Principal Optical Engineer (E)

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 worlds leading technology providers to accelerate the delivery of tomorrows 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

Principal Optical Engineers are core to KLAs technology while we do not currently have an opening we are always building our Optical Engineering talent community we are interested in learning about your background.

Apply to this posting for Future Opportunities with KLA.

KLA is looking for a staff- level principal optical engineer. This person will be an optical architect/lead optical engineer in the optical engineering group in the photomask inspection division. Specific deliverables include ultra-high precision optical system design optical alignment methodology and analysis of various optical modules. This person will also lead the design of a custom metrology system to verify and adjust the optical performance of our primary optical system. The candidate will interact closely with the systems engineering group and other hardware engineering groups to define performance criteria and system level specification. Other Specific tasks include creating optical models statistical tolerance analysis performance predictions leading design reviews creating test procedures and selecting suppliers.

Responsibilities

• Being a lead optical person responsible of creating optical architecture conducting key optical analysis and modeling and providing leadership team with technical recommendations.

• Investigate various design options and find the best option through evaluating tolerances optical performance manufacturability light budgets and other trade-offs.

• Translate system or subsystem requirements into optical design and manufacturing requirements.

• Perform thorough tolerancing analysis to have a complete system design with full consideration of alignment process and metrology system calibrations and opto-mech design limitations by interfacing with other groups (systems ME).

• Design and implement optical alignment and metrology process test/tooling fixtures to achieve targeted optical performance.

• Follows complete design process including design reviews part procurement from vendors testing integration and release.

The preferred candidate will have experience and capability in the following areas:

• Excellent optical system design such as high precision imaging system illumination design preferably in semiconductor tools

• Designing and building off-axis mirror system in high precision

• Understand of optical coating in various wavelength such as EUV UV and IR and coating modeling in optical software

• High proficiency in optical design software such as CodeV or Zemax or LightTools

• Statistical optical component tolerancing

• Able to create specifications of precision opto-mechanical assemblies

• Understand optics manufacturability and reflect it in optical design

• Strong understanding in optical metrology tool and data

• Building and aligning complex optical system using diverse mechanical collimation point source microscope CGH and interferometry.

• Deliver solid design reviews and achieve design approvals from multi-disciplinary stakeholders

• Working knowledge with diverse optical devices and components: objectives collimation and relay optics fibers cameras and detectors

• EUV experience is preferred but not a must

• Basic CAD skill is preferred not a must

Experience

• Highly desired to have more than 10 years of professional experience in high precision optical system development preferably in semiconductor tools

• Experience of working with top tier optical suppliers to develop high precision optics and optical assembly

• Strong emphasis on creative problem solving and effective communication.

• Be able to interface with multidisciplinary groups and work effectively in a team and be willing to take on responsibility follow through and keep multiple simultaneous assignments on schedule.

• Be able to quickly acquire technical knowledge from documentation and on-the-job training and be capable of thoroughly investigating technical issues (analytically and hands-on in a lab).

• Strong communication and presentation skill. Must have the capability to clearly communicating progress and status of ongoing investigations to managers and to customers; Candidate will be required to write reports documenting investigations carried out.

• Experience of presenting executive leadership team highly complex technical topics.

Personal skills

• Should be able to work and deliver self-independently with minimum supervision

• Can observe and respond to people and situations and interact with others encountered in the course of work.

• Strong customer focus and commitment to customer satisfaction through prioritization quality efficiency and professionalism.

• Ability to complete assignments with attention to detail and high degree of accuracy.

• Proven ability to perform effectively in a demanding environment with changing workloads and deadlines.

• Result driven-demonstrate ownership and accountability.

• Identifies bottlenecks and drives improvements.

• Work independently or as part of a team and follow through on assignments with minimal supervision.

• Demonstrate open clear concise and professional communication.

• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with manager co-workers and customer.

• Work according to a strict set of procedures within the provided timelines.

Qualifications

• This is a senior engineering role. Advanced degree is a must.

• Doctorate in Optics/Physics and 5 years of work experience or a Masters Degree and 8 years of work experience.

Education

• MS or Ph.D in Optical engineering (preferred) or Physics

• Highly desired to have strong background in following disciplines Geometrical optics Fourier optics Lens design Radiometry Optical metrology Illumination optics Optical imaging system Optical alignment.

• Bachelors degree in engineering (optical mechanical systems) or physics or related technical field and 5 years of demonstrated ability in the NPI role.

• Experience with building and aligning sophisticated opto-mechanical systems is highly desirable.

Minimum Qualifications

• Doctorate (Academic) or work experience of 5 years Masters Level Degree or work experience of 7 years Bachelors Level Degree or work experience of 10 years

Base Pay Range: $146800.00 - $249600.00

Primary Location: USA-CA-Milpitas-KLA

KLAs 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.

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 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 KLAs 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.