Front-End Production Manager

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

KLA has manufacturing sites worldwide. The Global Operations (GOPS) team, comprised of Manufacturing, Supply Chain Management, Manufacturing Engineering, Installation and Quality, builds our leading-edge technology. GOPS partners with KLA's global supply base and design engineering teams to develop new products, working continuously to build better, faster and more cost-efficient solutions.

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.

You will own production operations supporting the RAPID 7xx reticle inspection tools. This role provides direct leadership to a growing team of Associate Test Engineers (ATEs), currently consisting of five personnel with plan to build a team of more than twenty employees over the coming years!

Must drive manufacturing execution, workforce development, production readiness, quality performance, and process improvement while partnering closely with Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, and Program Management teams. The position requires a strong background in semiconductor capital equipment manufacturing and proven leadership of technical teams in a clean environment.

Coordinate daily efforts for module and subsystem builds. Ensure production schedules, quality requirements, cost targets, and delivery commitments are achieved! They will lead manufacturing prioritization to support changing business demands while driving operational excellence.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in a technically applicable field of study.
• Minimum 10 years of manufacturing of semiconductor equipment or semiconductor manufacturing environment.
• Minimum 5 years of direct people-management in a supervisory role.
• Experience manufacturing electro-mechanical, opto-mechanical, precision motion, or semiconductor products in a cleanroom environment.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing critical metrics including safety, quality, delivery, cost, and cycle time.
• Excellent communication, leadership, mentoring, and problem-solving skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with semiconductor inspection, metrology, lithography, or related capital equipment.
• Knowledge of lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, 5S, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Experience supporting new product transitions and manufacturing ramps.
• Familiarity with manufacturing execution systems (MES), ERP systems, and quality management systems.
• Experience with high-vacuum, precision mechatronic, optical, or ultra-clean manufacturing environments.

Minimum Qualifications

Requires a minimum of 5 years of related experience with a Bachelors Degree; or 3 years and a Master's degree; or a PhD without experience; or equivalent 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

Base Pay Range: $120,700.00 - $177,033.00 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.