System Design Engineer

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

The SensArray division is the world leading provider of in situ processing measurement and control solutions for the semiconductor industry. The company provides measurement and control solutions to both semiconductor fabs and mask shops to ensure that yields are consistently high thus enabling cost-effective manufacturing SensArray business unit is dedicate to support customer R&D phase as well as HVM with in-situ thermal process control. SensArray business unit enable APC (Automated Process Control) to improve process optimization and yield improvement.

Job Description/Preferred Qualifications

Primary Responsibilities

• Define and own system architecture, requirements, and interface definitions across subsystems
• Lead product transition from development to manufacturing
• Drive DFM / DFA / DFx (Design for Manufacturability, Assembly, Test, Cost)
• Establish and maintain system-level specifications, error budgets, and performance trade-offs
• Lead cross-functional design reviews and ensure alignment across electrical, mechanical, firmware, and software domains
• Drive Design for Excellence (DFx), including manufacturability, assembly, testability, cost, reliability, and serviceability
• Influence subsystem designs to optimize performance, yield, quality, and cost of ownership
• Identify technical risks and develop mitigation strategies throughout the product lifecycle
• Lead system-level integration, validation, and verification planning and execution
• Resolve system-level issues across engineering, manufacturing, and field environments
• Collaborate with product marketing and engineering leadership to align system requirements with customer and roadmap needs
• Provide technical leadership for next-generation technologies (N+1, N+2 roadmap planning)
• Ensure documentation readiness: BOMs, routings, work instructions

New Product Introduction (NPI) Ownership

• Own electrical and system-level aspects of NPI from prototype through production release
• Lead product transition from development to manufacturing, ensuring build readiness (processes, tools, fixtures, test coverage)
• Coordinate prototype, pilot, qualification builds, and early production ramp
• Drive electrical bring-up, debug, system integration, and issue resolution
• Define manufacturing test strategies, coverage, and validation approaches
• Identify and mitigate risks related to yield, reliability, and cycle time
• Partner with manufacturing engineering to drive yield improvement and ramp readiness
• Support supplier / contract manufacturer engagement and sourcing decisions
• Ensure full documentation readiness (BOMs, routings, work instructions, test procedures)
• Drive corrective actions and incorporate lessons learned into future programs
• Support customer demos, first-article builds, and ramp plans

Key Duties

• Develop and evaluate next-generation system concepts and architectures
• Perform modeling and simulation (including physical and thermal principles where applicable) to derive system requirements
• Conduct trade-off analysis to optimize system performance versus cost and schedule
• Lead subsystem partitioning aligned to business and technical objectives
• Ensure comprehensive test, validation, and verification plans are implemented
• Drive root cause analysis and resolution of complex system-level issues
• Lead small cross-functional teams on design issues, supplier escalations, and manufacturing challenges
• Support prototype testing, data analysis, and performance validation
• Develop diagnostic strategies for system troubleshooting and reliability improvement
• Mentor and develop junior system engineers and influence engineering best practices

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong background in modeling and simulation of complex systems (electrical, optical, thermal, or multi-physics)
• Experience developing computational models to analyze system performance under varying conditions
• Knowledge of optical, electromechanical, imaging, thermal, or motion control systems
• Familiarity with scripting languages (e.g., Python) for modeling or data analysis
• Exposure to AI - Skill based/Agent based AI to drive faster work flows.
• Demonstrated expertise in system-level diagnostics and troubleshooting
• Strong analytical problem-solving skills across complex, multi-disciplinary systems
• Ability to communicate effectively across all organizational levels and global teams

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

Minimum Qualifications

• Technical degree in Electrical Engineering, Material Engineering, Physics, Systems Engineering
• 5-10 years of experience in electrical hardware development and productization
• Proven experience with NPI, pilot builds, and manufacturing ramp-up
• Demonstrated success taking hardware designs from concept through manufacturing release
• Strong hands-on experience with lab equipment (oscilloscopes, DMMs, signal generators, analyzers)
• Experience supporting manufacturing builds and resolving cross-disciplinary issues
• Strong communication, documentation, and problem-solving skills
• Experience working with global suppliers and contract manufacturers
• Familiarity with semiconductor equipment, industrial systems, or high-reliability products
• Experience in mixed-signal systems, power distribution, or system-level electrical design
• Understanding of regulatory, safety, and compliance requirements

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 View email address on click.appcast.io or at View phone number on click.appcast.io 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 View email address on click.appcast.io to confirm the person you are communicating with is an employee. We take your privacy very seriously and confidentially handle your information.