Algorithm Engineer - Deep Learning

To make electronics, you need chips, wafers, transistors, reticles, and... To make these, you must see, test and manufacture them at scale—faster and better than ever before. That's where KLA comes in. Whether you're early in your career or an experienced professional, you'll 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 KLA’s 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 Broadband Plasma (BBP) division is the market-leading optical inspection system used by logic, foundry, and memory customers to detect critical defects at advanced nodes. These tools combine broadband plasma technology with unmatched sensitivity and speed to support high-volume manufacturing.

What You'll 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 looking for a full-time Deep Learning Algorithm Engineer who is passionate about pioneering Deep Learning (DL), foundation models, and GenAI for image processing and computer vision applications in the semiconductor process control business.

Qualified candidates are expected to have a strong background and in-depth experience in deep learning, especially in object detection, segmentation, vision foundation models, and multimodal models. Candidates should also have a deep understanding of relevant theory and hands-on experience grounding DL/GenAI models in real application domains, with strong emphasis on performance, efficiency, and deployment.

The ideal candidate can work independently across the full deep learning project lifecycle, including conceptualizing, exploring, designing, implementing, optimizing, and deploying models. Responsibilities for this position include, but are not limited to:

• Understand state-of-the-art (SOTA) deep learning and GenAI models.

• Connect SOTA DL modeling approaches to domain problem statements.

• Analyze modeling requirements based on product feature requirements.

• Design deep learning and GenAI models to meet modeling requirements.

• Implement modeling prototypes and perform analysis.

• Perform model training and/or tuning on domain datasets.

• Evaluate and validate model performance against defined metrics.

• Analyze model performance bottlenecks.

• Design and optimize DL model architectures, including new modules, efficient backbones, and model compression techniques (e.g., distillation).

• Optimize DL or GenAI model throughput and cost, including mixed-precision and low-precision inference and training (e.g., FP16, FP8).

• Work and communicate collaboratively with peers.

• Present ideas, concepts, and results in professional technical settings.

Qualifications/Education Desired

• Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related quantitative fields.

• Academic or industrial experience applying deep learning or GenAI to real-world problem(s), with impactful results.

• In-depth experience developing and optimizing deep learning, Vision Foundation Models (VFM), or Vision Language Models (VLM) in at least one of the following areas: computer vision, image processing, robotics, NLP, or equivalent, with strong emphasis on efficiency, scalability, and deployment performance.

• Required experience with DL model optimization/distillation for mixed or reduced precision (e.g., FP16, FP8) to improve throughput, latency, and deployment efficiency.

• Experience with GenAI coding tools, vibe coding, or vibe engineering.

• Proficiency in Python and one additional programming language from: C++, Java, Rust, Go.

• Proficiency in at least one deep learning framework (e.g., PyTorch, TensorFlow, JAX, or equivalent).

• Demonstrated deep learning expertise via technical publications in top conferences (e.g., NeurIPS, CVPR, ICML, ICLR, KDD, SIGGRAPH, etc.) and/or industrial patents and/or impactful open-source projects is required.

• Travel required: up to 10%.

• Experience in semiconductor process control is a plus.

Minimum Qualifications

• Doctorate (academic) degree with 0 years of related work experience; or Master’s degree with 3 years of related work experience.

• Academic or industrial experience applying deep learning or GenAI to real-world problem(s), with impactful results.

• Required experience with DL model optimization/distillation for mixed or reduced precision (e.g., FP16, FP8) to improve throughput, latency, and deployment efficiency.

• Travel required: up to 10%.

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: $136,300.00 - $199,900.00 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.

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 interviews—whether virtual or in person—is 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 talent.acquisition@kla.com or at +1-408-352-2808 to request accommodation.

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