System Design Engineer - Wafer Inspection Tool

About the role

KLA, a global leader in electronics for the semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem, is looking for a system design engineer for its Surfscan division in Milpitas. The Surfscan team develops unpatterned wafer surface inspection tools used to qualify and monitor process tools, and the system design team supports several engineering programs and products. The role turns market and customer needs into system configurations and designs experiments to validate new inspection solutions.

Key responsibilities

• Transform market and customer requirements into system configurations.
• Develop novel inspection solutions to improve sensitivity and throughput, designing experiments to validate them.
• Define the system error budget, translate system requirements into sub-module requirements and work with the functional team to meet them.
• Collaborate with key functional groups on tool integration and product launch.
• Own the creation and execution of prototype test plans for the whole system and complex subsystems.
• Work with customer technical development to resolve system issues at the customer site or in manufacturing.

Required profile

• Deep understanding of system, mechanical engineering, platform design and development.
• Good understanding of optics, imaging, electronics, signal processing techniques and statistical analysis techniques, plus simulation knowledge.
• Ability to multitask, work independently and communicate clearly with customers, vendors and colleagues across cultures.
• Preferred: experience with AI and deep learning; project management skills (scoping, budgeting, scheduling) are a plus.
• Qualification options: doctorate with 0 years of experience, master's degree with 3 years, or bachelor's degree with 5 years of related experience.

What we offer

• Base pay range of $136,300 to $231,700 annually, depending on role, level and location.
• Possible performance incentives and benefits such as medical, dental, vision, life insurance, 401(k) with company matching, ESPP, tuition reimbursement, EAP, paid time off and family care leave.