Senior/Mechanical Engineer (R&D)

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.

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, KLA's Global Products Group (GPG), which is responsible for creating all of KLA’s metrology and inspection products, is looking for the best and the brightest research scientist, software engineers, application development engineers, and senior product technology process engineers. The Surfscan group includes a team of engineers, technology development, apps engineers and product marketing focused on technology that enables wafer, IC and equipment manufacturers to develop, qualify and monitor their process tools. Defects and process non-uniformities detected on Surfscan equipment allow for early identification of yield excursions. The flagship Surfscan products include the SPx platforms for wafer surface quality and wafer defect inspection tools and systems for inspection of polished wafers, epi wafers and engineered substrates during the wafer fabrication process.

Job Description/Preferred Qualifications

Responsibilities:

Perform mechanical design of precision components, subsystem/system to support the development of the next generation semiconductor metrology equipment.

Own and drive the mechanical design process:

• Gather and uncover technical requirements and translate them into subsystem specifications.

• Conduct preliminary feasibility studies through engineering first principles and/or experiments.

• Propose and complete the design from conceptual design, detailed design to detailed drawings.

• Conduct analysis and simulations, including structural, thermal, vibration/modal Finite Element Analyses (FEAs).

• Participate and lead design reviews to obtain a peer-oriented design assessment.

Plan and execute design verification/validation:

• Fit/form test on sub-assembly/system, which includes hands-on work in the cleanroom building/assembling the first few mechanical assemblies.

• Perform risk analysis, develop test plans with well defined test criteria, and execute verification testing of subsystems and systems.

Supplier management:

• Ensure all design requirements are appropriately specified and parts quality meets specifications with inspection on incoming components.

• Collaborations for customized solutions when required.

• Manufacturing process transfer and qualification.

Cross collaboration:

• Present technical data effectively to diverse audiences in design reviews, status updates, and issues.

• Collaborate with multi-functional engineering teams, including electrical engineers, software engineers, systems engineers, and manufacturing/service engineers, to ensure seamless integration and testing at both subsystem and system levels.

• Develop and release comprehensive documentation of designs, such as assembly and test procedures. Provide training on the new design/procedure and transfer to manufacturing.

Tool maintenance and troubleshooting:

• Apply standard problem-solving methods to identify root causes of sub-system and system test failures.

• Collaborate with manufacturing team during product ramp-up to support and troubleshoot product issues.

Requirements:

• In-depth understanding of mechanical engineering fundamentals, encompassing design principles, materials selection, Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T), tolerance stack-up analysis and error budgeting.

• Strong mechanical engineering fundamentals, including design principles, machine elements, materials, fabrication methods.

• Familiar with mechanical manufacturing processes including machining, sheet metal fabrication, welding, etc.

• Proficient in 3D solid modeling using CAD, preferably ProE/Creo.

• Basic knowledge in simulation software (eg. Solidworks, Creo, ANSYS, etc), capable of structural, vibration, thermal and fluid simulation. Able to do first order estimation using mathematics.

Desired attributes:

• Demonstrate perseverance and drive to be better in solving complex problems.

• Excellent team player and contribute to team effort to accomplish overall objectives as needed.

• Be flexible and adaptive to adjust project focus based on priority changes.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, capable of growing in a collaborative, dynamic environment.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's Level Degree with 0-3 years experience. New college graduates with a strong background in mechanical engineering are welcomed to apply.

We offer a competitive, family friendly total rewards package. We design our programs to reflect our commitment to an inclusive environment, while ensuring we provide benefits that meet the diverse needs of our employees.

KLA is proud to be an equal opportunity employer

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