Optics Research Scientist

Company OverviewKLA 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.

Group/Division The Office of the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) plays a critical role in developing advanced long-range technology in collaboration with product divisions and strategic marketing, working on future technology like light sources, lasers, and sensors. We are engaged in the research and development process, and once the technology is mature, we partner with product engineering groups who then build products based on the technology we’ve developed.

The Office of the CTO also provides technical input into KLA’s strategic planning process, program reviews and Product Life Cycle (PLC) phases. We provide our broad technology expertise and cross-division experience to ensure we leverage the collective knowledge within our company.

Job Description /Preferred Qualifications The Office of the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) is seeking an optical engineer/research scientist to support next-generation optical system research and development! This role is ideal for candidates who are passionate about optics/physics/math, eager to learn, and interested in developing expertise in advanced optical system R&D for semiconductor inspection and manufacturing applications!

The successful candidate will work closely with experienced optical engineers and multi-functional teams to develop modeling, analysis, and design capabilities for high-performance optical systems. This position offers significant opportunities for mentorship, technical growth, and hands-on experience with real-world engineering challenges in optics manufacturing and system design and integration.

The role will be a development opportunity, where the candidate can steadily build expertise in optical design, system tradeoffs, manufacturing considerations, and collaboration across multidisciplinary engineering teams.

Responsibilities Support modeling and analysis of advanced wafer-inspection optical systems

Assist in the design and evaluation of objective lenses and related optical subsystems

Learn and apply optical system design principles, including performance, manufacturability, and cost tradeoffs

Perform optical simulations, tolerance analysis, and data analysis using industry-standard software tools as well as proprietary algorithms

Collaborate with senior engineers and multi-functional teams on system architecture and design challenges

Work with internal teams and external suppliers to understand practical considerations in optics fabrication and manufacturing

Participate in experiments, testing, and validation activities for optical system performance

Contribute to documentation, technical reviews, and design discussions

Develop familiarity with semiconductor inspection technologies and high-precision optical engineering practices

Qualifications

Ph.D. in Optical Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, Applied Physics, Electrical Engineering, or related fields with knowledge of, or experience in, optics, optical system design, optical metrology, or photonics

Familiarity with optical design and simulation tools such as Zemax, Code V, OSLO, or similar software

Experience with MATLAB, Python, or similar programming environments for modeling…