Senior Mechanical Design Engineer – Precision Systems

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. KLA's Central Engineering organization is made up of nine Centers of Excellence (CoEs) spanning disciplines like automation, motion control, sensors, platform design, and packaging. Each CoE contributes not only technical deliverables but also deep expertise, best practices, and advanced tools that elevate both what we build—and how we build it.

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 a hands-on Mechanical Design Engineer who enjoys solving difficult engineering problems and creating innovative hardware solutions. In this role, you'll design precision motion systems and complex mechanical assemblies that directly influence the performance of next-generation semiconductor equipment. This is an opportunity to work on highly visible products, collaborate with exceptional multidisciplinary teams, and take ownership of designs from concept through prototype, testing, and product implementation.

If you are passionate about mechanical design, enjoy building real hardware, and want to see your ideas become products used across the semiconductor industry, we'd love to connect with you.

Job Duties:

• Design and develop precision mechanical systems, mechanisms, and motion platforms used in advanced semiconductor equipment
• Take ownership of designs from initial concept through detailed design, prototype development, testing, and product release
• Create 3D CAD models, engineering drawings, and technical documentation
• Perform engineering analysis to evaluate and optimize performance, reliability, and manufacturability
• Help troubleshoot, test, and improve prototypes and production hardware
• Collaborate closely with systems, controls, software, manufacturing, and physics teams to solve complex technical challenges
• Contribute innovative ideas that improve system performance, accuracy, reliability, and cost
• Influence key technical decisions and help shape future product designs

Qualifications:

• Degree Mechanical Engineering or Mechatronics
• Experience designing complex mechanical systems, precision equipment, automated machinery, robotics, instrumentation, aerospace systems, optical systems, medical devices, or similar technologies
• Strong mechanical design fundamentals including tolerancing, materials, manufacturing processes, and mechanism design
• Experience using CAD tools such as Creo, NX, SolidWorks, or similar
• Experience performing engineering analysis, including FEA, vibration, thermal, or structural analysis
• Strong problem-solving skills and a passion for developing innovative engineering solutions
• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment

Preferred Experience

• Precision positioning or motion systems
• Precision mechanisms, flexures, or machine design
• Structural dynamics and vibration analysis
• Optical, semiconductor, metrology, aerospace, or high-technology equipment
• Design for manufacturability and product development

Why Join KLA

• Work on technology that enables the world's most advanced semiconductor devices
• Design sophisticated hardware that pushes the limits of precision and performance
• Own projects from concept through implementation
• Collaborate with experts across mechanical engineering, controls, software, optics, and physics
• Build and test real hardware—not just models and simulations
• Solve challenging technical problems with a team that values innovation, creativity, and engineering excellence

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

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: $120,700.00 - $177,033.00 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. 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 talent.acquisition@kla.com 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.