{"id":3384103,"url":"https://alion.io/job/kla-corporation-system-design-engineer-11","title":"System Design Engineer","company":{"id":2407,"name":"KLA Corporation","domain":"kla.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/kla","size_band":"5000+","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Workday","truth_index":{"grade":"A","score":87,"open_postings":98,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0.52,"repost_share":0.01,"time_to_fill_p50_days":57,"computed_at":"2026-11-06T05:58:05Z"}},"role":"DevOps","role_family":"DevOps","seniority":"middle","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Milpitas, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":{"min_usd":96000,"max_usd":194000,"period":"year","method":"role_seniority_country_remote_cell","sample_n":709},"experience_years_min":4,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":true,"technologies":[{"name":"GPG","optional":false},{"name":"MATLAB","optional":true},{"name":"Photolithography","optional":true},{"name":"Python","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-08-25T00:00:00Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-08-25","last_verified_at":"2026-11-06T06:16:41Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":73,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":73},"description":"Company Overview\nKLA 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\nWith over 40 years of semiconductor process control experience, chipmakers 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 towards 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 Surfscan group includes a team of engineers, technology development, apps engineers and product marketing focused on technology that enables wafer, IC and equipment manufacturers to develop, qualify and monitor their process tools. Defects and process non-uniformities detected on Surfscan equipment allow for early identification of yield excursions. The flagship Surfscan products include the SPx platforms for wafer surface quality and wafer defect inspection tools and systems for inspection of polished wafers, epi wafers and engineered substrates during the wafer fabrication process.Job Description/PreferredQualifications\nKLA’s ADE Sustaining Engineering team is seeking a System Design Engineer to support fielded and pre-production semiconductor manufacturing equipment. This role is heavily hands-on, with a strong focus on lab testing, root-cause analysis, and system-level troubleshooting across optics, interferometry, vibration, motion control, and electronics.\nThe engineer will work directly on complex sub-systems and full tool configurations, diagnosing performance, reliability, and quality issues, and driving corrective actions in collaboration with design, manufacturing, service, and suppliers.\nThis is not a desk-only role. Success requires comfort working on live hardware in the lab and on tools, integrating data, theory, and practical troubleshooting to stabilize and improve high-precision equipment.\nKey Responsibilities\nPerform hands-on lab and system-level testing of semiconductor inspection / metrology equipment, including optical, mechanical, and electromechanical subsystems.\nTroubleshoot complex issues related to:Optical systems (including interferometers and precision imaging paths)\nVibration sensitivity and environmental performance\nPrecision motion control stages and actuators\nElectronics, sensors, and control interfaces\n\nDesign, execute, and document validation, characterization, and reliability tests at component, subsystem, and system levels.\nLead root-cause investigations using data analysis, physical inspection, and experimentation; develop and validate corrective actions.\nSupport sustaining engineering activities for released products, including performance excursions, reliability issues, and customer-driven escalations.\nAnalyze field data, lab data, and sensor logs to identify trends and failure mechanisms.\nCollaborate with cross-functional teams (design engineering, manufacturing, service, quality, suppliers) to implement fixes and improvements.\nSupport introduction and qualification of incremental hardware, firmware, or configuration changes.\nCreate clear technical documentation, test reports, and engineering recommendations suitable for design reviews and production release.\nThe successful candidate will be expected to operate as the technical lead for the group and demonstrate the leadership, communication, and organizational skills necessary to build and develop a high-performing engineering team. As the organization grows, this role may evolve into a formal people-management position with responsibility for a small team of engineers.\nRequired Qualifications\nBachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD degree in Optical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a closely related technical field, with experience commensurate to degree level:PhD with 0-2 years of relevant industry, lab, or applied research experience\nMS with 2-4 years of relevant hands-on engineering experience\nBS with 4-6 years of relevant hands-on engineering experience\n\nExperience working in a hands-on lab environment supporting complex hardware systems.\nDemonstrated ability to troubleshoot and root-cause issues on physical systems, not limited to modeling or simulation.\nWorking knowledge in one or more of the following technical areas:Optical systems and interferometry\nPrecision vibration measurement, transmission, or mitigation\nSemiconductor manufacturing or capital equipment\nPrecision motion control systems (motors, stages, encoders, servos)\nElectronics, sensors, and hardware interfaces\n\nAbility to independently plan and execute experiments, testing, and validation activities.\nStrong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to document test results and technical findings clearly.\nPreferred Qualifications\nExperience with semiconductor inspection, metrology, or lithography-adjacent equipment.\nFamiliarity with vibration metrics, environmental specifications, or facility interaction effects.\nExperience supporting sustaining or installed-base products, including field issue resolution.\nComfortable working directly on tools in a lab or fab-like environment.\nExperience collaborating with manufacturing, service, or supplier engineering teams.\nExposure to data analysis tools (MATLAB, Python, or equivalent) for test data evaluation.\nMinimum Qualifications\nDoctorate (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\nBase Pay Range: $136,300.00 - $231,700.00 AnnuallyPrimary Location: USA-CA-Milpitas-KLAKLA’s total rewards package for employees may also include participation in performance incentive programs and eligibility for additional benefits including but not limited to: medical, dental, vision, life, and other voluntary benefits, 401(K) including company matching, employee stock purchase program (ESPP), student debt assistance, tuition reimbursement program, development and career growth opportunities and programs, financial planning benefits, wellness benefits including an employee assistance program (EAP), paid time off and paid company holidays, and family care and bonding leave.Interns are eligible for some of the benefits listed. Our pay ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The range displayed reflects the pay for this position in the primary location identified in this posting. Actual pay depends on several factors, including state minimum pay wage rates, location, job-related skills, experience, and relevant education level or training. We are committed to complying with all applicable federal and state minimum wage requirements where applicable. If applicable, your recruiter can share more about the specific pay range for your preferred location during the hiring process.\nKLA is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We will ensure that qualified individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us at  or at +1-408-352-2808to requestaccommodation.\nBe aware of potentially fraudulent job postings or suspicious recruiting activity by persons that are currently posing as KLA employees. KLA never asks for any financial compensation to be considered for an interview, to become an employee, or for equipment. Further, KLA does not work with any recruiters or third parties who charge such fees either directly or on behalf of KLA. Please ensure that you have searched KLA’s Careers website for legitimate job postings. KLA follows a recruiting process that involves multiple interviews in person or on video conferencing with our hiring managers. If you are concerned that a communication, an interview, an offer of employment, or that an employee is not legitimate, please send an email to  to confirm the person you are communicating with is an employee. 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