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.

The Senior Lead Systems Engineer provides technical leadership across the full Product Lifecycle (PLC) of next-generation eBeam inspection and imaging systems. This role drives system architecture, product definition, integration, qualification, customer deployment, and sustainment while partnering across engineering, manufacturing, applications, service, marketing, and customers.

As a cross-functional technical leader, you will influence and align disciplines including electron optics, imaging, detectors, electronics, motion control, vacuum systems, software, and algorithms to deliver industry-leading semiconductor inspection solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead system engineering activities through all phases of the Product Lifecycle, from concept through commercialization and sustaining.
• Define product requirements, system architecture, subsystem interfaces, performance budgets, and technical roadmaps.
• Drive complex technical tradeoffs and system-level decisions across hardware, software, and algorithm development teams.
• Develop deep system knowledge and ensure alignment of subsystem designs to overall product objectives.
• Lead system integration, characterization, validation, and performance optimization efforts.
• Identify and resolve complex multidisciplinary issues impacting product performance, reliability, and manufacturability.
• Partner closely with engineering, manufacturing, service, and applications teams to successfully execute development programs.
• Lead cross-functional teams in resolving critical customer issues during beta, pilot, and production ramp phases.
• Engage directly with semiconductor customers to understand evolving use cases and translate customer needs into product requirements.
• Mentor engineers and promote systems-thinking, technical rigor, and engineering excellence across the organization.

Qualifications Required:

• Advanced Degree in Physics, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Applied Physics, or a related technical discipline.
• 10+ years of experience developing complex semiconductor capital equipment, advanced instrumentation, or highly integrated electromechanical systems.
• Proven experience leading large cross-functional or matrixed engineering teams.
• Strong systems engineering expertise including requirements management, system architecture, integration, verification, and technical risk management.
• Exceptional analytical, problem-solving, communication, and technical leadership skills.

Preferred

• Experience with SEM, electron beam inspection systems, electron optics, or charged-particle instrumentation.
• Knowledge of imaging systems, detectors, motion control, vacuum systems, high-voltage electronics, machine control software, and algorithms.
• Experience working directly with semiconductor customers during product development and deployment.

Travel: Up to 15% international travel.

Why This Role

This is a highly visible technical leadership role with significant influence on product strategy, architecture, and execution. You will help define the future of advanced eBeam inspection systems while partnering with global engineering teams and leading semiconductor customers.

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Minimum Qualifications

Requires minimum of 12 years of related experience with a Bachelors degree; or 8 years and a Masters degree; or a PhD with 5 years experience; or equivalent experience.

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.