FPGA Design Engineer
Kla
Software Engineering, Design
Ann Arbor, MI, USA
USD 91,900-156,200 / year + Equity
Posted on Sep 17, 2025
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
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. Central Engineering is KLA's largest engineering organization comprised of 9 Centers-of-Excellence (CoE) in various disciplines applied across all product groups in the company. These CoE include Handling & Automation, Precision Motion Control, Sensors & Image Acquisition, Platform Design, and Packaging Engineering, among others. Talent includes over 500 engineers across global centers in Israel, China, India, and the US. Each CoE contributes not just talent and deliverables per discipline toward product programs, but also subject matter expertise, best practices, roadmaps, specialized facilities, apparatus, models, and analytics. These differentiate KLA not only in WHAT we do, but also in HOW we do it.Job Description/Preferred Qualifications
KLA is bringing the semiconductor industry to the Midwest! We need a FPGA Programming Design Engineer on our growing Ann Arbor team to assist in developing product equipment, test centers, software, and AI algorithms that power innovative capabilities that KLA is recognized for! By joining our hard-working KLA team in Ann Arbor, you’ll enjoy an incredible career with encouraging colleagues in a spectacular place to live. Are you ready to start your adventure at KLA?
Responsibilities
Participate in all phases of FPGA design flow - from concept to wafer inspection tool integration.
Able to derive FPGA design requirements from system requirements.
Responsible for RTL design and verification, as well as hardware bring-up.
Implement logic/control blocks, including custom filters, DSP/image processing blocks, a high-speed image data path, and a processor and memory interface to support real-time processing.
Optimize FPGA designs for the area, speed, and power to meet system requirements; analyze architectural trade-offs and validate for system sample rate and latency.
Verify DSP/image processing blocks against Python/MATLAB models and collaborate with systems engineers.
Run implementation tools, such as Xilinx Vivado and Intel Quartus; perform timing closure for your designs.
Bring up FPGA design in the lab with necessary lab equipment and complete validation of the design.
Collaborate with software engineers to integrate the design into wafer Inspection tools.
Contribute to all phases of hardware development, including creating design documents, reviewing schematics, bringing up new hardware, and defining/overseeing/performing unit and system tests.
Validate FPGA design for manufacturing release.
Qualifications
Experience designing DSP and/or image processing datapaths
Experience in FPGAs, evaluation boards, and knowledge of FPGA design flow
Strong programming and scripting skills: MATLAB, Python, C/C++, Perl, Tcl
Understanding of clock domain crossing (CDC) techniques
Understanding industry-standard interfaces, protocols, and architectures: PCIe, Ethernet, DDR, etc.
Experience in developing automated, self-checking test benches and/or UVM
Experience in EDA tools such as simulators (e.g., Questa), and FPGA tools (e.g., Vivado, Quartus)
Knowledge of timing closure techniques for high-speed design
Experience designing hardware (schematic entry, layout, etc.) is a plus
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
Base Pay Range: $91,900.00 - $156,200.00 AnnuallyPrimary Location: USA-MI-Ann Arbor-KLAKLA’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.
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.
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