Principal Engineer (PVD Equipment & Process Development)

To make electronics, you need chips, wafers, transistors, reticles, and... To make these, you must see, test and manufacture them at scale—faster and better than ever before. That's where KLA comes in. Whether you're early in your career or an experienced professional, you'll solve complex challenges, work alongside brilliant minds and help shape the future of technology.

Group/Division

The Semiconductor Products and Customers (Semi PC) business unit designs, builds and sells KLA’s product portfolio to help chip manufacturers meet high-quality standards for technologies like AI, data centers, automotive and electronic devices. Our inspection, metrology, and analytics systems detect and monitor defects across logic and memory chips, specialty semiconductors, wafers, reticles, advanced packaging, process equipment and materials. We also develop technologies for specialty processes, IC substrates, and PCB manufacturing, including etch and deposition, component inspection, and imaging and analytics. The SPTS division provides advanced wafer processing solutions—including etch, deposition and vapor-based technologies—designed for R&D through high-volume production. With a global presence and strong customer support network, SPTS helps manufacturers across industries improve performance, yield and cost-efficiency. It also offers comprehensive service and spare parts through a worldwide network of service centers and qualified local agents.

What You'll Do

In this role, you will play a key part in advancing business priorities by delivering high-impact work across your area of expertise.

We’re looking for an accomplished technical leader with deep PVD and semiconductor process expertise to develop next-generation equipment, chamber, and process capabilities! You’ll set technical direction across PVD, metallization, annealing, thin films, and device integration, translating future device needs into equipment and technology roadmaps while driving highly sophisticated programs across engineering teams and strategic suppliers.

This is an opportunity to influence technology at the intersection of device innovation, process development, and sophisticated semiconductor equipment!

Key Responsibilities

• Lead technical projects for the development of new PVD equipment, chambers, hardware, and process capabilities for future semiconductor devices.
• Define project requirements, technical breakthroughs, development priorities, schedules and risks.
• Partner with process and hardware engineering teams to develop and optimize PVD chamber and equipment capabilities.
• Translate future device, metallization, and material requirements into equipment, chamber, hardware, and process requirements.
• Apply strong device-integration knowledge to understand the relationship between pre-metallization processes, PVD deposition, metallization, annealing, and downstream processing.
• Drive evaluation and introduction of new materials and metallization approaches required for future device technologies.
• Coordinate technical development across process engineering, hardware engineering, materials, device integration, characterization, manufacturing, and supplier teams.
• Work closely with equipment manufacturers and component suppliers on new chamber technologies, hardware designs, components, and process capabilities.
• Review process, material, and device-characterization results to identify technical gaps and guide equipment and process-development priorities.
• Identify technical and program risks and drive multi-functional teams toward resolution.
• Lead development activities from early technology evaluation through equipment/process qualification and implementation.
• Communicate technical progress, risks, tradeoffs, and recommendations to engineering leadership and key partners.

Minimum Qualifications

• M.S. or Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, Materials Science, or a related semiconductor discipline.
• 15+ years of semiconductor proven experience in PVD, thin-film deposition, metallization, process equipment, or related technology development.
• Deep technical knowledge of PVD deposition processes and equipment.
• Experience supplying to the development, modification, or introduction of PVD equipment, process chambers, or chamber hardware.
• Strong understanding of semiconductor device integration and fabrication, including processes before and after metallization.
• Experience with device metallization and annealing and an understanding of their relationship to device performance.
• Experience leading complex technical development projects involving process, equipment, hardware, materials, and device requirements.
• Experience evaluating or introducing new deposition materials and material stacks for advanced device applications.
• Knowledge of materials and device characterization and the ability to use characterization results to guide technical development.
• Demonstrated experience collaborating with semiconductor equipment manufacturers and component suppliers.
• Strong technical leadership, project management, communication, and multi-functional collaboration skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience developing or modifying PVD chambers, sources, or other deposition-system hardware.
• Experience taking new equipment/process capabilities from concept and development through qualification and manufacturing implementation.
• Knowledge of CVD and other thin-film deposition technologies.
• Experience working with global equipment and component suppliers.

Travel

• Approximately 20% domestic and international travel.

Minimum Qualifications

• M.S. or Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, Materials Science, or a related semiconductor discipline.
• 15+ years of semiconductor proven experience in PVD, thin-film deposition, metallization, process equipment, or related technology development.

About KLA

We provide advanced inspection tools, metrology systems, process solutions, and computational analytics that make electronics possible, tackling complex challenges. From electron and photon optics to machine learning and data analytics, we seek perfection at the most fundamental level of matter in the universe. If you want to make electronics that push industries forward and make the world a better place, join us.

Total Rewards

Base Pay Range: $205,800.00 - $360,200.00 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, 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.

Use of AI Statement 

At KLA, our interviews seek to understand your individual skills, problem-solving approach and authentic thinking. To ensure a fair and consistent evaluation, the use of AI, recording tools or other technologies to generate, suggest or provide responses during interviews—whether virtual or in person—is not permitted unless explicitly approved in advance as part of a reasonable accommodation or invited by the interviewer. Use of these tools may interfere with our ability to evaluate your individual qualifications and affect your candidacy. KLA is committed to advancing innovation through responsible AI, and we value candidates who share this mindset.

Equal Opportunity Statement

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 [email protected] or at +1-408-352-2808 to request accommodation.

For additional information, view the US Know Your Rights poster on the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission website.