Principal Optical Engineer (E)

Principal Optical Engineer (E)

Apply

Locations: Milpitas, CA

Time Type: Full Time

Posted on: Posted 3 Days Ago

Job Requisition ID: 2217733

Pay Range: $146,800.00 - $249,600.00

KLA’s total rewards package for employees may also include participation in performance incentive programs and eligibility for additional benefits identified below. Interns are eligible for some of the benefits identified below.

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. KLA invents systems and solutions for the manufacturing of wafers and reticles, integrated circuits, packaging, printed circuit boards, and flat panel displays.

Job Description/Preferred Qualifications

Principal Optical Engineers are core to KLA’s technology. While we do not currently have an opening, we are always building our Optical Engineering talent community and are interested in learning about your background.

Apply to this posting for Future Opportunities with KLA.

KLA is looking for a staff-level principal optical engineer. This person will be an optical architect/lead optical engineer in the optical engineering group in the photomask inspection division. Specific deliverables include ultra-high precision optical system design, optical alignment methodology, and analysis of various optical modules. This person will also lead the design of a custom metrology system to verify and adjust the optical performance of our primary optical system.

Responsibilities

• Being a lead optical person, responsible for creating optical architecture, conducting key optical analysis and modeling, and providing the leadership team with technical recommendations.
• Investigate various design options and find the best option through evaluating tolerances, optical performance, manufacturability, light budgets, and other trade-offs.
• Translate system or subsystem requirements into optical design and manufacturing requirements.
• Perform thorough tolerancing analysis to have a complete system design with full consideration of alignment process and metrology, system calibrations, and opto-mech design limitations by interfacing with other groups (systems, ME).
• Design and implement optical alignment and metrology process, test/tooling fixtures to achieve targeted optical performance.
• Follow the complete design process, including design reviews, part procurement from vendors, testing, integration, and release.

The preferred candidate will have experience and capability in the following areas:

• Excellent optical system design such as high precision imaging system, illumination design, preferably in semiconductor tools.
• Designing and building off-axis mirror system in high precision.
• Understanding of optical coating in various wavelengths such as EUV, UV, and IR, and coating modeling in optical software.
• High proficiency in optical design software such as CodeV or Zemax or LightTools.
• Statistical optical component tolerancing.
• Able to create specifications of precision opto-mechanical assemblies.
• Understanding optics manufacturability and reflecting it in optical design.
• Strong understanding in optical metrology tool and data.
• Building and aligning complex optical systems using diverse mechanical, collimation, point source microscope, CGH, and interferometry.
• Delivering solid design reviews and achieving design approvals from multi-disciplinary stakeholders.
• Working knowledge with diverse optical devices and components: objectives, collimation and relay optics, fibers, cameras, and detectors.
• EUV experience is preferred but not a must.
• Basic CAD skills are preferred but not a must.

Experience

• Highly desired to have more than 10 years of professional experience in high precision optical system development, preferably in semiconductor tools.
• Experience of working with top tier optical suppliers to develop high precision optics and optical assembly.
• Strong emphasis on creative problem solving and effective communication.
• Ability to interface with multidisciplinary groups and work effectively in a team, taking on responsibility, following through, and keeping multiple simultaneous assignments on schedule.
• Ability to quickly acquire technical knowledge from documentation and on-the-job training, and capable of thoroughly investigating technical issues (analytically and hands-on in a lab).
• Strong communication and presentation skills. Must have the capability to clearly communicate progress and status of ongoing investigations to managers and customers; candidate will be required to write reports documenting investigations carried out.
• Experience of presenting to executive leadership team highly complex technical topics.

Personal skills

• Should be able to work and deliver self-independently with minimum supervision.
• Can observe and respond to people and situations and interact with others encountered in the course of work.
• Strong customer focus and commitment to customer satisfaction through prioritization, quality, efficiency, and professionalism.
• Ability to complete assignments with attention to detail and a high degree of accuracy.
• Proven ability to perform effectively in a demanding environment with changing workloads and deadlines.
• Result driven - demonstrate ownership and accountability.
• Identifies bottlenecks and drives improvements.
• Work independently or as part of a team and follow through on assignments with minimal supervision.
• Demonstrate open, clear, concise, and professional communication.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with manager, co-workers, and customers.
• Work according to a strict set of procedures within the provided timelines.

Qualifications

• This is a senior engineering role. Advanced degree is a must.
• Doctorate in Optics/Physics and 5+ years of work experience, or a Master's Degree and 8+ years of work experience.

Education

• MS or Ph.D. in Optical Engineering (preferred) or Physics.
• Highly desired to have strong background in the following disciplines: Geometrical optics, Fourier optics, Lens design, Radiometry, Optical metrology, Illumination optics, Optical imaging system, Optical alignment.
• Bachelor's degree in engineering (optical, mechanical, systems) or physics or related technical field and 5+ years of demonstrated ability in the NPI role.
• Experience with building and aligning sophisticated opto-mechanical systems is highly desirable.

Minimum Qualifications

• Doctorate (Academic) or work experience of 5 years, Master's Level Degree or work experience of 7 years, Bachelor's Level Degree or work experience of 10 years.

The company offers a total rewards package that is competitive and comprehensive including but not limited to the following: 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.

KLA is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status, or any other status protected by applicable law.