test engineer

application developer

algorithm engineer

software engineer

customer engineer

The workload can shift quickly from very slow periods to overwhelming with little planning or communication. Most of the work consists of repetitive tasks, and there is minimal effort made to train employees beyond the basics or develop their skills further.

Coordination between departments often appears unclear, which can lead to employees receiving direction from multiple sources and sometimes being held responsible for issues outside of their control. In several cases, experienced workers who applied for specific positions were placed into roles that did not match their experience or expectations, which understandably leads to frustration and turnover.

Leadership presence and direction are limited. Management is rarely visible, and when they are, discussions often do not lead to meaningful changes or improvements. As a result, employees may feel there is little opportunity for advancement or professional development.

Another noticeable issue is the difference in treatment between permanent staff and temporary or contract workers. Contractors often receive less support and fewer opportunities despite performing the same tasks, which creates an uneven workplace environment.



At KLA-Tencor, I learned and taught Applications on the CD-SEM: a superbly designed scanning electron microscope used to check feature size (Critical Dimension), such as line widths on customer semiconductor products.

I was also a Technical Instructor covering two different types of optical-based tools (multi-million dollar systems). The first checked semiconductor products' film thickness at various stages during fabrication using Dual-Beam Spectroscopy and Spectroscopic Ellipsometry. The second platform which I learned and later developed weeks of advanced maintenance and repair training on was called AIT. The AIT is also an amazingly elegant tool that could very rapidly find microscopic defects of any kind on customer wafers using an Argon laser (& optics), an Air-bearing Stage and several extremely sensitive detectors coupled to a computer that would sense Die-to-Die differences and call them out.

As was true later at Accuray, I am passionate about understanding high-tech systems such as these and helping a trainee to learn everything they can and feel confident when they go out to work in the field.

In Design Engineering, it seems there is something new every six months. As soon as one product is launched, the next improved version is already in progress. This makes it challenging to keep up with the pace yet exciting and stressful at times. Keeping commitments to schedule is difficult when depending on many people and managing multiple projects. It may be overwhelming at times but eventually everything comes together and the goal of shipping a new product is successful and everyone celebrates. In my experience, my managers are always friendly, supportive and open to discussion and new ideas. My coworkers are friendly and helpful to fix a problem or give advice. You will find many people here with over twenty years at the company and they are still motivated and working hard. The company builds the best equipment in the industry and it comes from insightful leadership and talented, hardworking employees working together to solve tough problems.

I have been with KLA-Tencor/ICOS Vision Systems division for nearly 17 years now and I have gained a great deal of experience in the semiconductor field. A great deal of knowledge has been acquired and learned in my years of service including customer service and systems level installation and troubleshooting. Systems level troubleshooting and various electrical/electronic control systems are my strongest qualities along with years of customer service with multiple companies.  I have really enjoyed the experience I have gained through this company and all the persons I have worked with who have given me the support and tools I needed to be successful in my career. 

  With my recent and current schooling in Information Technology and advanced networking, I am hoping to find a new position in the workplace with a company that can not only use my years of experience with systems level products and customer service, but also provide an environment of learning and collaboration of technology.

Typically I would work Monday-Friday 8 hours and be able to go home at the end of the day.  I learned how to troubleshoot highly complex very high tech QA machines built for semiconductor manufacturing.  Direct management was great, most promoted from the ranks.  Upper management was somewhat myopic.  Higher level managers would create projects and systems that did not add value.  I loved the opportunity to get my hands inside complex and high tech equipment.  Fixing things is really a lot of fun, it is exciting and very rewarding to me.  The hardest part was based on company and customer politics, there was a lot of hemming and hawing about what should be done next.  I like to get in and work and the indecision and ambiguity of role and responsibility was frustrating.  The company was just purchased by Lam Research, so the culture and processes will likely change.

Founded the X-ray metrology program within the Advanced Development group in the Films and Scatterometry Division (FaST).
Lead experimentalist in all X-ray technologies for semiconductor metrology including X-ray Fluorescence (XRF), Grazing Incidence Small Angle Scattering (GISAXS) and Critical Dimension Small Angle X-ray Scattering (CD-SAXS). 
Designed, and built the X-ray metrology laboratory including installing and operating all experimental equipment and writing all radiation safety protocols.   
Initiated, and conducted collaborative experiments with National Institute of Science and Technology (NIST) scientists at the Advanced Photon Source.
Initiated, organized, and lead synchrotron beamline experiments at the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL).
Designed and characterized, an optical spectrometer capable of <30pm resolution from 450nm – 800nm.  
First author or collaborator on 11 patent disclosures.

My typical day would start at morning 7AM. I would get started with collecting the data from the previous test cycles, organize it and send it to the required team. Then get started with either manual/automation testing. Attend meeting like review, dispostioning bugs etc. Spend sometime in documentaion. Lunch, gym/walk.

Learned lot of QA methodologies, knowledge from the co-workers, different testing tools and lot about the semi conductor industry.

Management was pretty decent. Nothing muchto comment.

Co-workers were the best part of the company. They were the motivation to work hard and to take up challenging task. Their support was amazing.

Hardest part was when multiple projects comes up with the close deadlines, it is very challenging.

Enjoyable part is learn, laugh and work.

KLA-Tencor has amazing technological challenges providing the next generation of process control solutions for semiconductor and related industries.    The size of number of state of the art technologies and different products produced and rate of change is the main driver of the company.   Management is highly rated but does layoff a lot of their great employees when business is down or they restructure.    Teamwork is strong and people work together to resolve constant challenges in fast paced and demanding data driven work environment but this is not a 40 hour job.

Initially, I worked for two years in their Fixed Assets Department which was were fairly routine accounting tasks outside of adjustments, special projects in bills of materials calculation, and scheduling obsolete equipment for write-offs. I did this for a year and a half before going permanent in their Human Resource Department as a Staffing coordinator. My day consisted of reviewing and submitting resumes into company data base, posting job requisitions, scheduling appointments, and querying resumes to screen and call candidate for potential interviews. The operation and inter-departmental communications was smooth and effective, but lengthy at times. I enjoyed the interaction in human resources.

Work is pretty chaotic, unorganized, lots of issues and yet somehow the business is profitable. But the profits come from relentless efforts by the team members, and they kinda bully the new people to do the same because they are left with no choice. Management is not motivating unless we are going in the direction that they want us to go in; supervisors are under pressure and they often try to micromanage and don't try to connect at a personal level or work towards setting performance goals for subordinates. Pressure on the supervisors are directly projected onto the subordinates. Do not get into this division if you care about your mental health, personal progress or goals in life. 

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Test engineer 37 salaries reported	$36.76 per hour
Application developer 53 salaries reported	$129,729 per year
Algorithm engineer 40 salaries reported	$168,173 per year
Software engineer 39 salaries reported	$150,359 per year
Customer engineer 60 salaries reported	$38.86 per hour

Working at KLA: Company Overview and Reviews

KLA

KLA Ratings

Popular jobs at KLA

Salary Satisfaction

Job Seeker Tools

Employer Tools

Browse

Stay Connected