Precision Motion Control Intern

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.

The Mechatronics team in KLA's RAPID Division is looking for an intern to develop a model-based control framework for a precision motion stage.
In this project, the intern will build a high-fidelity dynamic model from measured stage performance. The intern will then use modern model-based control methods to design a robust controller, deploy it to the stage hardware, and measure its performance.

Preferred Qualifications

- Pursuing an MS or PhD with a focus on control systems, mechatronics or precision motion control.
- Experience with frequency-domain loop shaping and robust control synthesis (e.g., H∞; μ-synthesis).
- Experience with system identification and fitting models to measured FRF data.
- Familiarity with multivariable (MIMO) systems, modal analysis and cross-axis coupling.
- Knowledge of practical controller implementation, including feedforward design, notch and loop-shaping filters, discretization and real-time embedded control.
- Experience with FRF measurement tools, such as dynamic signal analyzers or swept-sine and noise-based excitation.
- Experience with Python for data analysis.
- Experience designing structured test plans and comparing controller performance against a baseline.

Minimum Qualifications

- Currently enrolled in an MS or PhD program in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
- Coursework or project experience in feedback control systems, including frequency-domain analysis (Bode and Nyquist plots, stability margins).
- Understanding of dynamic system modeling, transfer functions and state-space representations.
Skill in MATLAB and/or Simulink for modeling, analysis and control design.
- Hands-on lab experience running experiments and analyzing measured data.
- Strong written and spoken communication skills, including documenting and presenting technical results.

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: $0.00 - $0.00 Per Hour
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.