Sr. Mechatronics Control Engineer

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.

This role is built for an experienced control systems engineer who wants deep technical ownership and system‑level influence on ultra‑high‑performance motion platforms. At KLA, you will define and drive control architectures for next‑generation semiconductor inspection and metrology systems—working on real hardware, custom actuators, and performance limits where theory meets physics. You will own control strategy decisions from early concept through integration, validation, and production!

You’ll work alongside senior engineers across actuator design, mechanics, software, and optics, influencing how the system is architected—not just how it is controlled.

• Control architecture ownership for ultra‑precision motion and positioning subsystems.
• Design and implementation of sophisticated feedback and feed‑forward control strategies for custom actuators, including magnetic, piezoelectric, and air‑bearing systems.
• Model‑based analysis of system dynamics, including plant characterization, system identification, and performance trade‑off studies.
• Tuning and optimization of multi‑axis motion systems to achieve ambitious requirements in accuracy, stability, efficiency, and adaptability.
• Technical leadership in multi‑functional integration, partnering closely with mechanical, actuator, electronics, software, optics, and system teams.
• Contribution to requirements definition, error budgets, and design reviews, with control performance as a first‑order system driver.
• Hands‑on experimental work, including hardware‑in‑the‑loop testing, real‑time implementation, and root‑cause analysis of sophisticated system behavior.
• Documentation and communication of control strategies, assumptions, and results across global engineering teams.
• Informal mentorship and technical guidance for less‑experienced controls engineers.

• Educational background in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a closely related field.
• Significant experience developing and deploying control systems for high‑performance electromechanical or motion platforms.
• Deep understanding of control theory, system dynamics, and modeling as applied to real, imperfect hardware.
• Hands‑on experience with custom actuators or precision motion systems, not just the off‑the‑shelf components.
• Proficiency with MATLAB/Simulink and/or Python for modeling, simulation, tuning, and data analysis.
• Exposure to sophisticated control techniques (robust, adaptive, efficient, nonlinear, or multivariable systems).
• Familiarity with real‑time control environments, experimental validation, and performance solving.
• Comfort operating in ambiguity, making architectural trade‑offs, and balancing theoretical with practical constraints.
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally as needed.

• Experience with ultra‑precision motion systems, machine dynamics, or semiconductor capital equipment.
• Track record of influencing system design through control and dynamics insight.

Technical ownership with visible impact on flagship systems; opportunity to stay hands‑on while influencing…