Mechanical Design Engineer; vacuum system

Job Title

Mechanical Design Engineer

Responsibilities:

• Lead the mechanical design, integration, and validation of complex, multi-chamber subsystems, ensuring structural stability, precision performance, and robust contamination control.
• Design and develop ultra-clean vacuum system hardware, including chamber structures, interfaces, materials/finishes, seals, and internal components, applying UCV principles such as low-out gassing materials, precision cleaning requirements, and contamination-minimizing geometries.
• Develop mechanical concepts and detailed designs for chambers, frames, interfaces, mounts, enclosures, and precision mechanisms; create drawings, specifications, and requirements for cross-functional teams.
• Drive structural, thermal, fluid, and vibrational analyses to optimize component performance and system stability.
• Collaborate closely with optics, metrology, electrical, controls/PLC, software, manufacturing, and service teams to ensure subsystem compatibility and seamless system-level integration.
• Support vacuum-related elements across chambers (e.g., main chamber, stage chamber, transfer chamber, etc.) by defining interfaces, mechanical constraints, and performance requirements that integrate with overall system design.
• Contribute to the development and documentation of vacuum operation schemes (pump-down, roughing, purge, vent, bake/clean cycles), and partner with Controls/SE on interlocks and sequencing.
• Establish and maintain contamination-control strategies—including materials selection, cleanliness/handling guidelines, and UCV-grade component practices—working with Materials Engineering and Supply Chain to evaluate suppliers.
• Perform first-order and detailed analyses for pumping configurations, conductance effects, and subsystem-level performance impacts; collaborate with vacuum specialists as needed for deeper modeling.
• Lead mechanical and system-level design reviews (CDR, DDR), ensuring design requirements flow correctly to partner teams (mechanical, electrical, opto-mechanical, metrology, EFEM/loader, source).
• Own integration of chambers and platform structures for vibration isolation, optical stability, and stage dynamic performance.
• Plan, execute, and oversee test activities—prototype chambers, subsystem test stands, and pre-factory builds—including instrumentation, test methods, data analysis, and acceptance metrics.
• Manage risk through FMEA, issue tracking, corrective actions, and design-for-reliability improvements across NPI and into HVM.
• Mentor engineers, establish best practices (DfX, contamination handling, documentation standards), and maintain engineering artifacts and decision rationale for long-term R&D continuity.

• Education:
  
  MS/PhD in Mechanical Engineering or related field (Applied Physics, Materials Science, EE, etc.).
• Experience:
  
  8–12+ years in mechanical design and integration of complex systems (semiconductor equipment, precision instrumentation, multi-chamber tools, or equivalent). Experience collaborating on vacuum operation schemes and PLC-controlled interlocks is a plus but not required as a primary role.
• Technical depth:
  Strong foundation in mechanical engineering—precision design, structural/thermal/vibration analysis, contamination control, materials/finishes, and system-level integration. Familiarity with vacuum principles (pumping, conductance, gauging, cleanliness) desired.
• Tools:
  Proficiency in 3D CAD/PLM workflows; experience with analysis tools (ANSYS/COMSOL or similar); scripting (Python/Matlab) for data processing and modeling; collaboration with PLC/HMI teams.
• Soft skills:
  
  Demonstrated cross-functional leadership, clear technical communication, supplier interaction, issue-resolution ownership, and mentoring experience.

Doctorate (Academic) or work experience of 2 years, Master's Level Degree or work experience of 4 years, Bachelor's Level Degree or work experience of 5 years

Base Pay Range: $ - $ Annually

Primary

Location:

USA-CA-Milpitas-KLA

KLA's total rewards package for employees may also include participation in performance incentive programs and eligibility for additional benefits including but not…