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
- Drive product development activities for semiconductor inspection systems, with focus on performance, robustness, and manufacturability.
- Support system-level integration and development across optics, imaging, hardware, software, and application workflows.
- Analyze product performance, identify gaps, and develop solutions to improve inspection sensitivity, stability, throughput, and usability.
- Design, execute, and interpret experiments to evaluate system behavior, performance trade-offs, and engineering risks.
- Work with cross-functional partners to root-cause technical issues and drive corrective actions.
- Translate system and customer needs into engineering requirements, validation plans, and development priorities.
- Contribute to design reviews, technical risk assessments, and product readiness decisions.
- Develop test plans, analysis reports.
- Collaborate with manufacturing, field, and application teams to support product transfer, issue resolution, and continuous improvement.
- Drive execution across complex technical topics with clear ownership, structured problem solving, and strong follow-through.
Additional qualifications:
- Strong background in engineering or physical sciences, with demonstrated analytical and problem-solving skills
- Solid understanding of the working principles of optical imaging systems and key system components
- Experience in optical system modeling and performance analysis
- Hands-on experience with optical microscopy techniques
- Good understanding of Fourier optics and geometric optics (a plus)
- Experience with lasers and illumination systems; CCD/CMOS cameras (a plus)
- Ability to independently collect data using standard tool operation and diagnostic software
- Proficiency in data analysis tools such as MATLAB or Python
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a cross-functional team environment
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: $117,800.00 - $200,300.00 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.
