Senior Software Architect

To make electronics you need chips wafers transistors reticles and... To make these you must see test and manufacture them at scalefaster and better than ever before. Thats where KLA comes in. Whether youre early in your career or an experienced professional youll solve complex challenges work alongside brilliant minds and help shape the future of technology.

Group/Division

The Semiconductor Products and Customers (Semi PC) business unit designs builds and sells KLAs product portfolio to help chip manufacturers meet high-quality standards for technologies like AI data centers automotive and electronic devices. Our inspection metrology and analytics systems detect and monitor defects across logic and memory chips specialty semiconductors wafers reticles advanced packaging process equipment and materials. We also develop technologies for specialty processes IC substrates and PCB manufacturing including etch and deposition component inspection and imaging and analytics. The e-Beam division plays a critical role in KLAs inspection ecosystem with tools that deliver high-resolution timely insights into defects and critical locations on the wafer. Used alongside KLAs patterned and bare wafer inspectors e-Beam systems help our customers quickly identify and understand yield-impacting issuesenabling faster more effective actions to correct the manufacturing process.

What Youll Do

In this role you will play a key part in advancing business priorities by delivering high-impact work across your area of expertise.

We are seeking a highly experienced Sr. Software Engineer to lead the architecture design and development of complex software systems that power next-generation semiconductor inspection and metrology products. This role is ideal for a hands-on technical leader who thrives on solving challenging engineering problems defining scalable software architectures and influencing the technical direction of sophisticated hardware-software platforms.

You will work closely with systems engineers software developers physicists algorithm teams and product engineers to design and deliver high-performance C applications that drive innovation across KLAs product portfolio.

• Lead the architecture design and implementation of complex software systems
• Define scalable maintainable and high-performance software architectures aligned with product and technology roadmaps.
• Drive software design decisions conduct architecture reviews and establish technical standards across development teams.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including systems engineering algorithms hardware engineering and product development to deliver integrated solutions.
• Analyze complex technical requirements and translate them into elegant scalable software designs.
• Drive resolution of critical system-level issues through root cause analysis and architectural improvements.
• Evaluate and introduce new technologies tools and development methodologies through proof-of-concept initiatives.
• Promote engineering excellence through best practices in software design code quality testing automation and continuous integration.
• Optimize software performance scalability reliability and maintainability across distributed and real-time systems.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to engineers across multiple projects.
• Influence long-term software strategy and contribute to future platform and product architecture decisions.
• Communicate complex technical concepts tradeoffs and architectural recommendations to engineering and business stakeholders.

• Advanced Degree in Computer Science Computer Engineering Electrical Engineering or a related technical field.
• Strong experience in (C#) and/or Java C software development with a track record of delivering high-quality maintainable solutions.
• Proven experience designing and delivering large-scale complex software systems from architecture through deployment.
• Deep expertise in object-oriented design software architecture design patterns.
• Strong understanding of multi-threaded distributed and high-performance software systems.
• Experience developing software for complex engineering scientific semiconductor industrial automation or hardware-integrated applications.
• Demonstrated ability to architect scalable and maintainable software solutions that span multiple products and teams.
• Strong debugging troubleshooting and performance optimization skills in complex software environments.
• Experience with software development lifecycle (SDLC) code reviews automated testing CI/CD workflows and software quality practices.
• Ability to influence technical direction lead design discussions and drive consensus across engineering organizations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to convey complex technical concepts to diverse audiences.

• Experience developing software for semiconductor equipment metrology inspection systems robotics motion control or other precision engineering applications.
• Knowledge of Linux-based development environments.
• Experience designing distributed systems service-oriented architectures or real-time software systems.
• Familiarity with image processing machine vision scientific computing or data-intensive applications.
• Experience mentoring engineers and leading technical initiatives across multiple teams.
• Exposure to cloud technologies software automation frameworks and modern DevOps practices.

• Architecting software solutions that support next-generation semiconductor products.
• Driving key technical decisions that improve scalability performance and reliability.
• Reducing technical debt while accelerating product development.
• Establishing engineering best practices that elevate software quality across teams.
• Serving as a trusted technical leader and mentor within the organization.

Minimum Qualifications

Doctorate (Academic) Degree and related work experience of 3 years; Masters Level Degree and related work experience of 6 years; Bachelors Level Degree and related work experience of 8 years

About KLA

We provide advanced inspection tools metrology systems process solutions and computational analytics that make electronics possible tackling complex challenges. From electron and photon optics to machine learning and data analytics we seek perfection at the most fundamental level of matter in the universe. If you want to make electronics that push industries forward and make the world a better place join us.

Total Rewards

Base Pay Range: $159500.00 - $233967.00 Annually Primary Location: USA-CA-Milpitas-KLA

KLAs 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.

Use of AI Statement

At KLA our interviews seek to understand your individual skills problem-solving approach and authentic thinking. To ensure a fair and consistent evaluation the use of AI recording tools or other technologies to generate suggest or provide responses during interviewswhether virtual or in personis not permitted unless explicitly approved in advance as part of a reasonable accommodation or invited by the interviewer. Use of these tools may interfere with our ability to evaluate your individual qualifications and affect your candidacy. KLA is committed to advancing innovation through responsible AI and we value candidates who share this mindset.

Equal Opportunity Statement

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 or at 1- to request accommodation.

For additional information view the US Know Your Rights poster on the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission website.