LIVE Keynote Speaker
Rick Wallace
Chief Executive Officer and President
Aspiring students and professionals will have a chance to hear from KLA’s CEO, Rick Wallace, about the company’s role in the most significant technological breakthroughs. The keynote will be moderated by John McLaughlin, Ann Arbor Site Leader.
Virtually no laptop, smartphone, wearable device, voice-controlled gadget, flexible screen, VR device or smart car would have made it into your hands without us. At our Virtual Career Fair, you’ll have a chance to connect with our hiring managers and learn about our job opportunities, culture, offer and vision. Listen in as they cover why this is one of the most attractive times to join KLA.
Breakout Sessions
In our breakout sessions immediately following the keynote presentation from 2:00pm – 3:00pm, you’ll have the opportunity to hear from KLA hiring managers and employees on how they’re solving complex technical challenges to enable what’s next. Hear about KLA’s current opportunities. We are hiring!
After you register, you will receive a confirmation with details on how to join the sessions. Register now, space is limited.
Expanding the Boundaries of AI
Vijay Ramachandran
Session Leader
Vijay Ramachandran is the Director of the AI and Modeling Center of Excellence at Ann Arbor. He graduated with a Master of Science in Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering from Ohio University and joined KLA in 2000. He has worked in multiple businesses including EBeam and Broad Band Plasma and held many different roles including Software Engineering Manager, Apps Engineer, Marketing Manager and Program Manager. Vijay also worked at Facebook for 2 years as a Principal Program Manager supporting their 150 person central Ads Machine Learning team.
Session Description
KLA has always had a close relationship with physics and data. Our optical and electron beam inspection and measurement tools use cutting edge physics models, both for hardware design and as part of their algorithms. AI, including several traditional machine learning techniques and deep learning are routinely used to process this data to meet application requirements.
The AI and Modeling Center of Excellence, centered in KLA’s R&D facility in Ann Arbor, Michigan, was setup with the mission of advancing KLA’s traditional strengths in physics and data and providing implementation solutions for multiple KLA Inspection and Metrology products targeted at the semiconductor manufacturing industry.
As a part of this group, you will be part of a world class team of physicists, HPC system designers, machine learning and application engineers who build cutting edge solutions for modeling complex imaging techniques and semiconductor processes. You will also work with a data scientists and AI infrastructure engineers whose mission is to build and scale machine learning based solutions for our semiconductor customers.
We are looking for engineers in a few different fields. If you are passionate about Physics Modeling, High Performance Computing – HPC (including GPU), ML, Data, or Cloud technologies – this is the place for you!
Vital Partners: Finance and Accounting
Sascha Samaan
Session Leader
Sascha Samaan is the Finance Controller for the Surfscan Division in the Global Product Group (GPG) organization at KLA. Sascha joined KLA 7 years ago and has worked in various finance functions throughout the company, starting in FP&A moving to Service, and now Controller to one of KLA’s largest revenue divisions. Prior to joining KLA, Sascha held finance roles at Northrop Grumman and Disney. Sascha received his Bachelor’s degree from Cal Poly State University in 2006.
Session Description
KLA is recognized for its high-performing business model which routinely produces significant profit margins and revenue. Key to supporting KLA business is the finance team that partners with corporate and global business organizations to provide expertise and guidance for developing and executing sound business models and practices.
The Finance organization consists of operations and corporate finance teams. The operations finance team influences business decisions by gathering the best available operations information, distilling it and making recommendations to our management team on the best course of action. The corporate team provides a broad range of services, such as financial planning, corporate accounting, tax, industry analysis and benchmarking, internal audits, SEC reporting and merger and acquisition support.
Protecting KLA’s Essential Operations and Enabling Growth
Laurie E. Saims
Session Leader
Laurie E. Saims is an Executive Cybersecurity Leader with over 20 years of IT experience in the semiconductor, aerospace, automotive, manufacturing and financial services industries.
Currently, Laurie is the VP and Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at KLA. Laurie joined KLA in April of 2019. In her current role, she is responsible for developing and executing a strategic cyber technology and risk program for KLA globally. Program requirements include insider threat, detection, cyber intelligence, security operations, data protection, enterprise risk management, global regulatory requirements and the data enterprise program.
Prior to joining KLA, Laurie spent over 19 years as a cybersecurity and information technology assurance and compliance professional, including an international rotation, where she spent over two years living and working in England. Laurie possesses an extensive background in IT risk management and regulations. She has a thorough working knowledge of finance & operations, including engineering and supply chain. Further, Laurie has significant experience in leading large-scale IT risk and assurance projects, ensuring appropriate technical support is delivered where and when required.
Additionally, Laurie has regularly formed and led large teams of multinational, multi-disciplinary specialists working internationally. She has also managed the co-ordination of IT related Sarbanes-Oxley work. Including the integration of systems work into the financial and business processes for numerous global initiatives; focusing on the COBIT and COSO methodologies for internal control frameworks. Finally, Laurie has assisted in the development of an enterprise-wide internal control programs for multiple organizations, which have included the following: enterprise-wide risk analysis, process mapping and control identification, segregation of duties, continuous control monitoring, and ongoing organizational training and awareness to facilitate program acceptance.
Laurie received her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from Eastern Michigan University. She received her Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) certification in 2005.
Session Description
The Cybersecurity group at KLA is involved in every aspect of the global business. The KLA Cybersecurity group defends against cyber-attacks and provides cybersecurity tools, incident response services and assessment capabilities to safeguard the environments that support the essential operations of KLA. We are passionate about identifying adversarial activities and anticipating a wide variety of threats to strengthen our defenses and the overall protection of KLA Intellectual Property.
The Information Technology (IT) group at KLA is involved in every aspect of the global business. IT’s mission is to enable business growth and productivity by connecting people, process, and technology. IT not only focuses on enhancing the technology that enables our business to thrive, but also on how employees use and are empowered by technology. This integrated approach to customer service, creativity and technological excellence enables employee productivity, business analytics, and process excellence.
Leading the Way for KLA Employees
Sandra Mahadwar
Session Leader
Sandra Mahadwar is Vice President of Human Resources (HR) at KLA. With 30+ years in international HR management, she leads KLA’s global HR Operations team, including Compensation & Benefits, Talent Acquisition, Learning & Organizational Development, HR Information Systems & Analytics, Diversity & Inclusion, and HR Shared Services. Sandra holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance and Accounting, and an MBA, specializing in HR. She has been recognized for her executive leadership through the Silicon Valley YWCA’s Tribute to Women Award.
Session Description
The vision of KLA’s global human resources organization is to lead and partner with operating leadership in support of the company’s efforts to achieve strategic growth, customer and operating objectives, and employee success through strategic talent management.
The global HR organization includes HR business partners, learning and development, talent acquisition, compensation and benefits, employee communications, and HR system operations.
Our primary areas of strategic focus include talent acquisition, individual and organizational assessment and development, corporate learning, performance management, rewards, and inclusion and engagement. We value and celebrate the diversity of our employees, customers, and partners and strategically recognize the benefits of the collective wisdom of different backgrounds, experiences, and thought leadership to influence the company’s success.
Joining KLA’s diverse team of Human Resources professionals, you will be a part of a fun and active team that never stops delivering innovative strategies to advancing and empowering the business, thereby our people.
Hardware Engineering: Designing and Developing for the Future
Bodo Ehlers
Session Leader
Bodo Ehlers joined KLA about 1 year ago and leads the Hardware group in Central Engineering, a division in our Global Products Group. Prior to KLA, Bodo led R&D efforts in various fields of optical, x-ray and EUV instrumentation, laser technology and photonics. He has had experience in designing, developing, and integrating optical systems for metrology applications. He studied physics and acquired a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from RWTH Aachen University in conjunction with the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology in Germany. He holds 4 patents and 20 publications.
Session Description
The hardware engineering team at KLA is responsible for all Electrical, Mechanical, Systems, Optical and Application Engineering across all divisions at KLA.
KLA is ramping its fastest-growing new research & development center in Ann Arbor, Michigan and we’re hiring the best talent for it. In Ann Arbor, we’re developing product equipment, test centers, and the software and AI algorithms that power the cutting-edge capabilities KLA is recognized for.
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.
Differentiating KLA Through Operations, Service and Supply Chain Management
Jairo Gutierrez, Steve Jeon
Session Leaders
Jairo Gutierrez has worked at KLA for more than 11+ years based in Milpitas, California. He is a Sr. Materials Manager, who is relocating to Ann Arbor, Michigan at the end of May. With this move, Jairo will lead the Global Operations Supply Chain Team for KLA Ann Arbor. He obtained a BS degree in Industrial Engineering at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia.
Steve Jeon joined KLA in 2010 after graduating from Stanford University with M.S. in Mechanical Engineering. Throughout his career in KLA, Steve has been involved in various product development programs ranging from KLA-designed robotics system for the wafer handling group to cutting-edge optical inspection system for Broadband Plasma (BBP) division. Steve currently manages the worldwide product support team for BBP division’s wafer inspection products, and collaborates with KLA’s R&D teams for leading technology development as well as KLA’s regional teams for sustaining support and customer engagement.
Session Description
Global Operations and Manufacturing:
- The Global Operations and Manufacturing team is comprised of Manufacturing, Supply Chain Management, Manufacturing Engineering, Installation, and Quality and responsible for manufacturing our leading-edge technology. We partner with our world-wide supply base and our design engineering teams to bring new products to market with a goal to builds our products better, faster, and cheaper.
- KLA has manufacturing sites across the globe, including Belgium, China, Germany, Israel, Singapore and Milpitas, California.
Global Services:
- The Global Services team includes Service Sales and Marketing, Spares Supply Chain management, Field Operations, Engineering, Product Training, and Technical Support. We partners with our field teams and customers in all business sectors to maintain the high performance and productivity of our products through a flexible portfolio of services.
- These services include proactive management of tools to identify and improve performance; expertise in optics, image processing and motion control with worldwide service engineers, 24/7 technical support teams and knowledge management systems; and an extensive parts network to ensure worldwide availability of parts.
Global Supply Chain/Procurement:
- The Global Supply Chain organization is a matrix organization overseeing sourcing, supplier contracting, supplier management, materials management, procurement (direct and indirect), logistics, and trade compliance around the world. This team leads the company to establish and manage an innovative, reliable, efficient, effective, and compliant supply chain and logistics, working to assure competitive advantage or KLA.