Embedded Software Engineer (C/C++ | Motion Controller) - Milpitas, CA, United States

Originally posted 11 August 2026 by the employer.

About the role

This role involves developing and maintaining embedded software and firmware for semiconductor equipment control, motion control, automation, diagnostics, and system integration. You will contribute to the products of KLA's Global Products Group, which creates metrology and inspection products like the Surfscan SPx platforms.

What you'll do

• Develop and maintain embedded software and firmware for semiconductor equipment control, motion control, automation, diagnostics, and system integration.
• Design, implement, test, and debug software for precision motion systems, machine automation, and real-time signal processing.
• Build diagnostic, configuration, calibration, and validation tools in C++ and Python for engineering, manufacturing, and field-support teams.
• Support hardware bring-up, system integration, performance tuning, and root-cause analysis across software, electronics, motion-control hardware, sensors, imaging subsystems, and mechanical components.
• Partner with electrical, FPGA, mechanical, optical, systems, product engineering, manufacturing, and field teams to bring complex equipment platforms from concept through production.
• Contribute to requirements analysis, design documentation, coding, testing, software integration, troubleshooting, and on-tool qualification.

What you'll need

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline with 5+ years of relevant experience; or a master’s degree or Ph.D. with 2+ years of relevant experience.
• Strong C/C++ programming skills for embedded systems, firmware, or software that interfaces closely with hardware.
• Working knowledge of Python for diagnostics, automation, scripting, or engineering tools.
• Experience developing software for embedded systems, real-time control, motion control, robotics, automation, or machine-control platforms.
• Understanding of embedded peripherals and hardware interfaces such as SPI, I2C, UART/serial, GPIO, Ethernet, FPGA interfaces, or inter-board communication.
• Ability to debug systems that involve software, electronics, motion-control hardware, sensors, and mechanical components.
• Ability to read electronic schematics and use basic lab instruments such as digital multimeters and oscilloscopes.

Nice to have

• Experience with semiconductor manufacturing equipment, precision automation systems, optics, optical alignment systems, imaging systems, or precision measurement technologies.
• Experience with Galil motion controllers or similar motion-control platforms, industrial communication protocols, deterministic control applications, or related real-time control systems.
• Experience with MATLAB, LabVIEW, UML, object-oriented design, source-control tools, or advanced C/C++ development practices.

Skills: embedded software, firmware, C/C++, motion control, automation, real-time control