Research Scientist – Optical Imaging Systems

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.

Group/Division

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 Broadband Plasma Division (BBP) provides market-leading patterned wafer optical inspection systems for leading-edge IC manufacturing. Logic, foundry, and memory customers depend on BBP products to detect yield-critical defects for process debug and excursion monitoring at advanced process nodes. BBP flagship products include the 29xx and 39xx series which leverage Broadband Plasma technology to capture a wide range of defects with ultimate sensitivity at the optical inspection speeds needed for inline defect monitoring.

Job Description/Preferred Qualifications

Responsibilities

The BBP Technology team is looking for a self-motivated, creative, and results-oriented Research Scientist. The successful candidate will support the development of next-generation BBP system and subsystem architecture and performance improvement roadmap. Specifically, the Research Scientist will work with the team in the following areas:

• Evaluate the performance of current BBP systems and understand the performance limiting factors

• Perform simulation and data analysis to model and validate system performance

• Conduct feasibility investigation of novel system/subsystem concepts and build detailed system/subsystem level error budget

• Work closely with engineering functional teams on concept implementation and performance validation

• Perform data collection on the tool/test bench and data analysis to demonstrate the value of the concept

• Collaborate with other team members and functional groups to solve technical problems

• Present the results and findings to the team and management

Qualifications

• PhD or Masters, in applied optics, optical engineering, physics or closely related fields

• Good understanding of the principle and design of optical imaging systems

• Experience in optical system modeling and performance analysis

• Ability to collect data independently by using tool standard software as well as running diagnostic data collection script

• Proficiency in data analysis tools such as Matlab or Python

• Diagnostic and trouble shooting skills in optics, opto-mechanics, and motion control systems

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a multi-functional team environment

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

Base Pay Range: $154,900.00 - $263,300.00 Annually

Primary Location: USA-CA-Milpitas-KLA

KLA’s 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, emplo