Manufacturing Manager
KLA · Milpitas, CA
- Level
- Manager
- Team
- Manufacturing
- Base pay
- $121k–$205k
- Degree
- Required (or equivalent experience)
- Experience asked
- 4+ years
- Industry
- Industrial
- Posted
- 30+ days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A management manufacturing role at KLA (industrial) in Milpitas, CA. Build, develop, and lead a high-performing team of technicians across mechanical, optical, and electronic assembly teams.
- They ask for
- 4+ years · degree required (or equivalent experience)
- Tools it names
- Lean, Root cause, DMAIC, ISO 9001
- Base pay
- $121k–$205k
- Day to day
- some off-shift / weekend coverage
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
How this role compares
Against 277 other live manufacturing postings in California.
- Base pay
- About 24% above similar roles
- Experience asked
- Less than usual (4+ vs 5+)
Typical $109k–$153k, from 100 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- Tooling 59%
- ✓ New product launch 54%
- ✓ Root cause 45%
- Automation 35%
- CATIA / NX 34%
- Machining 33%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for DMAIC, ISO 9001, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Manufacturing team at KLA
We found 4 people at this company and state: 3 on the team, 1 leaders. Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. See them ↓
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
Write to Nishant → (free) - 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- Is the work mostly new product launches or sustaining existing lines?
- How much time do you spend on the floor versus at a desk?
- How does off-shift and weekend coverage work?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
This plant: KLA in Milpitas
11 other open roles at this site · 4 people we found on the manufacturing team.
- Manufacturing Engineer (Precision Mechanical) · Reliability
- Manufacturing Engineer - Laser Systems · Manufacturing
- Sr. Global Instrumentation & Controls Engineer · Controls · Senior
- NPI Engineer (ECO Preparation/Submission - Document Control) · Controls
- Project Controls Engineer · Controls
- Front-End Production Manager · Production · Manager
Full description from KLAAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Qualifications
At KLA, Manufacturing Managers are leaders, problem-solvers, and culture builders. You’ll develop talent, cultivate collaboration across engineering and operations, and create an environment where teams thrive while delivering innovative technology to customers around the world!
Responsibilities
- ◆Lead the precision integration, alignment, and qualification of sophisticated optical inspection systems within a high-mix, low-volume manufacturing environment.
- ◆Cycle time reduction and efficiency optimization
- ◆Global sourcing, offshoring, and outsourcing initiatives
- ◆ISO compliance and certification activities
- ◆Build, develop, and lead a high-performing team of technicians across mechanical, optical, and electronic assembly teams.
- ◆Drive multi-functional resolution of production challenges in close partnership with Materials, Manufacturing Engineering, Build Engineering, and Master Scheduling teams.
- ◆Optimize prioritization (labor, tools, and capacity) to meet production schedules and customer delivery commitments.
- ◆Foster a strong quality culture, ensuring alignment to standards and proactively identifying improvement opportunities.
- ◆Establish manufacturing agility to respond to multifaceted business demands, shifting priorities, and product complexity.
- ◆Monitor and lead operational costs, including overtime control and cost-reduction initiatives.
- ◆Track key performance metrics (yield, cycle time, throughput, on-time delivery) and drive data-informed decision making.
Qualifications
&
Requirements
- ✓Bachelor’s degree in a STEM related field, technical field, or equivalent experience
- ✓4+ years of experience in manufacturing, assembly, or production operations, with at least 3+ years in a leadership or supervisory role.
- ✓Experience supporting sophisticated electromechanical systems, precision assembly, or semiconductor capital equipment manufacturing.
- ✓Demonstrated experience with New Product Introduction (NPI) and transitioning products from development into production.
- ✓LEAN manufacturing principles, continuous improvement methodologies, and structured problem-solving (e.g., root cause analysis, 8D, DMAIC).
Preferred Qualifications
- ✓Experience in optics, photonics, precision alignment, or inspection system manufacturing.
- ✓Familiarity with ISO standards (e.g., ISO 9001) and quality management systems.
- ✓Experience managing global manufacturing operations, including offshore suppliers or contract manufacturers.
Qualifications
Master's Level Degree or work experience of 2 years , Bachelor's Level Degree or work experience of 3 years
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.
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 co
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
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.
Leadership & Functional Skills
- •Proven track record to lead, coach, and develop technical teams in a fast-paced, high-precision manufacturing environment.
- •Ability to balance execution with critical thinking, prioritizing short-term production goals while driving long-term operational improvements.
- •Excellent communication and collaborator leadership skills across all organizational levels.
