Company Overview
KLA is a global leader in diversified electronics for the semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem. Virtually every electronic device in the world is produced using our technologies. No laptop, smartphone, wearable device, voice-controlled gadget, flexible screen, VR device or smart car would have made it into your hands without us. KLA invents systems and solutions for the manufacturing of wafers and reticles, integrated circuits, packaging, printed circuit boards and flat panel displays. The innovative ideas and devices that are advancing humanity all begin with inspiration, research and development. KLA focuses more than average on innovation and we invest 15% of sales back into R&D. Our expert teams of physicists, engineers, data scientists and problem-solvers work together with the world’s leading technology providers to accelerate the delivery of tomorrow’s electronic devices. Life here is exciting and our teams thrive on tackling really hard problems. There is never a dull moment with us.Job Description/Preferred Qualifications
The AI Software Engineer will design and build AI-driven applications powered by large language models (LLMs), with a focus on integrating AI capabilities into user-facing products. This role emphasizes application development, orchestration, and user experience rather than model training. The engineer will develop scalable backend services, prototype intuitive user interfaces, and enable seamless interaction between users and LLM-based systems.
This position requires a strong blend of software engineering, systems thinking, and practical AI implementation to deliver production-ready solutions that leverage LLM APIs and frameworks.Design and develop end-to-end AI applications that leverage LLMs for business use cases
Build and maintain backend services that orchestrate LLM interactions, prompts, and workflows
Prototype and develop intuitive user interfaces that enable effective human-AI interaction
Integrate LLM APIs (e.g., OpenAI, Azure OpenAI, Anthropic) into scalable applications
Develop prompt engineering strategies and manage prompt lifecycle for performance and reliability
Implement retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) architectures using internal and external data sources
Design data pipelines and connectors to enterprise systems (e.g., databases, APIs, knowledge bases)
Monitor, evaluate, and improve AI application performance using metrics such as latency, cost, and response quality
Collaborate with product managers, data scientists, and business stakeholders to translate requirements into AI-enabled solutions
Ensure responsible AI practices, including privacy, security, and bias mitigation
Rapidly prototype AI tools and iterate based on user feedback
Experience working in manufacturing
Experience building AI products using LLM frameworks (e.g., LangChain, Semantic Kernel, LlamaIndex)
Knowledge of retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) and vector databases (e.g., Pinecone, FAISS, Azure Cognitive Search)
Vector database (Milvus) for semantic search, along with a knowledge graph (Neo4j)
Experience orchestrating multi-step AI workflows or agent-based systems
Familiarity with enterprise data platforms and integrations (e.g., Snowflake, SAP, APIs, knowledge graphs)
Experience designing conversational interfaces or chat-based applications
Understanding of evaluation techniques for LLM outputs (quality, grounding, hallucination mitigation)
Exposure to prompt optimization, fine-tuning concepts (not necessarily hands-on training)
Experience deploying scalable microservices architectures
Strong UI/UX sensibility for AI-driven applications
Experience working in cross-functional teams delivering production-grade AI solutions
Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field
3+ years of professional software development experience
Strong programming skills in Python, JavaScript, or similar languages
Experience building and consuming RESTful APIs
Hands-on experience integrating LLM APIs or similar AI services into applications
Familiarity with prompt engineering and LLM interaction patterns
Experience developing web-based user interfaces (e.g., React, Angular, or similar frameworks)
Understanding of cloud platforms (e.g., Azure, Snowflake)
Knowledge of software design principles, version control, and CI/CD practices
Minimum Qualifications
Master's Level Degree and related work experience of 6 years; OR Bachelor's Level Degree and related work experience of 8 years; OR equivalent work experience
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.
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 [email protected] or at +1-408-352-2808 to request accommodation.
Be aware of potentially fraudulent job postings or suspicious recruiting activity by persons that are currently posing as KLA employees. KLA never asks for any financial compensation to be considered for an interview, to become an employee, or for equipment. Further, KLA does not work with any recruiters or third parties who charge such fees either directly or on behalf of KLA. Please ensure that you have searched KLA’s Careers website for legitimate job postings. KLA follows a recruiting process that involves multiple interviews in person or on video conferencing with our hiring managers. If you are concerned that a communication, an interview, an offer of employment, or that an employee is not legitimate, please send an email to [email protected] to confirm the person you are communicating with is an employee. We take your privacy very seriously and confidentially handle your information.
Skills Required
- Master's degree plus 6 years related experience OR Bachelor's degree plus 8 years related experience OR equivalent work experience
- Design and develop end-to-end AI applications leveraging LLMs
- Build and maintain backend services that orchestrate LLM interactions, prompts, and workflows
- Develop prompt engineering strategies and manage prompt lifecycle
- Implement retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) architectures using internal and external data sources
- Design data pipelines and connectors to enterprise systems (databases, APIs, knowledge bases)
- Ensure responsible AI practices including privacy, security, and bias mitigation
- 3+ years of professional software development experience
- Strong programming skills in Python, JavaScript, or similar languages
- Hands-on experience integrating LLM APIs or similar AI services (e.g., OpenAI, Azure OpenAI, Anthropic)
- Experience building AI products using LLM frameworks (LangChain, Semantic Kernel, LlamaIndex)
- Knowledge of RAG and vector databases (Pinecone, FAISS, Azure Cognitive Search); experience with Milvus and Neo4j
- Experience developing web-based user interfaces (e.g., React, Angular) and strong UI/UX sensibility
- Experience building and consuming RESTful APIs and deploying scalable microservices architectures
- Familiarity with enterprise data platforms and integrations (e.g., Snowflake, SAP)
- Understanding of cloud platforms (e.g., Azure), software design principles, version control, and CI/CD practices
KLA Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about KLA and has not been reviewed or approved by KLA.
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Retirement Support — U.S. programs include a formulaic 401(k) employer match with clearly described plan designs in company materials. Consistent plan structure and employer matching signal strong support for long‑term savings.
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Equity Value & Accessibility — A broad base of employees is eligible for RSUs and can participate in an ESPP, extending ownership beyond executives. Company materials position equity as a core component of total compensation.
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Strong & Reliable Incentives — A quarterly profit‑sharing program and performance bonuses are outlined in filings, providing regular variable pay opportunities. These incentives complement base pay and equity to lift overall earnings in strong periods.
KLA Insights
What We Do
KLA develops industry-leading equipment and services that enable innovation throughout the electronics industry. We provide advanced process control and process-enabling solutions for manufacturing wafers and reticles. In close collaboration with leading customers across the globe, our expert teams of physicists, engineers, data scientists and problem-solvers design solutions that move the world forward.
