Product Development Engineer

Base Pay Range: $100,100.00 - $170,200.00 Annually

Primary Location: USA-NJ-Totowa-KLA

KLA's total rewards package for employees may also include participation in performance incentive programs and eligibility for additional benefits identified below. Interns are eligible for some of the benefits identified below. Our pay ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The range displayed above reflects the minimum and maximum pay for this position in the primary location identified in this posting. Actual pay depends on several factors, including location, job-related skills, experience, and relevant education level or training. If applicable, your recruiter can share more about the specific pay range for your preferred location during the hiring process.

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

With over 40 years of semiconductor process control experience, chipmakers around the globe rely on KLA to ensure that their fabs ramp next-generation devices to volume production quickly and cost-effectively. Enabling the movement towards advanced chip design through greater chemical process control is KLA's ECI Technology division. ECI is an industry leader of in-process chemistry control, providing the precision of analysis the industry requires for consistent wafer quality while reducing chip feature size. Advanced wafer design drives the need for precision with reliability; ECI strives to lead the design of analytical equipment which can withstand the rigorous demands of the chemical processes for damascene, wafer-level packaging, clean and wet etch processes, with our Prima, Libra, Quanta and QualiSurf product lines.

Successful Product Development Engineer will work in the System Engineering group based in Totowa, NJ. You will be working in the Engineering Technology team to conceptualize, develop and test the next generation of devices which will be used to advance our chemical analysis technology. This is a wide-ranging requirement which covers aspects from microfluidic dispensing to spectrophotometric measurements. This role will involve requirements analysis, theoretical evaluation on the capabilities of available technologies, identification of the gaps and definition of the actions required to close those gaps, conceptual design, and requirements of new devices if existing technologies are not a fit and testing of the designs with reports generated to support the conclusions. Communication skills are important, there are requirements for communication with suppliers and the internal KLA groups.

Job Description:

• Work with Applications, R&D and engineering to define requirements and develop specifications for the chemical analysis process.
• Define the type devices required to achieve the requirements for the chemical analysis process.
• Work with suppliers and 3rd-party manufacturers to research their product capabilities and define the gaps to our requirements. Develop improvement plans and test plans required to meet our requirements, drive the vendors to execute those plans.
• Evaluate and test to validate materials used for devices or new designs, to determine compatibility to the chemistry used in the application.

• Conceptualize and bring to fruition new device designs when none exist. Define the requirements, gaps that the device fills, error budget and constraints.
• Work with mechanical, electrical and software engineering groups to define and review designs and test plans. Create and execute test plans and perform analysis to validate device or system performance. Troubleshoot system and subsystem issues and work with various subsystem teams to find and implement solutions.

• Support internal and external customers in implementing processes to build and use the tool effectively and optimize tool performance. Lead advanced troubleshooting efforts in manufacturing and in the field
• Occasional domestic and international travel will be required (<20%)

Qualifications:

• Doctorate (Academic) Degree and 0 years related work experience; Master's Level Degree and related work experience of 3 years; Bachelor's Level Degree and related work experience of 5 years.
• Enjoys working in chemical labs and cleanrooms.
• Proficient in one or more scientific and statistical analysis tools such as Matlab, Python and LabView
• Experience or related study in microfluidic systems and dispensing, material science, spectrophotometry or fiber-optics, mechanical/electrical engineering, physics, or related disciplines are desired.
• Must have a strong background in engineering or the physical science and demonstrated analysis and problem-solving skills
• Must have a good understanding of Mechanical, Fiber-optic, Fluidic, and Electromechanical and Software and Control systems and their interactions in the context of complex industrial equipment.
• Strong diagnostic and trouble shooting skills in fluidic dispensing and handling, opto-spectrometric systems, mechanical, electro-mechanical, motion control systems, and software structure and execution
• Experience in developing a subsystem in one or more of the above areas are highly desirable.
• Agility and ability to thrive on a fast-paced program and respond quickly to field and internal escalations

Minimum Qualifications

Doctorate (Academic) Degree and 0 years related work experience; Master's Level Degree and related work experience of 3 years; Bachelor's Level Degree and related work experience of 5 years

The company offers a total rewards package that is competitive and comprehensive including but not limited to the following: 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.

KLA is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status or any other status protected by applicable law. 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 or at +1- to request accommodation.

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 to confirm the person you are communicating with is an employee. We take your privacy very seriously and confidentially handle your information.