Product Development Engineer (Analytical Hardware)

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 ECI Division at KLA delivers chemical metrology and process control solutions that enable precise monitoring and control of critical wet process steps in semiconductor and advanced packaging manufacturing. By providing real time chemical analysis and management systems, ECI helps customers prevent yield limiting defects, stabilize complex metallization and cleaning processes and support next generation device and packaging technologies.

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.

With over 40 years of semiconductor process control experience, chipmakers around the globe rely on KLA to ensure that their fabs ramp next-generation devices to volume production quickly and cost-effectively. Enabling the movement towards advanced chip design through greater chemical process control is KLA's ECI Technology division. ECI is an industry leader of in-process chemistry control, providing the precision of analysis the industry requires for consistent wafer quality while reducing chip feature size. Advanced wafer design drives the need for precision with reliability; ECI strives to lead the design of analytical equipment which can withstand the rigorous demands of the chemical processes for damascene, wafer-level packaging, clean and wet etch processes, with our Prima, Libra, Quanta and QualiSurf product lines.

Successful Product Development Engineer will work in the System Engineering group based in Totowa, NJ. You will be working in the Engineering Technology team to conceptualize, develop and test the next generation of devices which will be used to advance our chemical analysis technology. This is a wide-ranging requirement which covers aspects from microfluidic dispensing to spectrophotometric measurements. This role will involve requirements analysis, theoretical evaluation on the capabilities of available technologies, identification of the gaps and definition of the actions required to close those gaps, conceptual design, and requirements of new devices if existing technologies are not a fit and testing of the designs with reports generated to support the conclusions. Communication skills are important, there are requirements for communication with suppliers and the internal KLA groups.

Job Definition:

• Work with Applications, R&D and engineering to define requirements and develop specifications for the chemical analysis process.
• Develop improvement plans and test plans required to meet our requirements, drive the vendors to execute those plans.
• Evaluate and test to validate materials used for devices or new designs, to determine compatibility to the chemistry used in the application.

• Conceptualize and bring to fruition new device designs when none exist. Define the requirements, gaps that the device fills, error budget and constraints.
• Work with mechanical, electrical and software engineering groups to define and review designs and test plans. Create and execute test plans and perform analysis to validate device or system performance. Troubleshoot system and subsystem issues and work with various subsystem teams to find and implement solutions.

• Support internal and external customers in implementing processes to build and use the tool effectively and optimize tool performance. Lead advanced troubleshooting efforts in manufacturing and in the field
• Occasional domestic and international travel will be required (<20%)

Qualifications:

• Master's Level Degree and 0 years related work experience; Bachelor’s Level Degree and related work experience of 2 years.
• Enjoys working in chemical labs and cleanrooms.
• Familiar with one or more scientific and statistical analysis tools such as Matlab, Python and LabView
• Experience or related study in microfluidic systems and dispensing, material science, spectrophotometry or fiber-optics, mechanical/electrical engineering, physics, or related disciplines are desired.
• Must have a strong background in engineering or the physical science and demonstrated analysis and problem-solving skills
• Must have a good understanding of Mechanical, Fiber-optic, Fluidic, and Electromechanical and Software and Control systems and their interactions in the context of complex industrial equipment.
• Strong diagnostic and trouble shooting skills in fluidic dispensing and handling, opto-spectrometric systems, mechanical, electro-mechanical, motion control systems, and software structure and execution
• Agility and ability to thrive on a fast-paced program and respond quickly to field and internal escalations

Minimum Qualifications

Master's Level Degree and 0 years related work experience; Bachelor's Level Degree and related work experience of 2 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: $85,600.00 - $125,533.00 Annually Primary Location: USA-NJ-Totowa-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 [email protected] 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.