Associate Test Engineer, Analytical Instrumentation

KLA•Milpitas, CA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Associate Test Engineer supports KLA’s Global Operations team by operating a Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GCMS) laboratory to verify cleanliness standards for production components. The role measures contamination at sub-parts-per-billion levels in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. The position is likely to be day shift, with possible flexibility for swing shift (1:00 PM–10:00 PM). It is based at KLA’s Milpitas, California location and involves working in a cleanroom and following contamination-control protocols. The engineer operates, calibrates, maintains, troubleshoots, and repairs GCMS instruments; prepares samples; conducts analytical testing; interprets results; and produces accurate reports. The role also involves materials outgassing experiments, documentation, collaboration with MDE chemists and manufacturing customers, laboratory inventory management, and coordinating sampling-kit shipments. The team is building a digital platform for sample management, reporting, and analytics, and candidates with relevant software and data skills may contribute to that work.

Requirements

Associate degree or equivalent vocational training.
At least 3 years of relevant hands-on experience.
Ability to work in a cleanroom environment and follow contamination-control protocols.
Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Science, or a related technical field is listed as a preferred qualification.
Hands-on experience operating, calibrating, maintaining, troubleshooting, and repairing analytical instruments is preferred.
Strong mechanical aptitude and comfort with laboratory hardware, experimental setups, and test systems are preferred.
Ability to read technical drawings, schematics, and specifications and apply mathematics and precision measurement techniques to practical problems is preferred.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Science, or a related technical field.
Hands-on experience with analytical instruments, including operation, calibration, maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair.
Strong mechanical aptitude and comfort with laboratory hardware, experimental setups, and test systems.
Ability to read technical drawings, schematics, and specifications and apply mathematics and precision measurement techniques to solve practical problems.
Python for data processing, automation scripting, or scientific computing.
SQL and experience querying relational databases.
Data analysis and visualization with pandas, NumPy, matplotlib, or similar tools.
Web and integration basics, including REST APIs, HTTP services, and connecting laboratory systems to enterprise platforms.
Experience with Microsoft Azure or Azure Functions, or willingness to learn.
Interest in applying machine learning to analytical workflows, such as automated reporting, predictive maintenance, or anomaly detection.

Responsibilities

Operate, calibrate, maintain, troubleshoot, and repair GCMS instruments.
Prepare samples, execute analytical testing, interpret results, and deliver accurate reports.
Separate, identify, and quantify trace-level impurities and target compounds.
Set up and conduct materials outgassing experiments; develop procedures, collect data, analyze results, and maintain documentation.
Partner with MDE chemists and build working relationships with internal manufacturing customers.
Manage laboratory inventories, including reagents, gas cylinders, and consumables.
Coordinate sampling-kit shipments to customer sites.
Work in a cleanroom and follow contamination-control protocols.