R&D System Design Engineer

KLA

Singapore, SGonsitePosted Jun 26, 2026

Skills

pythonc++

About the role

Company Overview

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.

Group/Division

The ICOS Vision Systems division focuses on the backend of the line semiconductor industry providing fully automated tools to inspect and sort, finished integrated circuit packages. For more than 15 years, ICOS has been a market leader with tray-to-tray and tray-to-tape inspection and sorting tools found in the production facilities of all major chipmakers in the world. Our market-leading technology and superior customer service requires strong talent in optics, machine control, algorithms and applications within our engineering teams. The ICOS division headquarters are in Leuven, Belgium with additional engineering and manufacturing operations in Singapore and Shenzhen (China).

Job Description/Preferred Qualifications

As part of our system Engineering team, you play a key role in the design and development of our Inspection and Metrology machines. In your role you will work hands-on on the mechanical integration, process optimization and automation of the machine. Your work will involve integration of the mechatronic, optical and software building blocks and will hence work closely together with Mechanical design, Hardware, Optics and software teams.

It is your job to analyze customer requirements, build up a deep understanding of the problem and translate these into automated solutions that you detail clearly in measurable design requirements. To verify the solutions, you will build and test high-speed mechatronic setups for spec validation and critical parameter analysis. Once these are confirmed, you will coordinate the design and implementation in the different teams to eventually integrate tested modules and building blocks in the machine and assess the impact of the integration on the overall machine performance.

You get the chance to confirm high speed Pick and Place handling capabilities at key customers on site and broaden your customer and application know how along the way.

Furthermore, you seek the challenge of understanding, analyzing, (re-)defining, and implementing sophisticated material handling flows until the level of detailed micro-sequences.

You will often write PLC level test sequences for mockup validation and data collection. Once the system is validated, translate these sequences into SW requirements.

As a senior system design engineer, you are considered as project/product owner. That means, besides technical work, you will also lead a multi-disciplinary team on project/product basis. You need to consider both technical but also commercial (e.g. budget, timeline, resource) aspects while managing your project/product.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree or higher with outstanding skill in electro-mechanical, electronics, or mechanical engineering; with sound knowledge on basic software logics

3+ years relevant experience in a system engineering role in a high-end equipment company, covering most of following technical domains: machine conceptual and mechanical design, setting up specifications, PLC controller hardware and software design, user interface, SW (describing, testing of flows), conversion, test protocols, debugging, characterization, lead improvement projects

Strong analytical capabilities and project/program management skills

Programming skills are a plus (PLC controllers, C, C++ Python, VBA, …)

Independent thinking, challenging existing ideas and approaches

Hands-on, self-organized, taking initiative and ownership

Occasional travel within Asia & Europe

Proficient in English

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.

Be aware of potentially fraudulent job postings or suspicious recruiting activity by persons that are currently posing as KLA employees. KLA never asks for any financial compensation to be considered for an interview, to become an employee, or for equipment. Further, KLA does not work with any recruiters or third parties who charge such fees either directly or on behalf of KLA. Please ensure that you have searched KLA’s Careers website for legitimate job postings. KLA follows a recruiting process that involves multiple interviews in person or on video conferencing with our hiring managers. If you are concerned that a communication, an interview, an offer of employment, or that an employee is not legitimate, please send an email to talent.acquisition@kla.com to confirm the person you are communicating with is an employee. We take your privacy very seriously and confidentially handle your information.

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