Applications Development Engineer

Job Title

Applications Development Engineer

Role Summary

Support field and factory teams to resolve metrology issues, transfer technology to the field, and enable new product introductions for semiconductor metrology systems. The role focuses on technical problem solving, project coordination, and collaboration with R&D, engineering, and customers.

Experience Level

Mid-level. Typical candidates have 3–5 years of relevant industry experience depending on degree; candidates with a doctorate may be considered with less industry experience.

Responsibilities

Primary duties include field support, technology transfer, and development activities:

• Analyze process results and indicators to assess equipment performance and recommend improvements.
• Manage crises, lead problem-solving efforts, and apply project management to resolve issues.
• Coordinate technical requests and provide timely solutions between factory and field teams.
• Develop technical collateral and deliver training programs to support field readiness.
• Participate in new technology development, customer-facing technology promotion, and new product definition.
• Work with R&D and engineering on process characterization, equipment preparation, package design, modeling and simulation.
• Oversee project schedules and coordinate internal and external teams to ensure on-time delivery.
• Travel domestically and internationally (expected 50–70%).

Requirements

Must-have technical skills and experiences; "Nice-to-have" items are listed separately.

• Must-have: Experience diagnosing and resolving metrology or field equipment issues; strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Working knowledge of major system components and their interactions; generalist technical knowledge across relevant areas.
• Familiarity with testing techniques such as spectroscopy, titration, and HPLC.
• Practical experience with applications such as wet etch, damascene, and packaging.
• Strong technical writing and verbal communication skills; ability to produce clear technical collateral.
• Proficiency with standard office software (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project).
• Ability to work independently or with limited supervision and manage multiple tasks.
• Nice-to-have: Ability to speak Mandarin, Korean, or Japanese.

Education Requirements

Doctorate (PhD) acceptable with 0 years related work experience; Masters degree with ~3 years related work experience; Bachelors degree with ~5 years related work experience. Equivalent practical experience may be considered.

About the Company

Company: KLA

Headquarters: Chennai, India

KLA is a global leader in diversified electronics for the semiconductor manufacturing industry. The company enables the production of electronic devices by inventing systems and solutions for manufacturing integrated circuits, wafers, and displays. With over 40 years of experience, KLA invests heavily in innovation and R&D to support advanced chip design and manufacturing process optimization, collaborating with top technology providers to deliver future electronic devices.