{"id":132456,"url":"https://alion.io/job/kla-corporation-system-design-engineer-2","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":86,"open_postings":94,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0.543,"repost_share":0.021,"time_to_fill_p50_days":53,"computed_at":"2026-10-17T05:46:00Z"}},"role":"DevOps","role_family":"DevOps","seniority":"senior","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"explicit","locations":["Milpitas, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":136300,"max":231700,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":231700},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":5,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":true,"technologies":[{"name":"GPG","optional":false},{"name":"ChatGPT","optional":true},{"name":"Copilot","optional":true},{"name":"Devin","optional":true},{"name":"GitHub","optional":true},{"name":"MATLAB","optional":true},{"name":"Python","optional":true},{"name":"SolidWorks","optional":true},{"name":"Windsurf","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-07-28T00:00:00Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-07-28","last_verified_at":"2026-10-18T16:56:47Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":82,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":82},"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\nWe are seeking a highly motivated System Engineer to lead the development and integration of complex inspection, metrology, or advanced instrumentation systems. The successful candidate will work across optical, mechanical, electrical, software, and algorithm disciplines to define system requirements, manage performance budgets, resolve technical issues, and drive product development from concept through release.\nKey Responsibilities\nDefine and manage system-level requirements, architecture, and performance specifications.\nDevelop and maintain comprehensive system error budgets, including optical, mechanical, thermal, electrical, and environmental contributors.\nLead root-cause analysis and resolution of system performance issues.\nCollaborate with optical, mechanical, electrical, software, and product engineering teams to optimize overall system performance.\nConduct trade studies and evaluate design alternatives balancing performance, cost, reliability, and manufacturability.\nSupport system integration, verification, validation, and product release activities.\nCommunicate technical findings and recommendations to engineering leadership and cross-functional stakeholders.\nUp to 10% travel required\nRequired Qualifications\nM.S. or Ph.D. in Optical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related technical field.\n5+ years of experience in complex system development, preferably in semiconductor, optical instrumentation, robotics, aerospace, medical device, or advanced manufacturing industries.\nStrong understanding of:Optical systems and imaging fundamentals\nSystem performance analysis and error budgeting\nMechanical design principles and tolerance analysis\nMechatronic system integration\n\nExperience translating customer and product requirements into system specifications.\nStrong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.\nPreferred Qualifications\nExperience with optical inspection, wafer metrology, machine vision, scientific cameras, photodetectors, laser-based instrumentation, high-speed signal processing, and semiconductor process control systems.\nExperience with precision optics, illumination, imaging systems, lasers, or metrology equipment.\nKnowledge of finite element analysis (FEA), structural dynamics, vibration control, and thermal analysis.\nFamiliarity with requirements management and systems engineering methodologies.\nExperience using modeling and simulation tools such as MATLAB, Python, Zemax, Code V, SolidWorks, and/or ANSYS.\nExperience leading cross-functional technical teams.\nAI and Digital Engineering Skills (Preferred)\nDemonstrated experience using AI-assisted engineering and productivity tools (e.g., Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT, GitHub Copilot, Devin(Windsurf), or similar platforms).\nAbility to leverage AI tools for engineering analysis, design reviews, requirements generation, risk assessment, documentation, and troubleshooting.\nInterest in applying AI technologies to accelerate system development, improve design quality, and enhance engineering productivity.\nDesired Attributes\nSystems thinker capable of balancing subsystem performance against overall product objectives.\nStrong technical leadership and influence without authority.\nProactive with a strong sense of project ownership, urgency, and accountability in delivering high-quality engineering solutions.\nCurious, innovative, and eager to leverage emerging technologies, including AI, to improve engineering effectiveness.\nEffective collaborator in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary development environment.\nMinimum Qualifications\nM.S. or Ph.D. in Optical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related technical field.\n5+ years of experience in complex system development, preferably in semiconductor, optical instrumentation, robotics, aerospace, medical device, or advanced manufacturing industries.\nStrong understanding of:Optical systems and imaging fundamentals\nSystem performance analysis and error budgeting\nMechanical design principles and tolerance analysis\nMechatronic system integration\n\nExperience translating customer and product requirements into system specifications.\nStrong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.\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. We take your privacy very seriously and confidentially handle your information.","description_format":"text","description_chars":9126,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":5,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"master","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Growth opportunities"],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United States","iso":"US","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Semiconductor Equipment"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-07-28T00:00:00Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":10,"band":"cold","label":"Long shot","p_open":1,"p_active":0.28,"p_room":0.36,"age_days":81,"expected_fill_days":53,"reasons":["conf:32","stale_co","evergreen","velocity","win:tail","crowd:brand"],"computed_at":"2026-10-17T05:46:00Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":231700,"is_top_pay":true},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/kla-corporation-system-design-engineer-2","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/kla-corporation-system-design-engineer-2.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-18T23:23:42Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":25766,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-19T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":2407},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=2407"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fkla-corporation-system-design-engineer-2"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fkla-corporation-system-design-engineer-2"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fkla-corporation-system-design-engineer-2"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/kla-corporation-system-design-engineer-2\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fkla-corporation-system-design-engineer-2"}]}