Embedded Software Engineer

To make electronics, you need chips, wafers, transistors, reticles, and... To make these, you must see, test and manufacture them at scale—faster and better than ever before. That's where KLA comes in. Whether you're early in your career or an experienced professional, you'll solve complex challenges, work alongside brilliant minds and help shape the future of technology. Group/Division The Semiconductor Products and Customers (Semi PC) business unit designs, builds and sells KLA’s product portfolio to help chip manufacturers meet high-quality standards for technologies like AI, data centers, automotive and electronic devices. Our inspection, metrology, and analytics systems detect and monitor defects across logic and memory chips, specialty semiconductors, wafers, reticles, advanced packaging, process equipment and materials. We also develop technologies for specialty processes, IC substrates, and PCB manufacturing, including etch and deposition, component inspection, and imaging and analytics. The RAPID division leads the industry in reticle inspection solutions, helping ensure high lithography yields and cost-effective semiconductor manufacturing. Its systems support both mask shops and fabs by detecting defects early in the process, enabling faster, more reliable production. What You'll Do In this role, you will play a key part in advancing business priorities by delivering high-impact work across your area of expertise. Your Role: Innovate and Grow - We are seeking a highly motivated Embedded Software Engineer to join our team within the RAPID division. In this role, you will take end-to-end technical ownership of embedded software that powers our reticle inspection systems, with a strong focus on high-speed data capture pipelines, and low-level hardware interfaces. You will work hands-on across the stack—from Linux user space to Linux kernel drivers—including PCIe device bring-up and driver development, and you will influence design and implementation direction through strong engineering judgment and design reviews. - This is a hands-on, Individual Contributor role. You will drive technical decisions, raise the bar on engineering quality, and collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to deliver reliable, production-grade embedded software. Job Responsibilities: - Own Critical Projects & Features: Design, develop, and deploy complex embedded software/firmware for machine control in semiconductor inspection systems. Build demanding quasi real-time applications in C/C++ for image capture systems running on environments such as real-time Linux or VxWorks. - Drive Implementation: Design and implement robust, scalable software for system control, high-speed data acquisition, image processing, and intricate hardware interaction. Translate system-level requirements into well-partitioned user-space and kernel-space designs where appropriate. - Own Low-Level Interfaces: Develop and debug Linux kernel drivers and related user-space components for custom hardware, including PCIe device enumeration/bring-up, DMA and interrupt handling, memory-mapped I/O, and performance tuning for high-throughput/low-latency data paths. - Collaborate Across Boundaries: Partner with mechanical, systems, electrical, optics/opto-mech, algorithms, and applications teams to deliver integrated solutions from concept through production. - Raise Team Effectiveness: Share expertise through design reviews, debugging sessions, documentation, and lightweight coaching to help the team deliver consistently high-quality software. - Drive Best Practices: Champion modern development practices (Agile, CI/CD, code reviews, automated testing). Define and execute test plans to measure subsystem performance; document, analyze, and present results. - Solve Tough Problems: Troubleshoot complex system-level issues across hardware, kernel, and user space; optimize performance-critical software and improve system reliability. - Influence the Roadmap: Contribute to technical planning, estimation, and architectural tradeoffs. Participate in all stages of development, including design, implementation, integration, deployment, testing, and field troubleshooting. Required Skills & Qualification: - BS/MS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent practical experience). - 5+ years of embedded software development experience in an industrial or product-focused environment (Senior level). - Strong C/C++ skills and solid software engineering fundamentals (OOD/OOP, design patterns, testable design). - Strong experience with Linux and/or RTOS environments, multi-threading, synchronization, and embedded software architecture; familiarity with Linux kernel concepts (process context vs. interrupt context, basic memory management, sysfs/debugfs, etc.). - Hands-on experience developing and debugging Linux kernel drivers (preferred upstream-style workflow), including device-tree/ACPI exposure as applicable, and strong understanding of PCIe fundamentals (configuration space, BARs, interrupts/MSI/MSI-X, DMA, and link characteristics). - Experience with communication protocols such as Serial (RS-232), Ethernet, EtherCAT, and TCP/IP sockets/network programming. - Strong analytical and communication skills to present designs in reviews, work effectively across disciplines, and drive issues to closure in a collaborative team environment. - Self-motivated and curious; able to learn quickly and turn prototypes into quality, maintainable production code used in mission-critical applications. - Strong software debugging and troubleshooting skills are required. 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 and debugging tools knowledge (e.g., perf, ftrace, trace-cmd, gdb) and familiarity with UML or similar modeling methods. - Experience with high-speed I/O subsystems and driver ecosystems (PCIe endpoints/switches, DMA engines, IOMMU concepts) and diagnosing throughput/latency issues. - Knowledge of Python or other scripting language - Systems thinking based on first principle and physics. - Project planning and management skills. 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 About KLA We provide advanced inspection tools, metrology systems, process solutions, and computational analytics that make electronics possible, tackling complex challenges. From electron and photon optics to machine learning and data analytics, we seek perfection at the most fundamental level of matter in the universe. If you want to make electronics that push industries forward and make the world a better place, join us. Total Rewards Base Pay Range: $136,300.00 - $199,900.00 Annually Primary Location: USA-CA-Milpitas-KLA KLA’s total rewards package for employees may also include participation in performance incentive programs and eligibility for additional benefits including but not limited to: medical, dental, vision, life, and other voluntary benefits, 401(K) including company matching, employee stock purchase program (ESPP), student debt assistance, tuition reimbursement program, development and career growth opportunities and programs, financial planning benefits, wellness benefits including an employee assistance program (EAP), paid time off and paid company holidays, and family care and bonding leave. Interns are eligible for some of the benefits listed. Our pay ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The range displayed reflects the pay for this position in the primary location identified in this posting. Actual pay depends on several factors, including state minimum pay wage rates, location, job-related skills, experience, and relevant education level or training. We are committed to complying with all applicable federal and state minimum wage requirements where applicable. If applicable, your recruiter can share more about the specific pay range for your preferred location during the hiring process. Use of AI Statement At KLA, our interviews seek to understand your individual skills, problem-solving approach and authentic thinking. To ensure a fair and consistent evaluation, the use of AI, recording tools or other technologies to generate, suggest or provide responses during interviews—whether virtual or in person—is not permitted unless explicitly approved in advance as part of a reasonable accommodation or invited by the interviewer. Use of these tools may interfere with our ability to evaluate your individual qualifications and affect your candidacy. KLA is committed to advancing innovation through responsible AI, and we value candidates who share this mindset. Equal Opportunity Statement KLA is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We will ensure that qualified individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us at talent.acquisition@kla.com or at +1-408-352-2808 to request accommodation. For additional information, view the US Know Your Rights poster on the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission website.