Director, Battery Engineering, Manufacturing & Operations

Director of Battery Engineering, Manufacturing and Operations

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.

The SensArray division is the world leading provider of in situ processing measurement and control solutions for the semiconductor industry. The company provides measurement and control solutions to both semiconductor fabs and mask shops to ensure that yields are consistently high thus enabling cost-effective manufacturing SensArray business unit is dedicate to support customer R&D phase as well as HVM with in-situ thermal process control. SensArray business unit enable APC (Automated Process Control) to improve process optimization and yield improvement.

We seek a Director of Battery Engineering, Manufacturing and Operations to lead and scale manufacturing operations for KLA's emerging Battery Division in Los Angeles. This individual will be responsible for driving manufacturing strategy, operational excellence, and new product introduction (NPI) for advanced battery solutions.

The ideal candidate will bring strong leadership in high-tech manufacturing environments, with a track record of delivering scalable, high-quality products while partnering cross-functionally across engineering, supply chain, and product management.

This person will lead a team responsible for the development and manufacturing of solid state thin film battery to support next generation in-situ semiconductor metrology tools

Key Responsibilities:

• Drive capacity planning, cost optimization, and operational scalability
• Establish robust manufacturing processes for high-mix, low-volume and/or volume ramp scenarios
• Maintain high yield for sustaining products and increase yield for New Products
• Manage healthy mix between sustaining operations and R&D Engineering
• Ensure proper scheduling
• Partner with R&D & division personnel to establish roadmap for new battery technologies
• Lead engineering to ensure seamless transition from development to volume manufacturing
• Own manufacturing readiness, DFM (Design for Manufacturing), and product release quality
• Drive beta builds, engineering validation, and manufacturing qualification
• Provide technical insights in Product Life Cycle (PLC) phases
• Implement continuous improvement initiatives (Lean, Six Sigma, automation) to improve yield, cycle time, and cost
• Ensure compliance with quality systems, reliability targets, and regulatory requirement
• Lead Root Cause Analysis and resolution of manufacturing and field related issues
• Correlate battery failures modes caused by the manufacturing tools, packaging tools, and supporting tools Support Quality Control efforts, including data analysis, documentation, establishing new tools PM processes, for yield and reliability improvement
• Participate in team efforts that address reliability issues
• Develop leadership bench strength and technical expertise across the team
• Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement

Preferred Qualifications:

• 5+ years of experience in vacuum deposition or thin film deposition
• 10+ Years of experience in Manufacturing and Operations
• 5+ years of experience in R&D
• 7+ years of leadership experience in leading large teams (>20)
• Strong background in engineering, battery chemistry and data analysis
• Technical degree in relevant area (Material Science, Chemistry/Chemical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Electrical Engineering or equivalent)

Minimum Qualifications

Master's Level Degree with a minimum of 10 years of relevant experience OR Bachelor's Level Degree with a minimum of 12 years of relevant experience

Base Pay Range: $174,300.00 - $305,000.00 Annually

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.

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.

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.