Mechanical Design Engineer Jobs at KLA with Visa Sponsorship
Mechanical Design Engineer jobs at KLA sit at the intersection of precision hardware development and semiconductor equipment innovation. KLA actively sponsors work visas for this function, making it a strong target if you're an international candidate with experience in mechanical systems, CAD design, or equipment engineering.
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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.
Group/Division
With over 40 years of semiconductor process control experience, chipmakers around the globe rely on KLA to ensure that their fabs ramp next-generation devices to volume production quickly and cost-effectively. Enabling the movement towards advanced chip design, KLA's Global Products Group (GPG), which is responsible for creating all of KLA’s metrology and inspection products, is looking for the best and the brightest research scientist, software engineers, application development engineers, and senior product technology process engineers. The RAPID division is the world leading provider of reticle inspection solutions for the semiconductor industry. The company provides inspection solutions to both the mask shops and the semiconductor fabs to ensure that lithography yields are consistently high thus enabling cost-effective manufacturing.
Job Description/Preferred Qualifications
Responsibilities
- Lead the mechanical design, integration, and validation of complex, multi‑chamber subsystems, ensuring structural stability, precision performance, and robust contamination control.
- Design and develop ultra‑clean vacuum system hardware, including chamber structures, interfaces, materials/finishes, seals, and internal components, applying UCV principles such as low‑outgassing materials, precision cleaning requirements, and contamination‑minimizing geometries.
- Develop mechanical concepts and detailed designs for chambers, frames, interfaces, mounts, enclosures, and precision mechanisms; create drawings, specifications, and requirements for cross‑functional teams.
- Drive structural, thermal, fluid, and vibrational analyses to optimize component performance and system stability.
- Collaborate closely with optics, metrology, electrical, controls/PLC, software, manufacturing, and service teams to ensure subsystem compatibility and seamless system‑level integration.
- Support vacuum‑related elements across chambers (e.g., main chamber, stage chamber, transfer chamber, etc.) by defining interfaces, mechanical constraints, and performance requirements that integrate with overall system design.
- Contribute to the development and documentation of vacuum operation schemes (pump‑down, roughing, purge, vent, bake/clean cycles), and partner with Controls/SE on interlocks and sequencing.
- Establish and maintain contamination‑control strategies—including materials selection, cleanliness/handling guidelines, and UCV‑grade component practices—working with Materials Engineering and Supply Chain to evaluate suppliers.
- Perform first‑order and detailed analyses for pumping configurations, conductance effects, and subsystem‑level performance impacts; collaborate with vacuum specialists as needed for deeper modeling.
- Lead mechanical and system‑level design reviews (CDR, DDR), ensuring design requirements flow correctly to partner teams (mechanical, electrical, opto‑mechanical, metrology, EFEM/loader, source).
- Own integration of chambers and platform structures for vibration isolation, optical stability, and stage dynamic performance.
- Plan, execute, and oversee test activities—prototype chambers, subsystem test stands, and pre‑factory builds—including instrumentation, test methods, data analysis, and acceptance metrics.
- Manage risk through FMEA, issue tracking, corrective actions, and design‑for‑reliability improvements across NPI and into HVM.
- Mentor engineers, establish best practices (DfX, contamination handling, documentation standards), and maintain engineering artifacts and decision rationale for long‑term R&D continuity.
Qualifications
- Education: MS/PhD in Mechanical Engineering or related field (Applied Physics, Materials Science, EE, etc.).
- Experience: 8–12+ years in mechanical design and integration of complex systems (semiconductor equipment, precision instrumentation, multi‑chamber tools, or equivalent). Experience collaborating on vacuum operation schemes and PLC‑controlled interlocks is a plus but not required as a primary role.
- Technical depth: Strong foundation in mechanical engineering—precision design, structural/thermal/vibration analysis, contamination control, materials/finishes, and system‑level integration. Familiarity with vacuum principles (pumping, conductance, gauging, cleanliness) desired.
- Tools: Proficiency in 3D CAD/PLM workflows; experience with analysis tools (ANSYS/COMSOL or similar); scripting (Python/Matlab) for data processing and modeling; collaboration with PLC/HMI teams.
- Soft skills: Demonstrated cross‑functional leadership, clear technical communication, supplier interaction, issue‑resolution ownership, and mentoring experience.
Minimum Qualifications
Doctorate (Academic) or work experience of 2 years, Master's Level Degree or work experience of 4 years, Bachelor's Level Degree or work experience of 5 years.
Base Pay Range: $117,800.00 - $200,300.00 Annually
Primary Location: USA-CA-Milpitas-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.
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.
Be aware of potentially fraudulent job postings or suspicious recruiting activity by persons that are currently posing as KLA employees. KLA never asks for any financial compensation to be considered for an interview, to become an employee, or for equipment. Further, KLA does not work with any recruiters or third parties who charge such fees either directly or on behalf of KLA. Please ensure that you have searched KLA’s Careers website for legitimate job postings. KLA follows a recruiting process that involves multiple interviews in person or on video conferencing with our hiring managers. If you are concerned that a communication, an interview, an offer of employment, or that an employee is not legitimate, please send an email to talent.acquisition@kla.com to confirm the person you are communicating with is an employee. We take your privacy very seriously and confidentially handle your information.
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.
Group/Division
With over 40 years of semiconductor process control experience, chipmakers around the globe rely on KLA to ensure that their fabs ramp next-generation devices to volume production quickly and cost-effectively. Enabling the movement towards advanced chip design, KLA's Global Products Group (GPG), which is responsible for creating all of KLA’s metrology and inspection products, is looking for the best and the brightest research scientist, software engineers, application development engineers, and senior product technology process engineers. The RAPID division is the world leading provider of reticle inspection solutions for the semiconductor industry. The company provides inspection solutions to both the mask shops and the semiconductor fabs to ensure that lithography yields are consistently high thus enabling cost-effective manufacturing.
Job Description/Preferred Qualifications
Responsibilities
- Lead the mechanical design, integration, and validation of complex, multi‑chamber subsystems, ensuring structural stability, precision performance, and robust contamination control.
- Design and develop ultra‑clean vacuum system hardware, including chamber structures, interfaces, materials/finishes, seals, and internal components, applying UCV principles such as low‑outgassing materials, precision cleaning requirements, and contamination‑minimizing geometries.
- Develop mechanical concepts and detailed designs for chambers, frames, interfaces, mounts, enclosures, and precision mechanisms; create drawings, specifications, and requirements for cross‑functional teams.
- Drive structural, thermal, fluid, and vibrational analyses to optimize component performance and system stability.
- Collaborate closely with optics, metrology, electrical, controls/PLC, software, manufacturing, and service teams to ensure subsystem compatibility and seamless system‑level integration.
- Support vacuum‑related elements across chambers (e.g., main chamber, stage chamber, transfer chamber, etc.) by defining interfaces, mechanical constraints, and performance requirements that integrate with overall system design.
- Contribute to the development and documentation of vacuum operation schemes (pump‑down, roughing, purge, vent, bake/clean cycles), and partner with Controls/SE on interlocks and sequencing.
- Establish and maintain contamination‑control strategies—including materials selection, cleanliness/handling guidelines, and UCV‑grade component practices—working with Materials Engineering and Supply Chain to evaluate suppliers.
- Perform first‑order and detailed analyses for pumping configurations, conductance effects, and subsystem‑level performance impacts; collaborate with vacuum specialists as needed for deeper modeling.
- Lead mechanical and system‑level design reviews (CDR, DDR), ensuring design requirements flow correctly to partner teams (mechanical, electrical, opto‑mechanical, metrology, EFEM/loader, source).
- Own integration of chambers and platform structures for vibration isolation, optical stability, and stage dynamic performance.
- Plan, execute, and oversee test activities—prototype chambers, subsystem test stands, and pre‑factory builds—including instrumentation, test methods, data analysis, and acceptance metrics.
- Manage risk through FMEA, issue tracking, corrective actions, and design‑for‑reliability improvements across NPI and into HVM.
- Mentor engineers, establish best practices (DfX, contamination handling, documentation standards), and maintain engineering artifacts and decision rationale for long‑term R&D continuity.
Qualifications
- Education: MS/PhD in Mechanical Engineering or related field (Applied Physics, Materials Science, EE, etc.).
- Experience: 8–12+ years in mechanical design and integration of complex systems (semiconductor equipment, precision instrumentation, multi‑chamber tools, or equivalent). Experience collaborating on vacuum operation schemes and PLC‑controlled interlocks is a plus but not required as a primary role.
- Technical depth: Strong foundation in mechanical engineering—precision design, structural/thermal/vibration analysis, contamination control, materials/finishes, and system‑level integration. Familiarity with vacuum principles (pumping, conductance, gauging, cleanliness) desired.
- Tools: Proficiency in 3D CAD/PLM workflows; experience with analysis tools (ANSYS/COMSOL or similar); scripting (Python/Matlab) for data processing and modeling; collaboration with PLC/HMI teams.
- Soft skills: Demonstrated cross‑functional leadership, clear technical communication, supplier interaction, issue‑resolution ownership, and mentoring experience.
Minimum Qualifications
Doctorate (Academic) or work experience of 2 years, Master's Level Degree or work experience of 4 years, Bachelor's Level Degree or work experience of 5 years.
Base Pay Range: $117,800.00 - $200,300.00 Annually
Primary Location: USA-CA-Milpitas-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.
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.
Be aware of potentially fraudulent job postings or suspicious recruiting activity by persons that are currently posing as KLA employees. KLA never asks for any financial compensation to be considered for an interview, to become an employee, or for equipment. Further, KLA does not work with any recruiters or third parties who charge such fees either directly or on behalf of KLA. Please ensure that you have searched KLA’s Careers website for legitimate job postings. KLA follows a recruiting process that involves multiple interviews in person or on video conferencing with our hiring managers. If you are concerned that a communication, an interview, an offer of employment, or that an employee is not legitimate, please send an email to talent.acquisition@kla.com to confirm the person you are communicating with is an employee. We take your privacy very seriously and confidentially handle your information.
See all Mechanical Design Engineer Jobs at KLA
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Mechanical Design Engineer Jobs at KLA.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Mechanical Design Engineer Jobs at KLA
Align your CAD portfolio to KLA's toolsets
KLA builds inspection and metrology equipment with exacting mechanical tolerances. Before applying, ensure your portfolio highlights experience with SolidWorks or Pro/E, thermal management design, or precision motion systems, the skill language their job descriptions use.
Target roles tied to active product programs
KLA's Mechanical Design Engineer openings cluster around specific product lines like wafer inspection or process control tools. Filter open roles by division to identify teams actively building headcount, not just backfilling, since those positions move faster through sponsorship approvals.
Browse KLA's open roles through Migrate Mate
Migrate Mate filters Mechanical Design Engineer openings at companies with a verified sponsorship track record. Use it to surface KLA roles that are actively open and match your visa type before applying directly through KLA's careers portal.
Prepare your F-1 OPT timeline before interviews
If you're on OPT, calculate your remaining authorization window before your first KLA interview. If your end date falls within six months of a potential start date, raise it early so the recruiting team can assess H-1B cap timing or CPT overlap without it becoming a late-stage blocker.
Understand how PERM affects your long-term path
KLA sponsors EB-2 and EB-3 Green Cards, which require DOL's PERM labor certification. For Mechanical Design Engineer roles, that process typically starts after one to two years of employment. Asking about this timeline in the offer stage is reasonable and shows you understand how employer-sponsored immigration works.
Request H-1B premium processing if your start date is tight
USCIS premium processing reduces the H-1B adjudication window to 15 business days. If your OPT expires close to your intended start date at KLA, ask your recruiter whether the company covers premium processing fees, many large manufacturing employers do for critical engineering hires.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does KLA sponsor H-1B visas for Mechanical Design Engineers?
Yes, KLA sponsors H-1B visas for Mechanical Design Engineers. The company has a consistent track record of filing H-1B petitions for engineering roles across its hardware and equipment development teams. If you're on OPT transitioning to H-1B, or applying directly from abroad, KLA's recruiting team is experienced with the cap and lottery process.
How do I apply for Mechanical Design Engineer jobs at KLA?
Apply through KLA's careers portal at kla.com. Search for Mechanical Design Engineer roles filtered by location and product division. Tailor your resume to emphasize precision mechanical design, GD&T proficiency, and relevant CAD tools. If you need visa sponsorship, note it clearly in your application. You can also use Migrate Mate to identify open KLA roles matched to your visa type before applying.
Which visa types does KLA commonly sponsor for Mechanical Design Engineers?
KLA sponsors H-1B, TN visa, J-1 visa, and F-1 OPT and CPT for Mechanical Design Engineer roles, along with EB-2 and EB-3 immigrant visa pathways for longer-term employees. TN visa is available to Canadian and Mexican nationals whose role qualifies as an engineer under USMCA. The right category depends on your nationality, degree, and where you are in the immigration process.
What qualifications does KLA expect for Mechanical Design Engineer roles?
Most KLA Mechanical Design Engineer postings require a bachelor's or master's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related field. Practical experience with SolidWorks or Pro/ENGINEER, tolerance stack-up analysis, and hardware development in a manufacturing or semiconductor equipment environment carries significant weight. Advanced roles may expect familiarity with thermal or vacuum system design, which is common in KLA's inspection tool product lines.
How do I navigate the visa sponsorship process timeline when joining KLA?
Start tracking your authorization window as soon as you enter the interview process. If you're on F-1 OPT, confirm your remaining days and whether your role qualifies for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. KLA's HR and legal teams handle H-1B petitions through USCIS, but the process takes time, so aligning your start date with petition filing windows early avoids last-minute complications.