System Design Engineer

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 LS-SWIFT division delivers high-throughput patterned wafer inspection systems that support advanced semiconductor manufacturing. Its mission is to provide industry-leading defect detection with optimal cost of ownership across a wide range of applications. LS systems enable precise, cost-effective inspection for cutting-edge process nodes, while SWIFT systems offer comprehensive macro inspection of all wafer surfaces—capabilities that are especially critical for advanced packaging, as well as logic, memory, and automotive applications.

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.

• Design and develop multi-disciplinary systems and features.

• Planning and testing system for performance, troubleshooting and support  for better performance, manufacturability and serviceability.

• Define system-level requirements, subsystem interfaces, and technical tradeoffs across optical, mechanical, electrical, controls, and software domains.

• Lead integration, troubleshooting, root-cause analysis, and corrective actions from prototype through production and field escalation support.

• Hands on development in a lab or an actual HW.

• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to requirements traceability, technical reviews, and roadmap planning.

• Lead system and subsystem integration, testing, and characterization activities. Define and maintain specifications to ensure optimal performance and reliability.

• Deliver structured training to Manufacturing Engineers and NPI Engineers. Maintain up-to-date product knowledge through regular trainings, including sessions at KLA headquarters.

• Coordinate project activities by actively aligning with stakeholders and perform system level tasks.

• Work with functional groups to define and review designs.

• Work with marketing and engineering teams to define system architecture

• Support manufacturing and field service teams with optics- and system-related escalations. Resolve technical conflicts, set priorities in line with program objectives, and escalate topics when required.

• Drive programs and projects with KLA PLC rigor

• Provide regular status updates to management through weekly reports and live presentations, ensuring transparency on progress, changes, and risks.

• Ensure alignment with defined group strategies and roadmaps. Conduct periodic reviews to evaluate progress and adjust plans as necessary.

• Act as a driver for new ideas, methods, and ways of working in a fast-evolving and highly competitive industry.

• Assess, evaluate risks, and drive projects forward with an eye for critical path  

• Communicate cross-functionally with a diverse team including engineering, marketing, manufacturing, and service to drive execution  

• Lead, encourage, empower, and influence team members to achieve excellence in engineering rigor, reliability, usability, and customer focus  

• Articulate and present execution plans for internal leadership as well as external customers  

• Identify bottlenecks and remove obstacles for the team to focus on value-add activities  

• Hold regular meetings between functional groups to ensure interdependencies are well understood and documented  

• Support roadmap development by detailing upcoming requirement changes and resources required  

• Proven ability to work independently with minimal supervision and to deliver results within defined timelines.

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across functions.

• Occasional travel required up to 20%

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

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-MI-Ann Arbor-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.