
Mechanical Design Manager
Milpitas, CAFull-time$181–308K/yrPosted 4mo agoStill listed today
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Job overview
The Mechanical Design Manager leads a team of mechanical or opto-mechanical engineers developing advanced wafer inspection equipment, from concept through production. The role combines technical leadership with engineering talent development and execution in a multidisciplinary environment. The manager drives technical strategies and delivers innovative, high-performance products, drawing on expertise in precision systems or semiconductor equipment design and either opto-mechanical systems or platform design.
Skills & qualifications
Skills
Qualifications
Benefits
Full job description
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 Surfscan group includes a team of engineers, technology development, apps engineers and product marketing focused on technology that enables wafer, IC and equipment manufacturers to develop, qualify and monitor their process tools. Defects and process non-uniformities detected on Surfscan equipment allow for early identification of yield excursions. The flagship Surfscan products include the SPx platforms for wafer surface quality and wafer defect inspection tools and systems for inspection of polished wafers, epi wafers and engineered substrates during the wafer fabrication process.
Job Description/Preferred Qualifications Job Summary
Lead a team of either mechanical or opto-mechanical engineers to develop advanced wafer inspection equipment. This role combines strong leadership with deep technical expertise to deliver innovative, high-performance products from concept through production. The successful candidate will drive technical strategies, build and develop engineering talent, and lead the execution in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Proven track record leading mechanical design efforts that delivered commercially successful technology products.
- Demonstrated success leading engineering teams and driving technical execution in a complex, multidisciplinary development environment.
- Strong ability to translate system-level requirements into innovative and practical engineering solutions.
- Excellent communication and influencing skills, with the ability to align stakeholders, communicate complex technical concepts, and drive cross-functional decisions.
- Strong experience in precision systems or semiconductor equipment design, with expertise in one of the following areas:• Opto-mechanical systems: understanding of first-order optics, with extensive experience in optical mounting, alignment, and tolerancing; ability to lead the design and development of large-scale opto-mechanical systems, including DUV applications.
- Platform design: Experience in most of the following areas: precision stages and wafer chucks, vibration analysis and isolation, motion control, thermal management, wafer handling systems, electronic racks, safety enclosures, and large mechanical structures.
Qualifications
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Proven track record leading mechanical design efforts that delivered commercially successful technology products
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Demonstrated ability to solve complex, multidisciplinary engineering problems and drive them to resolution
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Strong communication skills, with the ability to clearly convey technical concepts, align cross-functional teams, and drive decisions.
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Strong experience in precision systems or semiconductor equipment design, with expertise in one of the following areas:• Opto-mechanical systems: solid understanding of first-order optics, with deep experience in optical mounting, alignment, and tolerancing; ability to lead large opto-mechanical system design, including DUV applications
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Platform design: experience with stage/chuck systems, vibration analysis and isolation, motion control, thermal management (heating/cooling), purging, and structural/frame design
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Self-driving, motivated and never give up or comprise the target.
Minimum Qualifications
- BS with 15+ years, MS with 10+ years, or PhD with 7+ years of relevant experience, including demonstrated leadership experience.
Base Pay Range: $181,000.00 - $307,700.00 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] to confirm the person you are communicating with is an employee. We take your privacy very seriously and confidentially handle your information.
How this job compares
Set against the 1,762 open Mechanical Engineering jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 11, 2026.
- Pay
- This posting$181–308K/yr
- California median$138–201K/yr166 salary ranges
- US median$112–187K/yr891 salary ranges
This range's midpoint, $244K, is 40% above the California median midpoint ($174K) — in the top quarter of Mechanical Engineering salary ranges in California.
- Openings
- Olive Jobs lists 251 open Mechanical Engineering jobs in California and 1,762 across the US. 2% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
- Hiring the most in California
- Anduril14 open
- Apple8 open
- AeroVironment7 open
- Experience
- This posting asks for at least 7 years of experience; Mechanical Engineering postings that state a minimum ask for 5 years at the median (992 postings).
- Education
- 768 of the 1,762 open Mechanical Engineering jobs (44%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.
Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 11, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.
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