Research Scientist – Optical Imaging Systems jobs at Kla in United States, Milpitas

In this role, you’ll be at the heart of breakthrough product development, guiding a talented team of systems engineers and collaborating across optics, electronics, mechanics, software, and algorithms. You’ll work closely with division leadership, external partners, and customers to deliver solutions that push boundaries and exceed expectations.

What You’ll Own:

• Lead and mentor a team of systems design engineers responsible for integrating hardware and software on complex eBeam tools.
• Drive cross-functional collaboration and lead design reviews to ensure optimal system architecture.
• Spearhead next-generation product development with bold, strategic thinking and a focus on delivering winning solutions.
• Oversee prototype testing, risk assessments, and mitigation strategies that guide product lifecycle decisions.
• Support customer escalations with technical expertise and a commitment to excellence.
• Champion onboarding and development for new systems engineers, fostering a culture of growth and innovation.

Minimum Qualifications

• Deep expertise in electron optics or SEM technology, with strong foundations in physics, mathematics, and computational skills.
• 7+ years of experience in systems engineering for complex semiconductor systems.
• 3+ years of proven success in people management and team leadership.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to lead across functions and engage with global stakeholders.
• Willingness to travel globally up to 15%.

or at +1-408-352-2808

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• Work with Customers, Marketing and Applications Engineers to understand wafer fabrication processes and defects for optical inspection.
• Perform electro-magnetic simulations andmeasurements to assess optical inspection sensitivity of patterned-wafer defects.
• Assess new concepts (algorithms and hardware) to meet inspection challenges.
• Communicate results and recommendations to product teams and customers.

• Consistent record to applying fundamental principles of electromagnetism and optics to optical imaging or measurement problems.
• Experience with analysis of large data sets from optical systems to measure physical parameters. Associated experience with artificial intelligence is a plus.
• Set up electromagnetic simulations of nano-scale structures.

Minimum Qualifications

• Doctorate (Academic) Degree and minimum of 1 year related work experience; Master's Level Degree and minimum related work experience of 3 years
• Physics, Electrical Engineering or Optics background with specialization in electromagnetism
• Proficiency in image and signal processing and statistics using MATLAB, Python or other relevant software
• Travel of up to 10% including foreign destinations

or at +1-408-352-2808

Responsibilities

• Driving CTO group’s advanced optics R&D in the following areas

• High performance optics design

• DUV optics design and know-how

• High precision optical metrology

• Advanced opto-mechanical design

• Accurate optical system modeling

• High precision experiments

• AI for optics

• Proposing and designing optical architecture to meet the requirements of dedicated applications

• Translating the top-level system requirements into subsystem specifications

• Performing critical optical design analysis, covering the following areas: tolerance analysis, misalignment compensation schemes and metrology challenges

• Collaborating with and guiding vendors to resolve manufacturing issues

• Designing and conducting experiments to validate the system performance, and addressing the outstanding issues

• Identifying the key areas in optics design or modeling that can significantly benefit from AI technologies

• Proposition

• Proof of concept

Required

• Solid background in physics, optics and math

• Expertise in optics design, modeling and experiments

• Expertise in numerical simulations while proficient in at least one of the typical programming languages for this purpose, such as Matlab, Python, Julia, … etc.

• Familiar with AI technologies and their typical applications to solving physical problems

• Highly motivated and curiosity-driven

• Skilled in effective communication and team collaboration

Desired

• Knowledge of semiconductor metrology/inspection industry

Minimum Qualifications

Ph.D. in physics, optics or math with at least 3 years' relevant working experience

or at +1-408-352-2808

We are looking for a Senior Staff Optical Design Engineer to join our team within the BBP division to develop innovative wafer inspection products! Optics is the core part of BBP products, which include high-brightness light-sources, broadband coatings, complex optical subsystem and high-speed sensors. This position is responsible for the complete design process of one or multiple optical subsystems to support BBP roadmap:

• Provide technical leadership by owning and investigating optical architecture and design options to find the best option through systematic trade off among different performance metrics as well as costs & schedule implications.

• Closely collaborate with external suppliers and internal functional teams such as technology and system engineering to gather optical performance dependencies. Translate system requirements into optical, mechanical and metrology requirements.

• Develop and implement optical metrology and alignment concepts to achieve the targeted optical performances.

• Follow KLA design processes, including design reviews, part procurement from vendors, testing, integration and release.

• Solve problems that arise within the proto or released inspection systems.

• Solid background in optics, physics or related field such as imaging system aberrations, Fourier optics, polarization, radiometry etc.

• Hands-on experiences in lens design, especially in diffraction limited large numerical aperture microscope objective lenses.

• Experienced in gathering the optical design requirements from the key partners

• Experienced in developing optical alignment, error budgets, and metrology for high precision and highly complex optical system.

• Proficient in Code V or Zemax and Matlab or Python.

• Prior experience in semiconductor inspection or lithography equipment is a plus

• A self-starter with intellectual curiosity, a quick learner who desires to grow by acquiring new knowledge and skills in multi-disciplinary hardware technologies.

• Detail oriented, methodical problem-solving and critical thinking skills.

• Excellent interpersonal skills.

• Effectively collaborates in both leadership and support roles, and is committed to mentoring and knowledge-sharing with junior engineers

Minimum Qualifications

Doctorate (Academic) Degree and related work experience of 5 years; Master's Level Degree and related work experience of 8 years; Bachelor's Level Degree and related work experience of 12 years

or at +1-408-352-2808

• and document system and subsystem requirements, lead requirement definition for small projects.
• Designelectron optical, illumination, and sensor subsystems;contributeto system architecture and vendor/component selection.
• Approve and influence subsystem-leveldesignreviews, applyingdfXprinciples.
• Investigate andresolvesystemperformance issues through experiments and data analysis.
• Apply principles such as aberrations, beam shaping, and SNR optimization.
• Define and complete integration and test plans; write alignment procedures and acceptance criteria.
• Collaborate with vendors to ensure compliance with subsystem test standards.
• Solve manufacturing and field-deployed systems, support productimprovementsand cost reduction efforts.
• Travel to customer sites for installation and issueresolution.
• Lead components ofcomplex

• Basic understanding of SEM principles and image formation.
• Hands-on experience with SEM systems (preferred).
• Knowledge of:High vacuum environments,Electron sources and scanning systemsandSE & BSE detection
• Great foundation in optical theory (aberrations, astigmatism, beam shaping).
• Experience with electron optics alignment, calibration, and image processing.
• Familiarity with transformation theory and reliability testing (e.g., FMECA).
• ProficiencyinPython for data analysis and automation.
• Problem-solving outlook and ability to work independently.

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

or at +1-408-352-2808

Job Description

• Develop and/or provide significant guidance to the top-level system specifications, sub-system error budget, interfaces and working parameters for the optimum hardware solution.

• Stay up to date on related external research and developments.

• Collaborate with CTO team to develop new suppliers and research partners when appropriate.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ph.D. or master's degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering

• Expertise in Electron Optics including Optical System design; Lens Design; and Tolerance Analysis of Complex Optical Systems.

• Knowledge of high voltage electronics, and surface science of electron-surface interactions

• Knowledge in design and modeling of ultra-high vacuum systems

• Ability to work in a clean room environment.

• Ability to travel up to 10%.

Minimum Qualifications

Doctorate (Academic) Degree and related work experience of 3 years; Master's Level Degree and related work experience of 6 years; Bachelor's Level Degree and related work experience of 8 years

or at +1-408-352-2808

Responsibilities

This is a R&D position in the advanced technology group, focusing on developing new optical technologies and system architectures for the future generations of un-patterned wafer inspection tools.

• Research and test new optical technologies for wafer inspection implementations.
• Conceive new concepts based on solid physics understanding of light and material interaction and imaging theory.
• Validate concepts through modeling, simulations and experiments.
• Design and build optical imaging test benches for technology feasibility study.
• Design and conduct experiments, collect and analyze data, draw clear conclusions from multivariable data sets.
• Work with engineering team to implement new technologies

Preferred Qualifications

• Ph.D. in physics and optics related fields with good understanding of optical imaging systems
• Hands on lab skills including designing and building complex optical imaging setup, data collection and analysis
• Experience with optical instruments
• Experienced user of Matlab, familiar with Zemax
• Innovative, technically broad and solidly grounded

Minimum Qualifications

• Doctorate (Academic) OR
• Master's Level Degree and 3 years of relevant experience OR
• Bachelor's Level Degree and 5 years of relevant experience

or at +1-408-352-2808