NPI Optics Engineer

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

KLA has manufacturing sites worldwide. The Global Operations (GOPS) team, comprised of Manufacturing, Supply Chain Management, Manufacturing Engineering, Installation and Quality, builds our leading-edge technology. GOPS partners with KLA's global supply base and design engineering teams to develop new products, working continuously to build better, faster and more cost-efficient solutions.

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 are seeking a highly skilled and hands-on Manufacturing Optics Engineer.

The role is responsible for providing technical leadership in optical integration, calibration, troubleshooting, process improvement, and production support throughout the product lifecycle.

The successful candidate will serve as the focal point for optics-related manufacturing activities, working closely with R&D, System Engineering, Production, Quality, and global teams to ensure stable, efficient, and high-quality manufacturing processes.

Key Responsibilities

Production Support

Provide day-to-day engineering support for production and integration lines.  Lead troubleshooting and root-cause analysis of complex optical and system-level issues.  Support machine build, integration, calibration, and acceptance activities.  Drive fast resolution of manufacturing challenges impacting quality, yield, or cycle time.

Optical Systems Engineering

• Own and support optical alignment, focus adjustment, tilt adjustment, beam-path optimization, and calibration activities.

• Define, validate, and improve optical manufacturing processes and procedures.

• Analyze optical performance data and recommend corrective actions.

• Support qualification and release of optical components and assemblies.

Process Improvement & Operational Excellence

Lead initiatives to improve manufacturability, product quality, throughput, and cycle time. Develop, maintain, and optimize optical adjustment tools, procedures, and work instructions. Drive Design for Manufacturing (DFM) improvements together with R&D organizations. Support continuous improvement and cost-reduction activities across the product family.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Act as the primary optics interface between Manufacturing, R&D, System Engineering, and Operations teams. Support engineering change implementation and product releases. Lead technical investigations and reviews with global stakeholders. Train and mentor production and engineering teams on optics-related topics.

Supplier & Quality Support

Support supplier qualification and acceptance of optical components. Investigate optical component failures and quality issues. Work closely with suppliers and quality teams to improve component performance and reliability.

Minimum Qualifications

Required Qualifications

Education

• B.Sc. in Optical Engineering, Physics, Electro Optic Engineering, or a related discipline.

Professional Experience

• 3+ years of experience in optical systems, manufacturing engineering, or production support.

• Proven experience with optical alignment, calibration, and troubleshooting.

• Experience supporting complex multidisciplinary systems combining optics, mechanics, electronics, motion control, and software.

• Experience in a high-tech manufacturing environment.

Technical Skills

• Strong understanding of:

  • Laser Optics

  • Imaging Systems

  • Optical Alignment

  • Beam Path Analysis

  • Optical Measurements and Metrology

  • Calibration Techniques

  • Root Cause Analysis and Problem Solving

• Ability to read and interpret optical and mechanical drawings.

• Familiarity with data analysis tools and statistical methods.

• Experience with MATLAB, Python, or similar engineering tools is an advantage.

Personal Skills

• Strong hands-on approach and practical engineering mindset.

• Excellent troubleshooting and problem-solving capabilities.

• Ability to work independently and drive issues to closure.

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

• Ability to work effectively in a global, cross-functional environment.

• Fluent English communication skills, both written and verbal.

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.

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.

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.