Semiconductor R D Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

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 Film and Scatterometry Technology (FaST) Division provides industry leading metrology solutions for worldwide semiconductor IC manufacturers. The FaST Division portfolio of metrology products includes hardware and software solutions for optical film thickness, optical critical dimension (CD), composition, and resistivity measurement systems. These products are essential for the IC manufacturers as they provide critical metrology capabilities for the development and implementation of their advanced IC processes. The FaST division is committed to support our customers to achieve performance entitlement of our solution and we effectively partner with our customers from their early research and development phase to the high volume in-line manufacturing implementation specific for their process needs. The division consists of a global team located in US, Israel, China, and India.
Job Description/Preferred Qualifications
Customer Engagement & Technology Assessment

• Partner with semiconductor manufacturers to assess their technology roadmaps and process integration challenges.
• Identify evolving metrology requirements based on industry trends, customer needs, and device scaling roadmaps.
• Collaborate with customers to define technical specifications and success criteria for new metrology solutions.

Solution Definition & Feasibility Analysis

• Translate customer requirements into clear problem statements and develop conceptual solutions.
• Lead cross-functional teams to assess the feasibility of different technical approaches, considering performance, cost, and manufacturability.
• Identify gaps in existing metrology capabilities and define development priorities for next-generation solutions.

Development Leadership & Technical Validation

• Guide R&D, engineering, and applications teams to implement proposed solutions, ensuring alignment with customer needs.
• Define and oversee validation methodologies for new metrology solutions, including offline and in-fab evaluations.
• Drive risk assessment and mitigation strategies to ensure robust solution deployment.

Customer Site Validation & Deployment

• Oversee the execution of beta testing and customer site validation to ensure product reliability and performance.
• Work closely with field teams to troubleshoot and refine solutions based on real-world application feedback.
• Provide technical guidance and training to customer teams to facilitate adoption of new metrology capabilities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Deep understanding of semiconductor fabrication processes and metrology techniques (e.g., optical, e-beam, AFM, X-ray, etc.).
• Experience with AI/ML-driven metrology applications.
• Knowledge of semiconductor process control and fab automation.
• Familiarity with software-driven metrology solutions and data analytics.
• Experience developing hardware for semiconductor capital equipment industry.

Minimum Qualifications
Doctorate (Academic) Degree and related work experience of 5 years; Master's Level Degree and related work experience of 8 years; Bachelor's Level Degree and related work experience of 12 years
Base Pay Range: $180,000.00 - $306,000.00 Annually
Primary Location: USA-CA-Milpitas-KLA
KLA'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 at talent.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.