Mechanical/Mechatronics Engineer - High Precision Motion Platforms

KLA•Milpitas, CA

About The Position

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. We are seeking a hands‑on Mechatronics Engineer to design, model, and optimize ultra‑precision motion systems that enable next‑generation wafer inspection on our eBeam platform. You will own end‑to‑end motion performance—from plant modeling and loop shaping to diagnostics and test processes—working multi-functionally with design, manufacturing, and field service to deliver nm‑level stability and fast stage settling in high‑vacuum, high‑voltage environments.

Requirements

Bachelor's or higher in Mechanical, Mechatronics, Electrical, or related engineering field
5+ years in precision motion systems or controls for high‑performance mechatronic platforms (wafer inspection, metrology, robotics)
Strong control theory foundation: PID/PIV, cascade loops, loop shaping, stability margins (PM/GM/BW), observers, feed-forward
Fluency in MATLAB/Simulink for modeling/simulation; proficiency with FFT/signal processing for diagnostics
Hands‑on servo tuning and feedback setup using laser interferometers/encoders; demonstrated experience debugging motion noise and precision errors
Experience translating requirements into released specifications and collaborating with multi-discipline teams
Doctorate (Academic) Degree and 0 years related work experience; Master's Level Degree and related work experience of 3 years; Bachelor's Level Degree and related work experience of 5 years

Nice To Haves

Expertise in XY Stages, Motion controllers and DSP-based servo systems design
Proficient in signal processing and analysis using Matlab and Python
Skilled in simulations and system dynamics, particularly with Simulink
Experienced in vibration analysis and the use of accelerometers and/or other feedback sensors
Experience in manufacturing processes and mechanical design
Experience in the semiconductor industry is considered an asset
Experience in developing requirements and test plans

Responsibilities

Design precision motion stages (actuator, sensor and servo) with integrated controls to meet bandwidth, stability, and following-error requirements.
Tune and validate servos using interferometer/encoder feedback, perform noise analysis, and adjust gains for optimal robustness and speed.
Create high-fidelity models (Matlab/Simulink) to improve motion profiles, feed-forward strategies, and control architectures for wafer inspection.
Define clear requirements and tolerances for multi-functional teams (Firmware, Software, Electrical, Mechanical) in feature development and integration.
Develop diagnostics and test processes for NPI; train manufacturing and service engineers.
Lead improvement projects to reduce jitter, increase servo bandwidth, and decrease settling time (e.g., modal mitigation, structural or upstream control enhancements).
Document and communicate trade-offs and design choices; present data-driven recommendations and risk mitigations.