Contract Software Engineering Manager Jobs in Detroit, MI

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.

The Information Technology (IT) group at KLA is involved in every aspect of the global business. IT’s mission is to enable business growth and productivity by connecting people, process, and technology. It focuses not only on enhancing the technology that enables our business to thrive but also on how employees use and are empowered by technology. This integrated approach to customer service, creativity and technological excellence enables employee productivity, business analytics, and process excellence.

• Manage and grow a team of AI engineers, ML engineers, and/or software engineers working on AI initiatives.
• Set clear goals, expectations, and success metrics; conduct regular 1:1s, performance reviews, and career development planning.
• Coach team members on technical excellence, delivery discipline, and responsible AI practices.
• Own delivery of AI and GenAI initiatives from concept through production, ensuring scope, timelines, and quality standards are met.
• Guide teams in building production‑grade AI systems, including data pipelines, model training, LLM applications, deployment, and monitoring.
• Balance experimentation with operational rigor—ensuring solutions are scalable, secure, and supportable.
• Provide architectural and design guidance for ML pipelines and model lifecycle management, LLM applications (e.g., RAG, agents, copilots, tool/function calling), and integration of AI services into enterprise applications.
• Review designs and key technical decisions; ensure alignment with platform standards and best practices.
• Partner with data, cloud, and platform teams to ensure AI solutions align with enterprise architecture.
• Collaborate with security, legal, and governance teams to ensure responsible AI, privacy, and compliance requirements are met.
• Communicate status, risks, and outcomes clearly to leadership and stakeholders.
• Ensure AI systems meet standards for reliability, monitoring, cost management, and incident response.
• Establish guardrails for responsible AI: data privacy, model risk, transparency, bias awareness, and auditability.
• Drive continuous improvement through retrospectives, metrics, and adoption of best practices.

• Managing teams building LLM‑based applications or GenAI platforms.
• Familiarity with cloud platforms (Azure, AWS, or GCP) and modern data stacks.
• Exposure to MLOps practices, model monitoring, and AI governance frameworks.
• Experience delivering AI solutions in enterprise domains such as manufacturing, supply chain, finance, or customer operations.

• People Leadership: coaching, feedback, performance management, hiring.
• AI Delivery: ML lifecycle, LLM applications, production readiness.
• Technical Judgment: architecture reviews, trade‑off decisions.
• Execution: roadmap planning, dependency management, risk mitigation.
• Collaboration: product partnership, stakeholder communication.
• Responsible AI: security, privacy, governance awareness.

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• 10+ years of experience in software engineering, ML/AI engineering, or applied data roles.
• 4+ years of people management experience leading technical teams.
• Strong understanding of AI/ML systems and how they are built, deployed, and operated in production.
• Hands‑on background with modern engineering practices (APIs, CI/CD, testing, observability).
• Ability to communicate effectively with both technical and non‑technical stakeholders.

$114,100.00 - $194,000.00 Annually

USA-MI-Ann Arbor - KLA

The KLA total rewards package may 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) with company matching, employee stock purchase program (ESPP), student debt assistance, tuition reimbursement program, development and career growth opportunities, financial planning benefits, wellness benefits and an employee assistance program (EAP), paid time off and paid company holidays, and family care and bonding leave.

KLA 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. KLA never asks for any financial compensation to be considered for an interview, to become an employee, or for equipment. If you have any concerns about the legitimacy of a communication, please email talent.acquisition@kla.com.