Embedded Software Engineer

KLA is a global leader in diversified electronics for the semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem. Virtually every electronic device in the world is produced using our technologies. No laptop, smartphone, wearable device, voice-controlled gadget, flexible screen, VR device or smart car would have made it into your hands without us. KLA invents systems and solutions for the manufacturing of wafers and reticles, integrated circuits, packaging, printed circuit boards and flat panel displays. The innovative ideas and devices that are advancing humanity all begin with inspiration, research and development. KLA focuses more than average on innovation and we invest 15% of sales back into R&D. Our expert teams of physicists, engineers, data scientists and problem-solvers work together with the world’s leading technology providers to accelerate the delivery of tomorrow’s electronic devices. Life here is exciting and our teams thrive on tackling really hard problems. There is never a dull moment with us.

With over 40 years of semiconductor process control experience, chipmakers around the globe rely on KLA to ensure that their fabs ramp next-generation devices to volume production quickly and cost-effectively. Enabling the movement towards advanced chip design, KLA's Global Products Group (GPG), which is responsible for creating all of KLA’s metrology and inspection products, is looking for the best and the brightest research scientist, software engineers, application development engineers, and senior product technology process engineers. The RAPID division is the world leading provider of reticle inspection solutions for the semiconductor industry. The company provides inspection solutions to both the mask shops and the semiconductor fabs to ensure that lithography yields are consistently high thus enabling cost-effective manufacturing.

Job Description/Preferred Qualifications

Your Role: Collaborate, Innovate, Grow

• We are seeking a highly motivated Embedded Software Engineer to join our team developing the next generation reticle inspection platform.
• As part of Embedded SW team within RAPID division, you will collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to design, develop, and maintain interface and control software for various sub-systems.
• The candidate will be part of the regional team responsible for deployment, integration and testing multi e-beam based reticle inspection tool/s.
• The candidate will work closely with California, USA team to perform on-tool tasks, integration and testing of new SW features, solve critical problems and to bring in iterative improvements and refinements through newly developed software.

Job Responsibilities:

• Execute the integration, testing and development plan for sub-systems on the first tool/s, in tight coordination with the California team.
• Be the primary point of contact for the Embedded SW Engineering team. Troubleshoot and investigate integration and development issues.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams in the cleanroom environment to support embedded & controls software testing, tackle issues, document investigation findings, and contribute to solution implementation. Perform software issue investigation and root cause analysis.
• Work in cleanroom environment to perform integration and testing of SW sub-systems.
• Occasional global travel to Headquarter (California) for training and supporting engineering projects.
• Ramp up on embedded and controls software sub-systems for reticle inspection tool. Contribute to ongoing development, testing, and iterative software solutions improvement.

• Develop complex software/firmware modules for machine control in semiconductor inspection systems. Project involves demanding embedded applications including interrupt-driven task-based multi-threaded software for electro-optical and electro-mechanical control systems running on a real-time operating system (RTOS) such as real-time Linux and /or VxWorks for a high-reliability application.

• Develop SW/FW using C/C++ on Linux/RTOS to communicate with custom and 3rd party motion controllers using interfaces like Ethernet, Serial-RS232 and/or USB.
• Work closely with multidisciplinary engineering teams, including electrical, mechanical, optics and other software teams to acquire in-depth domain knowledge and solve system problems.
• Understand system level requirements and translate them into software design and implementation.
• Define and execute test plans to measure the performance of key subsystems. Document, analyze and present the testing results.
• Write technical reports to communicate tool performance, analysis, and best-known methods.

Required Skills & Qualification:

• MS or PhD in Electrical Engineering/Computer Science/Control Systems or similar fields.
• 4+ years of working experience in an industrial environment in the field of embedded and controls software development.
• Strong knowledge of C/C++ programming, Object-Oriented Design & Programming (OOD & OOP).
• Knowledge of Linux/RTOS OS environment, multi-threading, synchronization and SW architecture design.
• Knowledge of communication protocols like Serial-RS232, Ethernet/EtherCAT/ TCP-IP socket/network communication and related programming.
• The candidate should have strong analytical capabilities, strong written and verbal communication, and interpersonal skills to communicate and present their software design for reviews. Must demonstrate perseverance and ability to work collaboratively within a team setting.
• Excellent communication skills. Self-motivated to excel in responsible tasks. Possess high curiosity, be a fast learner, and have the strive to turn prototype ideas into quality production code used in mission critical applications.
• Strong software debugging and troubleshooting skills are required. Hands-on experience in problem-solving, demonstrate the ability to analyze and resolve issues in multi-component systems involving software, hardware, and optics.
• Skilled in identifying, isolating, and resolving software and hardware issues during bench-level and system-level testing.

Preferred (nice to have) Skills:

• Hands on experience and laboratory exposure to electrical, mechanical and optical measurement instruments
• Experience in semiconductor fab operations/manufacturing technology.
• Linux administration knowledge and UML knowledge.
• Knowledge of Python or other scripting languages.
• Knowledge of motion control systems with Stepper/Servo/Piezo motors, servo control loop (e.g. PID), classical or modern control theory.
• Systems thinking based on first principle and physics.

Minimum Qualifications

Doctorate (Academic) Degree and 0 years related work experience; Master's Level Degree and related work experience of 3 years; Bachelor's Level Degree and related work experience of 5 years

We offer a competitive, family friendly total rewards package. We design our programs to reflect our commitment to an inclusive environment, while ensuring we provide benefits that meet the diverse needs of our employees.

KLA is proud to be an equal opportunity employer

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