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.

Job Description/Preferred Qualifications

KLA is a global leader in process control and yield management solutions for the semiconductor and electronics industries. Virtually every electronic device—from laptops and smartphones to electric vehicles and AI systems—relies on our technologies. For over 40 years, we’ve pioneered innovations in inspection, metrology, and analytics, helping chipmakers accelerate yield and quality in advanced manufacturing. At the intersection of electron and photon optics, sensor technology, and artificial intelligence, our expert teams of physicists, engineers, and data scientists tackle the toughest challenges in semiconductor fabrication. Life here is exciting—there’s never a dull moment as we work with the world’s leading technology providers to deliver the devices that power modern life.

Join KLA’s Surfscan Division, the leader in unpatterned wafer inspection for semiconductor manufacturing. Our team of apps engineers, technologists, and product specialists develop solutions that help advanced semiconductor fabs and equipment manufacturers qualify and monitor process tools. Surfscan equipment detects defects and process non-uniformities early, enabling proactive yield management. As an Applications Engineer, you’ll partner with customers and cross-functional teams to optimize SFS tools, create innovative applications, and drive enhancements for next-generation products. This role blends deep technical expertise with customer engagement to ensure our solutions always deliver maximum value in advanced semiconductor fabs

Key Responsibilities:

• Support, maintain, and troubleshoot SFS tools in customer environments
• Diagnose tool issues, identify corrective actions, and ensure optimal tool performance
• Work closely with service and engineering teams to resolve hardware/software issues
• Develop applications and Best Known Methods (BKMs) to solve complex customer challenges and improve tool capability
• Create use cases, scope new features, identify issues, and drive bug fixes
• Maintain strategic customer relationships and assist sales teams with technical assessments
• Develop and document training materials, and provide technical training
• Collaborate with customers and internal teams to define requirements for future products

Qualifications

• MS or Ph.D. or equivalent experience in Physics, Chemistry, Engineering, Optics, Material Science, or related field
• Experience in semiconductor fabrication or equivalent educational experience
• Strong knowledge of semiconductor process flows and defect types
• Experience in system-level troubleshooting, diagnostics, and reporting
• Cleanroom experience and semiconductor device characterization
• Familiarity with computer operating systems, networking, and analysis tools

Preferred Skills:

• Strong customer focus and ability to build collaborative relationships
• Experience with lasers and optics
• Motivation to innovate and proactively deliver exceptional customer outcomes
• Proven technical leadership and problem-solving skills
• Excellent communication, teamwork, and project management skills
• Ability to present technical content to diverse audiences
• Data analysis tools (Excel, JMP, Minitab, Igor, Origin, ImageJ, etc.)
• Programming (Matlab, LabVIEW, Python, etc.)

Minimum Qualifications

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

We offer a competitive, family friendly total rewards package. We design our programs to reflect our commitment to an inclusive environment, while ensuring we provide benefits that meet the diverse needs of our employees.

KLA is proud to be an equal opportunity employer

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.