Research Scientist

About the role

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 Film and Scatterometry Technology (FaST) division delivers industry-leading metrology solutions essential to advanced semiconductor manufacturing. Its portfolio includes systems for measuring film thickness, critical dimensions, composition, and resistivity-key to developing and scaling next-gen IC processes.

FaST partners closely with customers from early R&D through high-volume production, ensuring performance and process alignment.

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.

Qualifications

• PhD in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Applied Mathematics, Computer Science, or related field preferred.
• Strong background in numerical methods, scientific computing, physics-based modeling, and optimization algorithms.
• Proficiency in C++ software development.
• Experience with Python for algorithm development and data analysis.
• Strong communication skills and ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with electromagnetic simulation and numerical solution of field equations, including methods such as RCWA, FDTD, FEM, or related techniques.
• Experience with inverse problems, optimization, uncertainty quantification, and regression methods.
• Experience with machine learning and AI techniques.
• Experience with HPC software development, including CUDA, TensorFlow, JAX, GPU computing, and parallel processing.
• Experience in semiconductor metrology, computational imaging, optical metrology, or related fields is a plus.

Minimum Qualifications

PhD in a relevant technical discipline.

Pay and benefits

Doctorate (Academic) Degree and 0 years related work experience 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: $105,900.00 - $180,000.00 Annually Primary Location: USA-MI-Ann Arbor-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.

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. Please contact us at or at to request accommodation.