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Lead Product Development Engineer Jobs in California

Product Development Engineer

Milpitas, CA ยท On-site

$117K - $200K/yr

Conduct proper hand-off from proof of concept to the Engineering/Product Development Teams for product implementation. Minimum Qualifications Doctorate (Academic) Degree and 0 years related work ...

Product Development Engineer

Milpitas, CA ยท On-site

$117K - $200K/yr

Conduct proper hand-off from proof of concept to the Engineering/Product Development Teams for product implementation. Minimum Qualifications Doctorate (Academic) Degree and 0 years related work ...

Product Development Engineer

Milpitas, CA ยท On-site

$117K - $200K/yr

... development engineers, and senior product technology process engineers. The Optical Metrology Division products are used for optical overlay metrology. The portfolio of products includes unique ...

Product Development Engineer

Milpitas, CA ยท On-site

$117K - $200K/yr

... development engineers, and senior product technology process engineers. The Optical Metrology Division products are used for optical overlay metrology. The portfolio of products includes unique ...

Product Development Engineer

Milpitas, CA ยท On-site

$95K - $161K/yr

Own and support an engineering tool fleet that enables development activities across multiple engineering disciplines. * Support all phases of the product lifecycle, including legacy system ...

Product Development Engineer

Milpitas, CA ยท On-site

$95K - $161K/yr

Own and support an engineering tool fleet that enables development activities across multiple engineering disciplines. * Support all phases of the product lifecycle, including legacy system ...

Product Development Engineer

Thousand Oaks, CA ยท On-site

$98K - $120K/yr

The Product Development Engineer is engaged in executing the main elements of New Product Development to introduce surgical implants, prosthetics, and instruments to market. In this role, you will ...

Product Development Engineer

Milpitas, CA ยท On-site

$117K - $200K/yr

... development engineers, and senior product technology process engineers. The Optical Metrology Division products are used for optical overlay metrology. The portfolio of products includes unique ...

Product Development Engineer

San Jose, CA ยท On-site

$142K - $206K/yr

We are seeking motivated Product Development Engineer to help us in following areas but not limited to it. * Drives and develops testability and manufacturability of integrated circuits from the ...

Product Development Engineer

Milpitas, CA ยท On-site

$117K - $200K/yr

... development engineers, and senior product technology process engineers. The Optical Metrology Division products are used for optical overlay metrology. The portfolio of products includes unique ...

... development engineers, and senior product technology process engineers. The RAPID division is the world leading provider of reticle inspection solutions for the semiconductor industry. The company ...

Showing results 41-60

Lead Product Development Engineer information

See California salary details

$39K

$86.7K

$130.8K

How much do lead product development engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 5, 2026, the average yearly pay for lead product development engineer in California is $86,733.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $71,100.00 and $98,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a lead product development engineer do?

A Lead Product Development Engineer oversees the design, development, and testing of new products from concept to production. They coordinate cross-functional teams, manage project timelines, and ensure products meet both technical and market requirements. Additionally, they solve engineering challenges, mentor junior engineers, and communicate progress to stakeholders. Their role is critical in bringing innovative products to market efficiently and effectively.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a lead product development engineer?

To thrive as a Lead Product Development Engineer, you need expertise in engineering principles, product design, and project management, typically supported by a bachelor's or master's degree in engineering and relevant experience. Familiarity with CAD software, product lifecycle management (PLM) systems, and agile development methodologies is essential. Strong leadership, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication skills help you guide teams and collaborate across functions. These skills ensure innovative products are delivered on time, meet quality standards, and align with business objectives.

How does a lead product development engineer typically collaborate with cross-functional teams during the product lifecycle?

A Lead Product Development Engineer regularly works closely with cross-functional teams, including design, manufacturing, quality assurance, marketing, and supply chain departments. This collaboration ensures that product requirements are clearly understood, technical challenges are addressed efficiently, and deliverables meet both customer and business expectations. Effective communication and project management are essential, as the Lead Engineer often facilitates meetings, integrates feedback, and aligns teams to maintain project timelines and quality standards. Cross-functional teamwork is especially critical during key phases such as prototyping, testing, and product launch.

What is the difference between Lead Product Development Engineer vs Product Development Engineer?

AspectLead Product Development EngineerProduct Development Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Engineering, relevant certifications often preferredBachelor's or Master's in Engineering or related field
Work EnvironmentLeads teams, collaborates across departments, oversees project executionDesigns, develops, and tests products under supervision
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in tech, manufacturing, and engineering firms for senior technical rolesCommon in similar industries for entry to mid-level roles

The Lead Product Development Engineer typically holds a senior technical position, overseeing product development teams and projects, while the Product Development Engineer focuses on designing and testing products under guidance. The lead role involves more leadership and strategic responsibilities, whereas the engineer role emphasizes technical execution.

What job categories do people searching Lead Product Development Engineer jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Lead Product Development Engineer jobs in California are:

Infographic showing various Lead Product Development Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 81% Full Time, 16% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $86,733 per year, or $41.7 per hour.

Product Development Engineer

KLA Corporation

Milpitas, CA โ€ข On-site

$117K - $200K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 19 days ago


Job description

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 RAPID division is the world leading provider of reticle inspection solutions for the semiconductor industry. The company provides inspection solutions to both the mask shops and the semiconductor fabs to ensure that lithography yields are consistently high thus enabling cost-effective manufacturing.

Job Description/Preferred Qualifications

This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the Sensitivity and Throughput Roadmap for both BBP and Rapid Divisions. BBP (Broadband Plasma) Division provides market-leading patterned wafer optical inspection systems for leading-edge IC manufacturing. Rapid Division provides market-leading reticle inspection solutions for the semiconductor industry.

In this role, you will be working with Research Scientists, Optics Engineers and Opto-Mechanical Engineers to develop R&D Inspection Benches to validate new inspection methods that are intended to drive the future of both BBP and Rapid divisions.

These R&D Inspection Benches would be utilized to run actual inspections on customers' wafers and reticles in order to validate the values of the proposed new inspection methods. The inspection results from these R&D benches will determine the adoption/implementation on the actual systems/products, thus the roadmap.

In this role you will:

  • Obtain thorough understanding of the fundamental physics behind the new proposed inspection methods and the underlying problems these new methods are aimed to solve.
  • Work together with Optics Engineers and Optomech Engineers to derive Requirements for the Subsystem to be developed for the bench qualification
  • Work together with Optics Engineers and Optomech Engineers to develop the layout, followed by design concepts and detailed designs to build these R&D Inspection Benches from scratch.
  • Own driving selections of key modules such as light source, optics, sensors/cameras, stages.
  • Work together with Optics Engineers and Optomech Engineers to perform assembly, alignment and integration of these benches.
  • Perform Subsystems qualification (image quality, data path, vibration, thermal, etc.) on these benches to show it meets requirements as pre-requisite before running actual inspections.
  • Running actual inspections on customers' wafers and reticles on these benches to validate proof of concept of these new inspection methods.
  • Communicate results and recommendations to Product teams and Marketing.
  • Conduct proper hand-off from proof of concept to the Engineering/Product Development Teams for product implementation.

Minimum Qualifications

Doctorate (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 yearsBase Pay Range: $117,800.00 - $200,300.00 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.

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. Please contact us attalent.acquisition@kla.com or at +1-408-352-2808 to request accommodation.

Be 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 talent.acquisition@kla.com to confirm the person you are communicating with is an employee. We take your privacy very seriously and confidentially handle your information.