JobsSystems Design Engineer – Optical Imaging Systems R&D
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Systems Design Engineer – Optical Imaging Systems R&D

KLA

Location

Milpitas, CA

Type

Full-time

Posted

5/4/2026

Compensation

$159,500 - $271,200 per year

PhD Entry-Level
Master's with 5+ Years of Experience
Undergraduate with 5+ Years of Experience
Approval 97.8%·Filings 803·New hires 321·
💎 Strong Sponsor
·FY 2025

Job description

The Systems Engineer will join the RAPID Advanced Technology team at KLA, focusing on designing, analyzing, and validating system-level performance for advanced optical inspection platforms. The ideal candidate will possess deep expertise in optical physics or engineering and will work closely with various engineering teams to ensure robust designs that meet customer needs. This role emphasizes collaboration and innovation in the semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem. The position offers an exciting opportunity to tackle complex engineering challenges.

Requirements

  • Doctorate degree with 3 years of related work experience, or a Master's degree with 6 years of experience, or a Bachelor's degree with 8 years of experience.
  • Strong background in engineering or physical sciences with demonstrated analysis and problem-solving skills.
  • Solid foundation in optical physics, including imaging systems, diffraction, illumination, and wave optics.
  • Hands-on experience with optical system modeling and simulation tools.
  • Proficiency in data acquisition, numerical analysis, and visualization using tools such as MATLAB or Python.

Responsibilities

  • Conduct feasibility investigations of novel system and subsystem concepts.
  • Define system requirements, specifications, and verification plans across various subsystems.
  • Develop and maintain detailed error budgets linking subsystem performance to overall system requirements.
  • Perform simulation and data analysis to model and validate system performance.
  • Collaborate cross-functionally with engineering, applications, manufacturing, and service organizations throughout the product lifecycle.

Benefits

  • Employees at KLA are often offered competitive pay with bonuses, a 401(k) match, an employee stock purchase program, and financial perks like student-debt assistance, planning support, and group insurance discounts. Health and lifestyle benefits typically include medical/dental/vision, life and other voluntary coverages, paid time off and holidays, family leave, backup care, wellness rewards, gym discounts, and community-volunteering opportunities. Employees also get strong growth support through tuition reimbursement, KLA’s corporate learning center, education awards, and engineering certification programs.

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