Mechanical Design Engineer (R&D)

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.

Group/Division

With 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 LS-SWIFT Division of KLA’s Global Products Group provides patterned wafer inspection systems for high-volume semiconductor manufacturing. Its mission is to deliver market-leading cost of ownership in defect detection for a broad range of applications in the production of semiconductors. Customers from the foundry, logic, memory, automotive, MEMS, advanced packaging and other markets rely upon high-sample wafer inspection information generated by LS-SWIFT products. LS (Laser Scanning) systems enable cost-effective patterned wafer defect detection for the industry’s most sophisticated process technologies deployed in leading-edge foundry, logic, DRAM, and NAND fabs. SWIFT (Simultaneous Wafer Inspection at Fast Throughput) systems deliver all-wafer-surface (frontside, backside, and edge) macro inspection that is critical for automotive IC, MEMS, and advanced packaging processes as well as foundry/logic and memory fabs. LS-SWIFT operates from a global footprint that includes the US, Singapore, India and Germany, and serves a worldwide customer base across Asia, Europe and North America.

Job Description/Preferred Qualifications

Responsibilities:

Design, develop, and integrate mechanical systems and wafer handling solutions that enable advanced substrate handling performance, reliability, and manufacturability.

Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including Engineering, Marketing, Manufacturing, NPI, and Suppliers, to define system architecture, review designs, and ensure successful end-to-end product delivery.

Analyze system requirements, budgets, and specifications to support system modeling, design decisions, and performance optimization.

Develop prototypes, execute system and subsystem integration, testing, characterization, and validation activities, and create test plans to verify system performance.

Ensure designs are scalable for High Volume Manufacturing (HVM) by working closely with suppliers and manufacturing teams to assess manufacturability, manufacturing processes, and production readiness.

Support product introduction and sustainment by creating assembly, testing, and diagnostic documentation, and providing technical training to Manufacturing and NPI engineers.

Coordinate project activities, drive stakeholder alignment, manage technical issues and escalations, and support manufacturing and field teams in resolving product-related challenges.

Provide regular project status updates, communicate risks and mitigation plans, and ensure alignment with product roadmaps, business objectives, and organizational strategies.

Continuously identify and drive improvements in products, processes, and ways of working to support innovation and competitiveness.

Requirements:

Strong foundation in mechanical design, system integration, and product development, including mechanical assemblies, precision mechanisms, and wafer handling systems.

Experience with modeling, simulation, and analysis tools, including Finite Element Analysis (FEA), structural stress/strain analysis, vibration analysis, and performance prediction.

Solid understanding of Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing (GD&T), manufacturability principles, and high-volume manufacturing processes.

Hands-on experience with prototype assembly, testing, characterization, troubleshooting, and root-cause analysis of complex technical issues.

Proficiency in engineering and data analysis tools such as Python and MATLAB.

Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and deliver results within defined timelines.

Strong problem-solving skills with a demonstrated ability to resolve complex technical challenges in cross-functional environments.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, with the ability to collaborate effectively across global teams.

Experience in mechanical, electro-mechanical, or opto-mechanical system design and support is preferred.

Willingness to travel internationally up to 20% as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, Mechatronics, or a related field, with relevant industry experience in complex mechanical or electro-mechanical systems.

We offer a competitive, family friendly total rewards package. We design our programs to reflect our commitment to an inclusive environment, while ensuring we provide benefits that meet the diverse needs of our employees.

KLA is proud to be an equal opportunity employer

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