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

Enabling the movement toward advanced chip design, KLA's Measurement, Analytics and Control group (MACH) is looking for the best and brightest research scientists, software engineers, application development engineers and senior product technology process engineers to join our team. The MACH team's mission is to collaborate with our customers to innovate technologies and solutions that detect and control highly complex process variations—at their source—rather than compensate for them at later stages of the manufacturing process. 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. Our MACH team develops leading-edge solutions for patterning process analytics and control technologies, thereby providing customers with critical insight at the feature level, field level and cross-wafer analysis. Our teams also develop advanced modeling simulation, data analytics and process control modeling technologies. As a member of the MACH team, you’ll be joining the most sophisticated and successful process-control company in the semiconductor industry--working across functions to solve the most complex technical problems in the digital age.

Job Description/Preferred Qualifications

Join KLA’s computational patterning group as a Summer Intern and contribute to cutting‑edge research in computational methods for optical imaging. In this role, you will help evaluate and advance simulation technologies used to model patterned‑wafer defects, directly impacting next‑generation inspection solutions.

You will:

• Perform electromagnetic simulations to assess optical inspection sensitivity for nano‑scale patterned‑wafer defects
• Evaluate and benchmark computational methods and algorithms, with a focus on performance, accuracy, and scalability
• Explore new concepts to reduce simulation turnaround time while maintaining high physical fidelity
• Analyze and compare CPU‑ and GPU‑accelerated solutions for large‑scale physics‑based simulations
• Collaborate with researchers and engineers to translate simulation insights into practical inspection improvements

Technical Expertise Required:

• Strong foundation in computational methods for physics simulations (electromagnetics strongly preferred)
• Experience working in Linux‑based HPC environments
• Proficiency in Python and C++
• Experience setting up and running electromagnetic simulations of nano‑scale structures
• Familiarity with commonly used electromagnetic simulation tools, frameworks, or libraries

Nice to have:

• Experience with parallel computing, GPU acceleration, or heterogeneous computing for physics‑based problems
• Hands‑on experience configuring and optimizing GPU environments for scientific workloads

Minimum Qualifications

Currently pursuing an M.S. or Ph.D. in Physics, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics, or Optics, with a focus on electromagnetism, optics, or computational physics

Base Pay Range: $47.00 - $57.00 per hour based on pursuit of a Masters and Ph.D.

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.