Research Scientist

Job Title

Research Scientist

Role Summary

The Research Scientist will develop and validate algorithms, physics-based models, and software to support optical and film metrology for advanced semiconductor manufacturing. The role sits in the Film and Scatterometry Technology (FaST) division within the Semiconductor Products and Customers business unit and collaborates with R&D, product engineering, and customer teams.

Experience Level

Mid-level. Suitable for candidates with research experience; the posting indicates 0+ years of related work experience is acceptable.

Responsibilities

Primary responsibilities include:

• Research and develop numerical methods and physics-based models for metrology and simulation.
• Implement and maintain production-quality software, primarily in C++, and prototype algorithms in Python.
• Design, run, and analyze simulations and experiments to validate models and algorithms.
• Optimize algorithms for performance on high-performance and GPU platforms.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams and communicate technical results to engineers and stakeholders.
• Document methodologies, produce technical reports, and present findings internally and to customers.

Requirements

Must-have and preferred skills:

• Must-have: Strong background in numerical methods, scientific computing, physics-based modeling, and optimization algorithms.
• Must-have: Proficiency in C++ software development and practical experience using Python for algorithm development and data analysis.
• Must-have: Strong communication skills and ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams.
• Nice-to-have: Experience with electromagnetic simulation techniques (RCWA, FDTD, FEM) and numerical solution of field equations.
• Nice-to-have: Experience with inverse problems, uncertainty quantification, optimization, and regression methods.
• Nice-to-have: Machine learning and AI techniques; HPC and GPU software development (CUDA, TensorFlow, JAX) and parallel processing.
• Nice-to-have: Prior experience in semiconductor metrology, computational imaging, or optical metrology.

Education Requirements

Minimum qualification: Doctorate (PhD) in a relevant technical discipline. The posting lists PhD in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Applied Mathematics, Computer Science, or a related field; it also indicates "Doctorate (Academic) Degree and 0 years related work experience." No certifications were specified.

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.