Manufacturing Engineer - Laser Systems - Milpitas, CA, United States
$106,700 - $181,400 USD yearly
Originally posted 8 July 2026 by the employer.
About the role
As a Manufacturing Engineer for Laser Systems within Global Operations (GOPS), you will serve as a technical expert driving the performance, reliability, and manufacturing execution of advanced laser systems used in semiconductor equipment.
What you'll do
- Serve as the subject matter expert for laser and optical systems, partnering across engineering, manufacturing, and service teams to drive performance improvements. - Investigate and resolve complex manufacturing and customer field escalations by identifying root causes and implementing solutions. - Lead projects focused on understanding laser behavior, performance drivers, and optimization opportunities. - Develop and refine laser alignment, calibration, and qualification processes to ensure quality and reliability. - Use data and structured problem-solving methods to improve yield, reduce variation, and enhance product performance. - Collaborate with global cross-functional teams on new product introductions, manufacturing transfers, and continuous improvement initiatives.
What you'll need
- Typically requires a minimum of 5 years of related experience with a Bachelor's degree, 3 years with a Master's degree, a PhD without experience, or equivalent work experience in a STEM field. - Strong understanding of laser systems and laser performance fundamentals. - Hands-on experience with laser alignment, optical system integration, or optical component qualification. - Experience leading root cause investigations and applying structured problem-solving methodologies. - Comfort working in cleanroom environments and traveling domestically and internationally up to 25%.
Skills: laser systems, optical systems, manufacturing, alignment, calibration
This role has been open 105 days — well above the 42-day median for Semiconductor Equipment Engineering roles.
Semiconductor Equipment Engineering · Optical Laser Systems
|
Open roles in category
40
|
Median days open
42 d
|
Median salary
$162k
|
See the full market breakdown ▾Category comparison, skills in demand, and who else is hiring
| Metric | KLA Corporation | All employers we track in this specialty (40 roles · 11 employers) |
|---|---|---|
| Open roles in this specialty | 16 | 40 |
| Open roles in the wider Process, Fab & Equipment family | 463 | 10066 · 107 employers |
| Median days open | 92 d | 42 d (+50 d vs this employer) |
| Median salary (USD postings) | — | $162k |
Skills observed across this category: laser systems, optical systems, manufacturing, alignment, calibration
Who's hiring in this category
- KLA Corporation (this employer) · 17 open roles · median 104 d
- ASML · 7 open roles · median 16 d
- Applied Materials · 5 open roles · median 32 d
- MKS Instruments · 4 open roles · median 64 d
- Aeva Technologies · 1 open role · median 77 d
- Camtek · 1 open role · median 120 d
How we counted: 40 open Semiconductor Equipment Engineering (Optical Laser Systems) roles from 11 employers tracked in the SemiconductorJobs index, counted 21 Oct 2026. Specialty figures count only roles carrying this exact specialty label, so an employer's related work in neighbouring specialties is not included there — it is counted in the wider Process, Fab & Equipment family row. Figures refresh nightly.