Product Development Engineer; vacuum system

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.

With over 40 years of semiconductor process control experience, chip makers 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 toward advanced chip design, KLA's Global Products Group (GPG), which is responsible for creating all of KLA’s metrology and inspection products, is looking for the best and the brightest research scientist, software engineers, application development engineers, and senior product technology process engineers.

The RAPID division is the world leading provider of reticle inspection solutions for the semiconductor industry. The company provides inspection solutions to both the mask shops and the semiconductor fabs to ensure that lithography yields are consistently high thus enabling cost‑effective manufacturing.

As a System Design Engineer, you will focus on the practical implementation, operation, and optimization of semiconductor inspection. Your role centers on hands‑on process tool work, vacuum system maintenance, and data‑driven process improvement. You will support system integration, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement, working closely with senior engineers and cross‑functional teams.

• Support tool bring‑up, preventive maintenance, and process optimization.
• Operate, calibrate, and maintain semiconductor process tools.
• Perform routine and advanced troubleshooting of tool‑level issues.
• Collaborate with equipment and process engineers to resolve hardware/software integration challenges.

• Maintain vacuum integrity for process modules; monitor and optimize vacuum system performance.
• Diagnose and resolve vacuum‑related issues (leaks, pump failures, pressure anomalies).
• Document vacuum system metrics and contribute to process stability.

• Collect, analyze, and interpret process and equipment data to identify trends and anomalies.
• Apply statistical methods (SPC, DOE) to improve yield and tool performance.
• Use data analysis tools (Python, MATLAB, JMP, or equivalent) to support process optimization and troubleshooting.

• Support structured experimentation (DOE) to validate process changes and optimize system parameters.
• Assist in developing calibration procedures and service documentation.
• Contribute to manufacturing ramp and yield improvement through hands‑on experimentation.

• Assist in integrating subsystems (optical, mechanical, electrical, software) under guidance from senior engineers.
• Participate in design reviews and prototype testing.
• Maintain design documentation and support field teams with technical troubleshooting.

• PhD (Engineering or Physical Sciences); or Master’s Level Degree and related work experience of 3+ years; or Bachelor’s Level Degree and related work experience of 5+ years.
• Demonstrated experience with semiconductor process tools and vacuum systems.
• Proficiency in data analysis and statistical methods for process improvement.
• Strong…