Full-Time

Senior Optical Design Engineer

Electron Detector

Posted on 5/29/2025

KLA

KLA

10,001+ employees

High-precision semiconductor inspection and metrology tools

Compensation Overview

$159.3k - $270.8k/yr

+ Performance incentive programs + 401(K) including company matching + tuition reimbursement program

Company Historically Provides H1B Sponsorship

Milpitas, CA, USA

In Person

Category
Electrical Engineering (2)
,
Requirements
  • Doctorate (Academic) Degree and minimum related work experience of 5 years; Master's Level Degree and minimum related work experience of 8 years
  • Knowledge of detector and device physics, DOE, device characterization, reliability, and bench testing
  • Education in Physics, Optics, Electrical/Computer Engineering, or related
  • Experience with characterization, design, and development of sensors (e.g., PIN diodes, APD, MCP, SPAD, photomultipliers, SDD)
  • Experience with high bandwidth, low noise detector readout circuit design (e.g., gain and offset, amplifier selection, ADCs, and noise/signal chain characterization)
  • Experience with PCB board level assembly, bring up, sub-system module assembly, and testing
  • Understanding of signal integrity and component placement for high-bandwidth, low-noise detector circuits
  • Broad understanding of simulation, theoretical concepts, and experimental execution
  • Familiarity with electronic instrumentation in the context of vacuum and scanning electron microscope system environments
  • Familiarity with device layout, ESD protection, packaging, and failure analysis
  • Proficiency in schematic capture/simulation (e.g., LTSpice, Orcad, Allegro or equivalent), scripting (e.g., Matlab/Python), and statistics (e.g., JMP)
  • Self-starter with good interpersonal skills and hands-on lab experience
  • Excellent communication and presentation skills
  • Experience with foundry communication is a plus
Responsibilities
  • Provide technical leadership in detector design and technologies
  • Serve as a key resource within the division to identify and investigate new concepts, develop performance improvements, methods, and sub-systems
  • Collaborate with internal and external partners to develop or improve technologies and processes
  • Design, characterize, calibrate, and integrate detectors and the associated modules
  • Develop and communicate system requirement documents, error budgets, mechanical and electrical interfaces, signal chain details, working parameters and verification test plans
  • Participate and complete design, simulation, reviews, validation, and experiments for system characterization, debugging, and risk mitigation
  • Coordinate design, sourcing, and verification activities with electrical, mechanical, optical, and software engineering teams
  • Work with vendors to source key components and provide scope-of-work documentation
  • Some travel for vendor or customer engagement
Desired Qualifications
  • Experience with foundry communication is a plus

KLA provides process control and yield management solutions for semiconductor manufacturers, offering high-precision inspection tools, metrology systems, and computational analytics software to monitor production and detect defects. Its products inspect wafers, measure critical features, and analyze data to identify deviations, enabling adjustments that raise yields and improve device performance. KLA differentiates itself with an integrated hardware-software-services suite focused on defect detection and yield optimization, backed by long-term service contracts and licenses. The company aims to power global operations with 100% renewable electricity by 2030, with the goal of helping semiconductor makers achieve higher yields and more reliable production.

Company Size

10,001+

Company Stage

IPO

Headquarters

Milpitas, California

Founded

1975

Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Advanced packaging revenue grows from $635M in 2025 to $1B in 2026.
  • AI chip demand drives Q3 2026 revenue to $3.415B, up 11% YoY.
  • Service revenue hits $775M in March 2026, up 16% YoY.

What critics are saying

  • US export controls cut China revenue at 31.2% of total in 2026.
  • ASML erodes share in advanced packaging with superior EUV tools.
  • Morgan Stanley forecasts 2026 revenue underperformance from supply constraints.

What makes KLA unique

  • KLA holds over 50% market share in semiconductor process control.
  • Broadband plasma technology detects defects at light speed since 1975.
  • Leads advanced wafer-level packaging process control since 2025.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

401(k) Retirement Plan

401(k) Company Match

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Student Loan Assistance

Tuition Reimbursement

Wellness Program

Mental Health Support

Paid Vacation

Paid Holidays

Parental Leave

Company News

Yahoo Finance
Mar 24th, 2026
KLA advances packaging revenue hits $950M with 70% growth, eyes mid-teens expansion in 2026

KLA is benefiting from strong advanced packaging growth driven by increasing demand for AI and high-performance computing chips. The company reported advanced packaging systems revenue of approximately $950 million in calendar 2025, representing over 70% year-over-year growth, with mid-to-high-teens growth expected in 2026. KLA forecasts the core wafer fabrication equipment market to reach the low $120 billion range in 2026, up from approximately $110 billion in 2025. Advanced packaging is expected to grow to around $12 billion, bringing the total market to the mid-$130 billion range. However, the company faces headwinds including supply constraints, rapidly increasing lead times and tariff impacts of roughly 100 basis points. KLA also faces stiff competition from ASML and Applied Materials in advanced packaging.

Yahoo Finance
Mar 23rd, 2026
KLA leads cash efficiency while Bentley Systems and Paramount fall short

This article discusses three cash-producing stocks, recommending one buy and two sells. **Sell recommendations:** Bentley Systems (BSY), a digital infrastructure software provider, shows concerning signs with average ARR growth of just 12.3% and a projected 3.1 percentage point decline in free cash flow margin next year. Paramount Global (PSKY) struggles with annual sales growth of only 2.7% over five years and weakening returns on capital, with free cash flow margin expected to shrink by 2.7 percentage points. **Buy recommendation:** KLA Corporation (KLAC), a leading semiconductor inspection equipment supplier, maintains a strong 34.4% trailing 12-month free cash flow margin. The article notes that whilst strong cash flow indicates stability, it doesn't guarantee superior returns without proper capital allocation.

Yahoo Finance
Mar 7th, 2026
AMAT, TSM, and KLAC see strong institutional inflows as semiconductor AI boom continues

Applied Materials, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing and KLA Corporation present semiconductor opportunities, according to Lucas Downey. Applied Materials reported $7 billion in first-quarter fiscal 2026 revenue with non-GAAP earnings of $2.38 per share, guiding for $7.65 billion in quarterly revenue and up to $2.84 earnings per share. TSMC, with a $1.5 trillion market capitalisation, posted $33.7 billion in fourth-quarter fiscal 2025 revenue and 46.4% earnings-per-share growth, projecting up to $35.8 billion in first-quarter 2026 revenue. The company shows 19% three-year sales growth and 21.9% earnings-per-share growth. KLA Corporation, valued at $200 billion, has gained 99.7% over the past year. Its second-quarter fiscal 2026 report showed full-year revenue exceeding $12.7 billion, up 17% year-over-year, with 29% earnings-per-share growth.

Yahoo Finance
Feb 8th, 2026
Citi raises KLA price target to $1.8K amid Phase 2 wafer fab equipment upcycle

Citi has raised its price target for KLA Corporation from $1,450 to $1,800, maintaining a "Buy" rating on 30 January. The upgrade reflects confidence in a persistent Phase 2 upcycle in wafer fabrication equipment, with potential upside extending into 2027. KLA reported fiscal second-quarter results on 29 January, posting non-GAAP net income of $1.17 billion and revenue of $3.30 billion, exceeding guidance. The company expects third-quarter revenue of $3.35 billion and non-GAAP earnings per share of $9.08, driven by AI-related semiconductor investment. RBC Capital also raised its price target from $1,550 to $1,600 whilst maintaining a "Sector Perform" rating. KLA provides process control and inspection systems critical to advanced semiconductor manufacturing.

Yahoo Finance
Jan 30th, 2026
KLA stock drops 11.5% despite beating earnings as tariffs and component shortages cloud outlook

KLA Corporation shares fell 11.5% on Friday despite beating Wall Street expectations in its second-quarter earnings report. The semiconductor equipment maker posted revenue of $3.30 billion, up 7.1% year over year, and adjusted earnings of $8.85 per share, surpassing analyst forecasts. However, investors focused on operational challenges highlighted during the earnings call. CFO Bren Higgins warned that component shortages are extending equipment delivery lead times, whilst tariff expenses are pressuring margins. The company is also struggling to meet strong demand for memory-chip manufacturing tools. The sell-off follows a 140% stock gain over the previous 52 weeks. Analysts suggest the decline represents profit-taking rather than fundamental concerns, noting KLA's market position remains strong with limited alternatives for high-end chip-making equipment.

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