Customer Engagement Applications 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

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 Customer Engagement (CE) division is a field-based group of technical experts who partner closely with customers to provide a comprehensive portfolio of KLA products that support yield improvement from R&D through high-volume production. The team helps align KLA’s solutions with customer needs, supports product performance, identifies new opportunities and gathers insights to guide future innovation—all while maintaining a high level of customer satisfaction.

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.

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. No laptop, smartphone, wearable device, voice-controlled gadget, flexible screen, VR device or smart car would have made it into your hands without us. KLA invents systems and solutions for the manufacturing of wafers and reticles, integrated circuits, packaging, printed circuit boards and flat panel displays. The innovative ideas and devices that are advancing humanity all begin with inspiration, research and development. KLA focuses more than average on innovation and we invest 15% of sales back into R&D. Our expert teams of physicists, engineers, data scientists and problem-solvers work together with the world’s leading technology providers to accelerate the delivery of tomorrow’s electronic devices. Life here is exciting and our teams thrive on tackling really hard problems. There is never a dull moment with us.

Your challenge

Provides technical expertise through sales presentations, product demonstrations, installation and maintenance of company products.  Assists the sales staff in assessing potential application of company products to meet customer needs and preparing detailed product specifications for the development and implementation of customer applications/solutions.  May build a mini-application based on customer requirements to demonstrate feasibility of the application, often requiring rapid prototyping and/or product demo for client.  May provide software development and consultation to prospective users and/or product capability assessment and validation.

Responsibilities:

• Our Field Applications Engineer team based out of Austin, TX. The selected Applications Engineer will join a diverse team that makes a significant impact on the company every day.
• There are two main areas of focus in this role however as you grow and develop the sky is the limit:
• Customer support. The candidate will provide and lead product penetration and adoption support, customer demonstrations, and head-to-head (H2H) activities at customer facilities. This includes investigating semiconductor manufacturing yield issues and providing inspection solutions; creating & sharing product value statements and use-cases with engineering, marketing and sales groups; training customers and other applications engineers. Projects will also include new product introductions and characterization, beta testing and early evaluation tools. This position provides opportunities to work closely with many organizations including worldwide applications teams, engineering, sales and marketing within KLA and with customer engineers outside of KLA. This position will require travel to support products at customer sites.
• Product Development: The candidate will be responsible for generating best known method documents and other training materials and transferring this knowledge to KLA's worldwide Applications team and customers. They will work with customers to develop solutions to problems, and publish papers at industry symposiums or in technical journals. Characterization of next generation state-of-the art semiconductor wafer inspection products. This includes crafting test plans, collecting data, performing analysis, publishing results and recommendations in the form of applications notes, best known methods.

 

Qualifications:

• We are looking for high energy, dedicated and motivated engineers who are interested in working in High Tech. The semiconductor space is a fast paced, high stress environment that gives applications engineers a lot of autonomy to work. Ideal candidates appreciate the opportunity to have high levels of accountability, working well with limited supervision in a work environment where they can drive projects on their own.
• Educational background in Engineering, Physics is desired.
• Teamwork is essential so having a good balance between technical skills and people skills is a must.
• Strong troubleshooting skills, combined with a methodical approach, and clear communication.
• Well-organized, strong follow-up abilities, demonstrated ability to work in a multifaceted environment.
• Must also have training in semiconductor or related fields. Having a background in IC processing/Semiconductor equipment is a plus.
• Must have excellent communication, organizational, analytical, leadership, and interpersonal skill.
• Candidate must be willing to travel (> 30%) within US.

Minimum Qualifications

Master's Level Degree and 0 years related work experience; Bachelor's Level Degree and related work experience of 2 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: $83,100.00 - $121,900.00 Annually Primary Location: USA-TX-Austin-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.