Research Scientist; Vibration modeling

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, voice‑controlled gadget, flexible screen, VR device, or smart car would have been made without us. KLA invents systems and solutions for the manufacturing of wafers and reticles, integrated circuits, packaging, printed circuit boards, and flat‑panel displays.

Life at KLA is exciting and teams thrive on tackling hard problems.

With over 40 years of semiconductor process control experience, chip makers rely on KLA to ensure their fabs ramp next‑generation devices to volume production quickly and cost‑effectively. KLA's Global Products Group (GPG) is looking for top talent in research science, software engineering, application development, and senior product technology process engineering. Central Engineering is KLA's largest engineering organization consisting of 9 Centers of Excellence across various disciplines.

KLA's Physics Modeling Group in Ann Arbor is looking for an innovative Research Scientist passionate about stress, vibration, vibro‑acoustic, and thermal modeling. The candidate will collaborate with experts in fluid dynamics, structural mechanics, and optics to develop cutting‑edge semiconductor inspection tools using multi‑physics simulations.

• Apply structural vibration and vibro‑acoustic modeling to develop next‑generation inspection and metrology tools.
• Perform modal analysis, harmonic response simulations, and transient vibration simulations using FEA tools.
• Integrate vibration models with thermal and fluid simulations to assess coupled effects on system performance.
• Perform simulations based on multiple physical models and correlate results with experimental data.
• Conduct root‑cause analysis of vibration‑related and thermo‑mechanical issues, proposing design improvements.
• Prepare detailed modeling plans, schedules, and summary reports, maintaining alignment with collaborators.
• Lead and drive modeling engagement with engineering development teams, mentoring junior team members.
• Develop and maintain modeling standards and a capability development roadmap.

• Education in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Applied Physics, or related field.
• Hands‑on experience applying modeling to design sophisticated systems.
• Proficiency in FEA tools (e.g., Abaqus, ANSYS, NASTRAN).
• Strong understanding of solid and structural mechanics, numerical methods, and differential equations.
• Experience with vibration testing and data acquisition systems is a plus.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated collaborative attitude and ability to partner with teams domestically and globally.
• Previous experience with semiconductor or precision‑instrumentation systems is desirable.
• Ability to travel for training and support development teams in various locations.

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.

Base Pay Range: $ - $ Annually. Primary location: U.S., MI – Ann Arbor.

Benefits include medical, dental, vision, life, 401(k) with matching, ESPP, student debt assistance, tuition reimbursement, development opportunities, wellness, paid time off, family care leave, and more.

KLA is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified individuals with disabilities will receive reasonable accommodation to participate in the application process and perform essential job functions. Please contact  for accommodations.