Opto-Mechanical Design Engineer

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 KLA Services team consists of Service Sales, Marketing, Spares Supply Chain Management, Field Operations, Engineering, Product Training, Digital Solutions and Analytics, and Technical Product Support. Our services organization maximizes the value of our customers' KLA assets – with highly trained service and product support engineers providing installation services and 24/7 technical support and parts delivery through our extensive supply chain network.

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.

KLA is seeking an Opto-Mechanical Design Engineer to develop precision optical and mechanical subsystems for advanced semiconductor inspection and metrology equipment. The successful candidate will work in a multidisciplinary environment to design, analyze, prototype, integrate, and validate high-performance opto-mechanical systems while collaborating closely with optical, electrical, systems, software, and manufacturing engineers.

This role is ideal for candidates with a strong foundation in mechanical engineering, optics, and precision engineering who are passionate about developing innovative solutions for complex optical instrumentation.

Successful candidates will possess strong mechanical and optical engineering fundamentals, experience with CAD and engineering analysis tools, and the ability to support the full development cycle from design through testing and integration. Expertise in geometric optics, optical alignment, precision engineering, FEA, and opto-mechanical design is highly valued, while experience with adhesive bonding, soldering, and cleanroom-compatible assemblies is considered a plus.

Core Responsibilities:

• Design and develop precision opto-mechanical components, assemblies, and subsystems.
• Create 3D CAD models, detailed drawings, BOMs, and engineering documentation.
• Perform structural, thermal, vibration, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and tolerance analyses to support design decisions.
• Support prototype fabrication, assembly, integration, testing, and troubleshooting, documentation release.
• Partner with optical engineers to align and integrate lenses, mirrors, lasers, detectors, and other optical components.
• Maintain optical alignment and positioning tolerances at the micron level to achieve system performance requirements.
• Develop optical mounting solutions that provide stability under thermal and mechanical loading conditions.
• Participate in design reviews and collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams.
• Support manufacturing, supplier interactions, and product release activities

Preferred Technical Skills

CAD & Mechanical Design

• Proficiency with Creo, SolidWorks, or equivalent 3D CAD software.
• Experience creating engineering drawings and applying GD&T principles.
• Understanding of tolerance stack-up analysis and precision assembly design.

Optical Fundamentals

• Strong working knowledge of geometric optics, ray tracing principles, and optical alignment methodologies.
• Understanding of optical tolerancing and alignment sensitivity.

Opto-Mechanical Engineering

• Experience designing optical mounts and precision opto-mechanical assemblies.
• Familiarity with optical and mechanical error sources and alignment stability considerations.
• Experience integrating lenses, mirrors, lasers, detectors, and imaging components.

Analysis & Simulation

• Experience with FEA for structural and thermal analysis.
• Familiarity with vibration and modal analysis.
• Basic familiarity with CFD and thermal management concepts.
• Precision Engineering
• Understanding of kinematic design principles.
• Knowledge of thermal expansion effects and thermal stability considerations.
• Familiarity with vacuum-compatible and low-outgassing materials.

Assembly & Integration

• Familiarity with adhesive bonding techniques for optical assemblies.
• Basic soldering and electronic assembly skills for prototyping and integration.
• Experience supporting laboratory builds, testing, and system integration.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, or a related field.
• 0–3 years of relevant industry, research, or laboratory experience.
• Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, or a related field.
• 3–5 years of relevant industry experience in precision mechanical or opto-mechanical design.
• Strong foundation in mechanical engineering and precision system design.
• Experience with opto-mechanical assemblies, optical mounting, and alignment techniques.
• Familiarity with prototype development, testing, and troubleshooting.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary engineering environment.
• Experience with use and development of AI tools and agents for design, optimization, and validation.

Minimum Qualifications

• 5 years of related experience with a Bachelors degree; or 3 years experience with a Master's degree; 0 years of experience with a PHD; or equivalent experience

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: $97,000.00 - $142,267.00 Annually
Primary Location: USA-MI-Ann Arbor-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.