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

Position Overview

The successful candidate will develop innovative image processing, signal processing, and artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms that enable breakthrough capabilities in wafer inspection, defect detection, classification, and metrology applications.

This role requires strong technical expertise, creativity, and the ability to collaborate across engineering disciplines to bring algorithms from concept through production deployment and customer adoption.

Required Qualifications

The ideal candidate should possess a strong foundation in one or more of the following areas:

• Image processing and image segmentation
• Texture analysis and feature extraction
• Statistical data analysis
• Signal processing and filter design
• Pattern recognition and classification
• Machine learning and deep learning
• Computer vision and AI-based inspection systems

Programming Skills

Required:

• C/C++
• MATLAB and/or Python

Highly Desired:

• CPU optimization (SIMD, SSE, AVX)
• GPU programming (CUDA)
• High-performance computing and algorithm acceleration

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and optimize algorithms for semiconductor inspection and metrology systems.
• Drive the complete algorithm lifecycle, including:
  • Modeling and simulation
  • Proof-of-concept development
  • Software architecture and implementation
  • Performance characterization and validation
  • Documentation and product release support
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including software, systems, applications, product engineering, and hardware engineers to prototype, test, and deploy new capabilities.
• Investigate and resolve complex algorithm, system, and production issues encountered in customer manufacturing environments.
• Work closely with application engineers and customer-facing teams to troubleshoot field issues and develop innovative solutions within semiconductor fabs, including onsite support at TSMC when required.
• Analyze large-scale production data to improve algorithm robustness, productivity, and defect detection performance.
• Contribute to future technology roadmaps and drive innovation in AI-enabled inspection and metrology solutions.

Desired Attributes

• Self-motivated and capable of working independently in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a proven track record of innovation.
• Ability to effectively collaborate with globally distributed, multidisciplinary teams.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Willingness to work directly with customers and support engineering activities in semiconductor manufacturing fabs.

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

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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