Sr. Mechanical Design Engineer - Wafer Positioning/Motion Stages - Milpitas, CA, United States
$117,800 - $200,300 USD yearly
Originally posted 3 May 2026 by the employer. Relisted by the employer on 13 October 2026.
Multi axis motion systems for wafer scanning with nanometers level vibration and accuracy.
About the role
KLA is seeking a Sr. Mechanical Design Engineer for the Central Engineering team in Milpitas, specializing in multi axis motion systems for wafer scanning with nanometers level vibration and accuracy. The position focuses on electro-mechanical systems including wafer positioning and motion stages, wafer chucks, and related tooling.
What you'll do
- Design parts and assemblies using Creo or SolidWorks, and generate drawings with GD&T for high performance wafer positioning/motion stages, wafer chucks, and tooling. - Perform structural, thermal, and vibration/modal FEAs to optimize components and assemblies for stiffness, damping, accuracy, and manufacturability. - Analyze and select components such as bearings, motors, and mechanisms, backed by FEA and motor current, voltage, and power calculations. - Collaborate with controls, systems, and manufacturing engineers to iterate on designs and present formal design reviews. - Create test plans, drive prototype testing, execute system integration, and conduct stage servo tuning to meet performance and reliability requirements. - Develop assembly procedures for various systems to ensure transition to manufacturing and oversee part procurement with vendors.
What you'll need
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field with 5+ years of experience, a Master's degree with 3+ years of experience, or a Doctorate with related work experience. - Experience in motion systems, precision mechanics, or mechatronics. - Proficiency in Creo, SolidWorks, or similar 3D CAD modeling tools with several years of work experience. - Proficiency in structural, thermal, and vibration/modal FEA. - DFM experience with machining, sheet metals, and castings. - Knowledge of data analysis tools such as Python or Matlab.
Nice to have
- Experience with feedback systems involving high resolution optical encoders, laser interferometers, linear motors, linear guides, or air bearings. - Design experience with dynamic X,Y sub-micron positioning stages. - Vibration and modal testing using accelerometers or impact hammers. - Semiconductor capital equipment design experience. - Experience with vibration isolation systems, motion control, Simulink, and PID servo tuning.
Skills: wafer positioning, motion stages, precision mechanics, Creo, FEA
This role has been open 208 days — well above the 48-day median for Semiconductor Equipment Engineering roles.
Semiconductor Equipment Engineering · Motion Control Systems
|
Open roles in category
33
|
Median days open
48 d
|
Median salary
$146k
|
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 (33 roles · 9 employers) |
|---|---|---|
| Open roles in this specialty | 8 | 33 |
| Open roles in the wider Process, Fab & Equipment family | 510 | 10037 · 107 employers |
| Median days open | 89 d | 48 d (+41 d vs this employer) |
| Median salary (USD postings) | — | $146k |
Skills observed across this category: wafer positioning, motion stages, precision mechanics, Creo, FEA
Who's hiring in this category
- ASML · 10 open roles · median 6 d
- KLA Corporation (this employer) · 8 open roles · median 90 d
- Applied Materials · 7 open roles · median 74 d
- Onto Innovation · 3 open roles · median 59 d
- FormFactor · 1 open role · median 52 d
- Kulicke & Soffa · 1 open role · median 6 d
How we counted: 33 open Semiconductor Equipment Engineering (Motion Control Systems) roles from 9 employers tracked in the SemiconductorJobs index, counted 26 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.