KLA Tencor

Staff Optical Engineer

KLA Tencor$141K — $207K *
Technical Services
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Doctorate degree with 3 years, Master's with 6 years, or Bachelor's with 8 years of related experience
  • Strong background in optical systems design and imaging
  • Experience with complex optical measurement systems with high precision
  • Proficient in MATLAB or Python for data analysis
  • Detail-oriented with effective problem-solving skills
  • Strong communication skills, both written and verbal
  • Ability to work collaboratively in teams

Responsibilities

  • Lead development of global electrical engineering standards and guidelines
  • Review electrical designs for capital projects and facility improvements
  • Guide technical strategies for critical power infrastructure
  • Collaborate with teams to enhance facility performance
  • Support renewable energy and electrification initiatives
  • Translate technical requirements into clear design standards
  • Conduct feasibility studies and testing for optical subsystems

Benefits

  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance
  • 401(K) with company matching
  • Employee stock purchase program (ESPP)
  • Tuition reimbursement and student debt assistance
  • Career development and growth opportunities
  • Wellness benefits including employee assistance program (EAP)
  • Paid time off and company holidays
Full Job Description

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 Broadband Plasma (BBP) division is the market-leading optical inspection system used by logic, foundry, and memory customers to detect critical defects at advanced nodes. These tools combine broadband plasma technology with unmatched sensitivity and speed to support high-volume manufacturing.

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.


Lead and evolve global electrical engineering standards, specifications, and design guidelines across a diverse facilities portfolio.

Review electrical designs for capital projects, infrastructure upgrades, and critical facility improvements to support consistency, quality, and compliance.

 Guide technical strategy for power distribution, UPS, generators, transfer systems, and other critical power infrastructure.

Partner with cross-functional teams to improve resiliency, operational readiness, and long-term facility performance.

Support renewable energy and electrification initiatives, including solar, battery storage, EV charging, and utility coordination where relevant.

Translate technical requirements into clear standards, design guidance, and executive-ready summaries.



Preferred Qualifications

The candidate will join a team of optical engineers within the BBP division to develop innovative wafer inspection products! Optics is the core part of BBP products, which include high-brightness light-sources, broadband coatings, complex optical subsystem and high-speed sensors. This position is responsible for the complete design process of one or multiple optical subsystems to support BBP roadmap:

  • Identify, develop and document the optical system requirements through communicating with key suppliers as well as internal teams such as marketing, technology, system engineering etc.

  • Lead or support to propose subsystem architecture

  • Translate requirements into optical architecture features, error budgets and required metrology

  • Conduct feasibility studies through various optical analysis

  • Design new parts, modules and system integration process, toolings.

  • Test, qualify and release optics/Opto-mechanical modules and entire subsystem.

  • Work with suppliers to specify acceptance and improve incoming material quality.

  • Lead to resolve complex problems for both prototype and released systems.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Solid background in optics such as imaging system aberrations, Fourier optics, polarization, Radiometry etc.

  • Experiences in developing architecture and/or new concepts for optical imaging or measurement systems with high complexity and high precision requirements.

  • Experienced in modeling optical performance of as built system through developing error budgets, alignment and metrology process for high precision opto-mechanical assembly and optical system using CodeV or LightTools.

  • Proficient in MATLAB or Python, for image processing and data analysis.

  • A self-starter with intellectual curiosity, a quick learner who desires to grow by acquiring new knowledge and skills in multi-disciplinary hardware technologies.

  • Detail oriented, methodical problem-solving and critical thinking skills;

  • Effective written and verbal communication skills.

  • Work well with others in either a leading or supporting role.

  • International travel up to 15%.

Minimum Qualifications

Doctorate (Academic) Degree and related work experience of 3 years; Master's Level Degree and related work experience of 6 years; Bachelor's Level Degree and related work experience of 8 years



Total Rewards

Base Pay Range: $141,300.00 - $207,233.00 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.

About KLA Tencor

KLA Corporation is a global capital equipment company that provides process control solutions for semiconductor and related industries. The Company's products are also used in a number of other high technology industries, including the packaging, light emitting diode (LED), power device and compound semiconductor markets. Its products and services are used by bare wafer, integrated circuit (IC), lithography reticle (reticle or mask) and disk manufacturers around the world. The Company's inspection and metrology products and related offerings are categorized in various groups, including Chip Manufacturing, Wafer Manufacturing, Reticle Manufacturing, LED, Power Device and Compound Semiconductor Manufacturing, Data Storage Media/Head Manufacturing, Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) Manufacturing, and General Purpose/Lab Applications.
Learn more about KLA Tencor
Size
11,300 employees
Market Cap
$52 billion
Industry
Net Income
$1.3 billion
Founded
1997
5 Year Trend
+21.5%
Revenue
$6 billion
NASDAQ

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