply advanced expertise in electron optics modeling, charged-particle simulation, aberration analysis, beam transport, detector signal formation, noise and SNR prediction, tolerance analysis, high voltage and calibration strategies using tools such as MEBS, SIMION, Python, and custom simulation frameworks.

Experimental Validation
Define and execute validation plans for electron optical subsystems. Characterize electron source, lens, detector, and beam performance, including resolution, stability, throughput, and signal quality. Correlate simulation results with experimental data, develop calibration and alignment methodologies, and lead root-cause investigations of complex technical issues.

Product Development & Manufacturing Support
Support the transition of electron optical technologies from concept through production. Drive performance qualification, issue resolution, and DfX improvements. Collaborate closely with Manufacturing, Service, Systems, Software, and suppliers to deliver robust, reliable, and manufacturable solutions.
 

Minimum Qualifications

• PhD in Physics, Applied Physics, Electron Optics, Electrical/Electromagnetics Engineering, Optical Engineering, or related technical discipline.
• 8+ years of experience in electron optics, charged-particle systems, semiconductor equipment, microscopy, or related fields.
• Strong expertise in several of the following areas: Electron sources, Electron optics simulation, Charged-particle optics, Detector physics, High-voltage systems, Vacuum systems, Calibration methodologies, Advanced SEM architecture, Aberration analysis and correction.

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: $186,200.00 - $273,067.00 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 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.