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 LS-SWIFT Division of KLA's Global Products Group provides patterned wafer inspection systems for high-volume semiconductor manufacturing. Its mission is to deliver market-leading cost of ownership in defect detection for a broad range of applications in the production of semiconductors. Customers from the foundry, logic, memory, automotive, MEMS, advanced packaging and other markets rely upon high-sample wafer inspection information generated by LS-SWIFT products. LS (Laser Scanning) systems enable cost-effective patterned wafer defect detection for the industry's most sophisticated process technologies deployed in leading-edge foundry, logic, DRAM, and NAND fabs. SWIFT (Simultaneous Wafer Inspection at Fast Throughput) systems deliver all-wafer-surface (frontside, backside, and edge) macro inspection that is critical for automotive IC, MEMS, and advanced packaging processes as well as foundry/logic and memory fabs. LS-SWIFT operates from a global footprint that includes the US, Singapore, India and Germany, and serves a worldwide customer base across Asia, Europe and North America.

Job Description/Preferred Qualifications

Are you a computer vision engineer or researcher who thrives on solving challenging, real-world problems? Do you enjoy taking ideas from concept through to production at scale?

At KLA, you will work on cutting-edge AI-powered inspection systems that enable breakthroughs in semiconductor manufacturing-the backbone of modern technology.

Join a high-performing team of PhDs, machine vision experts, and algorithm engineers, where you will design and deploy next-generation computer vision and deep learning solutions in complex, high-impact environments. The successful candidate will grow their career within the LS-SWIFT algorithms group in California, working on some of the most advanced inspection systems in the industry.
Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and optimize advanced machine learning and deep learning algorithms for complex image and signal processing applications
• Take ownership of algorithm development from concept and prototyping to production deployment
• Invent, evaluate, and implement novel computer vision approaches for challenging, real-world datasets
• Analyze system performance, debug complex issues, and improve robustness and accuracy in production environments
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams (software, systems, applications, and field engineers) to deliver high-quality solutions
• Contribute to architectural decisions and continuously improve algorithm performance, scalability, and maintainability

Qualifications

• Strong background in one or more of the following:
  
  • Machine Learning
  • Deep Learning
  • Computer Vision
  • Image Processing
• Hands-on experience with at least one major deep learning framework (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch)
• Proven experience training, validating, and deploying ML/DL models in production environments
• Solid programming skills (C++ and/or Python), with experience in object-oriented and/or functional programming
• Ability to design model architectures, customize loss functions, and optimize performance for real-world constraints
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to work on ambiguous, open-ended challenges

Preferred (Nice to Have)

• Experience with large-scale, high-resolution image data or industrial inspection systems
• Familiarity with performance optimization, GPU acceleration, or real-time systems
• Experience working in cross-functional product environments (from R&D to customer deployment)

What Makes This Role Unique

• Work on mission-critical systems used by leading semiconductor companies worldwide
• Solve unsolved, high-impact problems at the intersection of AI and physics
• See your work move from research to production and customer impact
• Collaborate with a highly skilled, supportive, and driven team

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

Base Pay Range: $136,300.00 - $231,700.00 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.