System Design Engineer 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 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/Preferred Qualifications
KLA's ADE Sustaining Engineering team is seeking a System Design Engineer to support fielded and pre-production semiconductor manufacturing equipment. This role is heavily hands-on, with a strong focus on lab testing, root-cause analysis, and system-level troubleshooting across optics, interferometry, vibration, motion control, and electronics.
The engineer will work directly on complex sub-systems and full tool configurations, diagnosing performance, reliability, and quality issues, and driving corrective actions in collaboration with design, manufacturing, service, and suppliers.
This is not a desk-only role. Success requires comfort working on live hardware in the lab and on tools, integrating data, theory, and practical troubleshooting to stabilize and improve high-precision equipment.
Key Responsibilities

• Perform hands-on lab and system-level testing of semiconductor inspection / metrology equipment, including optical, mechanical, and electromechanical subsystems.
• Troubleshoot complex issues related to:
  • Optical systems (including interferometers and precision imaging paths)
  • Vibration sensitivity and environmental performance
  • Precision motion control stages and actuators
  • Electronics, sensors, and control interfaces
• Design, execute, and document validation, characterization, and reliability tests at component, subsystem, and system levels.
• Lead root-cause investigations using data analysis, physical inspection, and experimentation; develop and validate corrective actions.
• Support sustaining engineering activities for released products, including performance excursions, reliability issues, and customer-driven escalations.
• Analyze field data, lab data, and sensor logs to identify trends and failure mechanisms.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (design engineering, manufacturing, service, quality, suppliers) to implement fixes and improvements.
• Support introduction and qualification of incremental hardware, firmware, or configuration changes.
• Create clear technical documentation, test reports, and engineering recommendations suitable for design reviews and production release.

The successful candidate will be expected to operate as the technical lead for the group and demonstrate the leadership, communication, and organizational skills necessary to build and develop a high-performing engineering team. As the organization grows, this role may evolve into a formal people-management position with responsibility for a small team of engineers.
Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD degree in Optical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a closely related technical field, with experience commensurate to degree level:
  • PhD with 0-2 years of relevant industry, lab, or applied research experience
  • MS with 2-4 years of relevant hands-on engineering experience
  • BS with 4-6 years of relevant hands-on engineering experience
• Experience working in a hands-on lab environment supporting complex hardware systems.
• Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot and root-cause issues on physical systems, not limited to modeling or simulation.
• Working knowledge in one or more of the following technical areas:
  • Optical systems and interferometry
  • Precision vibration measurement, transmission, or mitigation
  • Semiconductor manufacturing or capital equipment
  • Precision motion control systems (motors, stages, encoders, servos)
  • Electronics, sensors, and hardware interfaces
• Ability to independently plan and execute experiments, testing, and validation activities.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to document test results and technical findings clearly.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with semiconductor inspection, metrology, or lithography-adjacent equipment.
• Familiarity with vibration metrics, environmental specifications, or facility interaction effects.
• Experience supporting sustaining or installed-base products, including field issue resolution.
• Comfortable working directly on tools in a lab or fab-like environment.
• Experience collaborating with manufacturing, service, or supplier engineering teams.
• Exposure to data analysis tools (MATLAB, Python, or equivalent) for test data evaluation.

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 years
Base Pay Range: $136,300.00 - $231,700.00 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.