Senior/Staff Material Scientist

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.

The Office of the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) plays a critical role in developing advanced long-range technology in collaboration with product divisions and strategic marketing, working on future technology like light sources, lasers, and sensors. We are engaged in the research and development process, and once the technology is mature, we partner with product engineering groups who then build products based on the technology we've developed. The Office of the CTO also provides technical input into KLA's strategic planning process, program reviews and Product Life Cycle (PLC) phases. We provide our broad technology expertise and cross-division experience to ensure we leverage the collective knowledge within our company.

Job Description/Preferred Qualifications

Responsibilities:

This role requires a deep understanding of material science, optics material, surface and phase transfer science, and their applications in photochemistry, photocontamination, and materials selection under high-power ultraviolet light exposure. The candidate must excel in experimental and data analysis, demonstrating the ability to derive clear results from complex data sets.

Key Responsibilities:

• Conduct material characterization for novel and various optics materials, leveraging a solid background in material science.

• Perform surface analysis and data extraction to generate clear results and conclusions.

• Develop actionable plans based on analyzed data and discussions with subject matter experts.

• Collaborate with engineering groups, including material research scientists, optics engineers, opto-mechanical engineers, and laser systems engineers, to perform failure analysis and ensure the feasibility of new materials/processes for KLA products.

• Build strong teams within the CTO office in Milpitas and other project-related groups.

• Understand UV-driven photocontamination and implement control measures through materials selection, cleaning processes, and purge control. Establish reliability models for optics under specific UV radiation conditions.

• Guide opto-mechanical engineers to meet reliability and performance specifications for next-generation opto-mechanical subsystems.

• Advise design teams on proper contamination control packaging and materials selection.

Requirements:

• Strong expertise in material characterization (experience in material synthesis is a plus).

• Familiarity with various optics materials, including non-linear optics.

• Extensive knowledge in material science, surface science, and phase transfer science.

• Proficiency with analytical instruments such as TGA, XRD, SEM, XPS, and other surface analytical techniques (GCMS is a plus).

• Hands-on experience with mechanical work and experimental design.

• Excellent communication and presentation skills.

• Strong teamwork abilities.

Minimum Qualifications

• Ph.D. in physics, chemistry, or a related field with at least 2 years of experience.

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