Applications Development Engineer- eBeam

To make electronics, you need chips, wafers, transistors, reticles, and... To make these, you must see, test and manufacture them at scale—faster and better than ever before. That's where KLA comes in. Whether you're early in your career or an experienced professional, you'll solve complex challenges, work alongside brilliant minds and help shape the future of technology.

Group/Division

The Semiconductor Products and Customers (Semi PC) business unit designs, builds and sells KLA’s product portfolio to help chip manufacturers meet high-quality standards for technologies like AI, data centers, automotive and electronic devices. Our inspection, metrology, and analytics systems detect and monitor defects across logic and memory chips, specialty semiconductors, wafers, reticles, advanced packaging, process equipment and materials. We also develop technologies for specialty processes, IC substrates, and PCB manufacturing, including etch and deposition, component inspection, and imaging and analytics. The e-Beam division plays a critical role in KLA’s inspection ecosystem, with tools that deliver high-resolution, timely insights into defects and critical locations on the wafer. Used alongside KLA’s patterned and bare wafer inspectors, e-Beam systems help our customers quickly identify and understand yield-impacting issues—enabling faster, more effective actions to correct the manufacturing process.

What You'll Do

In this role, you will play a key part in advancing business priorities by delivering high-impact work across your area of expertise.

Applications Engineer- Overlay Metrology (eBeam):

KLA is seeking Applications Development Engineers within its product divisions that design and manufacture inspection and metrology equipment for the semiconductor industry.

Based in Milpitas, USA, this role focuses on characterizing new systems and features through experimental design, data analysis, and documentation of results in application notes and best known methods.

 

Job Description/Key Responsibilities:

Product Development: Characterize next-generation semiconductor inspection, review, and metrology products and features. Develop test plans, collect and analyze data, evaluate product performance, and document results and recommendations through application notes and best-known methods.

New Product Introduction: Support characterization, alpha testing, beta testing, pilot tools, and product ramp activities. Help translate customer requirements and use cases into product and feature requirements.

Customer Applications: Understand semiconductor processes, defect types, yield challenges, and customer use cases and develop optimized applications and solutions using KLA products.

Product Demonstrations & Evaluations: Conduct product demonstrations, evaluations, beta programs, and competitive/head-to-head activities to demonstrate differentiated product value and support customer adoption.

Technical Problem Solving: Perform product diagnosis and problem resolution and partner with Software, Systems, and Hardware Engineering teams to identify and resolve product performance issues.

Data Analysis: Analyze experimental and product performance data to identify technical gaps, optimize applications, and provide data-driven recommendations.

Customer & Field Support: Partner with customers and field teams to maximize product capability and support successful product deployment and adoption.

Knowledge Transfer: Generate best-known-method documents, application notes, test/demo reports, and technical materials. Transfer product knowledge to customers and Applications Engineering teams.

Cross-functional Collaboration: Work closely with Engineering, Software, Marketing, Sales, and other organizations to communicate customer requirements, product gaps, use cases, and opportunities for product improvement.

Willingness to travel domestically and internationally up to 50% of time.

Minimum Qualifications:

Master’s or Doctorate (Academic) Degree in Engineering, Physics, Materials Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Expertise in overlay metrology, including eBeam, optical metrology, or both.
• Thorough, in-depth understanding of customer technologies, requirements, and critical capability gaps.
• Knowledge of optical CD, scatterometry, film metrology, and process characterization.
• Semiconductor fabrication/process or semiconductor-equipment knowledge is highly desirable.
• Experience with Python, MATLAB, JMP, SQL, or similar analytical tools is preferred.
• Excellent customer-facing communication and presentation skills.

Minimum Qualifications

Master's Level Degree and 0 years related work experience; Bachelor's Level Degree and related work experience of 2 years

About KLA

We provide advanced inspection tools, metrology systems, process solutions, and computational analytics that make electronics possible, tackling complex challenges. From electron and photon optics to machine learning and data analytics, we seek perfection at the most fundamental level of matter in the universe. If you want to make electronics that push industries forward and make the world a better place, join us.

Total Rewards

Base Pay Range: $97,800.00 - $166,300.00 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.

Use of AI Statement 

At KLA, our interviews seek to understand your individual skills, problem-solving approach and authentic thinking. To ensure a fair and consistent evaluation, the use of AI, recording tools or other technologies to generate, suggest or provide responses during interviews—whether virtual or in person—is not permitted unless explicitly approved in advance as part of a reasonable accommodation or invited by the interviewer. Use of these tools may interfere with our ability to evaluate your individual qualifications and affect your candidacy. KLA is committed to advancing innovation through responsible AI, and we value candidates who share this mindset.

Equal Opportunity Statement

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.

For additional information, view the US Know Your Rights poster on the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission website.