Senior Mechanical Design Engineer - Precision Motion Stages

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. KLA's Central Engineering organization is made up of nine Centers of Excellence (CoEs) spanning disciplines like automation, motion control, sensors, platform design, and packaging. Each CoE contributes not only technical deliverables but also deep expertise, best practices, and advanced tools that elevate both what we build—and how we build it.

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.

Preferred Qualifications

The Central Engineering Team seeks a Senior Mechanical Engineer to design a next-generation stage design for high-vacuum platforms, meeting demanding ultra-precision and noise-control requirements! As a senior engineer, you will drive stage mechanical design from concept through validation and sustaining, partnering closely with controls, systems, and manufacturing teams to deliver nanometer-level accuracy and stability. If you are energized by solving hard precision- and vacuum-engineering problems for mission-critical semiconductor inspection equipment, we would like to hear from you!

Responsibilities
Design, develop, and maintain the mechanical architecture of next-generation multi-DOF ultra-precision motion stages that operate under high vacuum for eBeam inspection and review, taking the work from concept through detailed design, prototyping, and validation to meet nanometer-level accuracy, stability, and noise-control targets, including:

• Multi-degree-of-freedom stage structures, flexures, and precision motion mechanisms.

• Vacuum- and UHV-compatible materials and hardware with low-outgassing, contamination-controlled design.

• Bearing, guide, and actuation selection such as air bearings, linear guides, and linear motors.

• Metrology and feedback integration, including laser interferometers and high-resolution encoders.

• Thermal management and drift compensation for stable, repeatable positioning.

• Structural dynamics, damping, and vibration/noise isolation.

Design parts and assemblies in Creo/SolidWorks and generate detailed drawings with GD&T, driving rigorous design-review and release discipline from requirements definition through validation and qualification.

Perform structural, thermal, and vibration/modal FEA and tolerance stack-up analysis to optimize stiffness, damping, accuracy, and manufacturability, and build, test, and troubleshoot prototypes — including modal testing with accelerometers and impact hammers — to characterize dynamic performance and correlate models against test data.

Partner closely with controls, systems, and manufacturing engineers to integrate the stage at the subsystem and system level and to improve performance, manufacturability, reliability, and serviceability.

Own supplier technical engagement for precision parts and subassemblies — motors, bearings, encoders, and machined or cast components — including vendor selection, qualification, and issue resolution.

Embed safety-by-design into mechanical solutions and develop service and production tooling such as jigs, fixtures, alignment tools, and handling concepts.
 

Required Qualifications

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field, with experience in motion systems, precision mechanics, or mechatronics.

• Proficiency in Creo/SolidWorks or a similar 3D CAD modeling tool, backed by several years of work experience, along with structural, thermal, and vibration/modal FEA.

• Design-for-manufacturing (DFM) experience across machining, sheet metal, and castings; working knowledge of data-analysis tools such as Python or MATLAB.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with feedback systems involving laser interferometers and high-resolution optical encoders, linear motors, linear guides, air bearings, and similar components.

• Design experience with dynamic X-Y sub-micron positioning stages, including vibration and modal testing using accelerometers, impact hammers, and comparable instrumentation.

• Semiconductor capital-equipment design experience.

Minimum Qualifications

Doctorate (Academic) Degree and related work experience of 3 years; Master's Level Degree and related work experience of 6 years; Bachelor's Level Degree and related work experience of 8 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: $141,300.00 - $207,233.00 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 [email protected] 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.