R&D Director
Photon Dynamics
Company Overview
Job Description/Preferred Qualifications
The Director of R&D will lead all engineering disciplines supporting KLA’s PCB Product division.
The role is responsible for R&D leadership across multi‑disciplinary teams, covering systems, algorithms, software, and hardware.
This position focuses on technical leadership, engineering execution, and people management, working in close collaboration with product application, manufacturing, and service organizations.
In this role you will be a member of the division’s management, driving division strategy and key decisions.
Key Responsibilities
Engineering Leadership
- Lead and align all engineering functions within the PCB domain, including:
- System Engineering
- Algorithms
- Software Engineering
- Physics, Electrical, Mechanical and Controls
- Drive the division’s technology roadmap to ensure industry best in class solutions.
- Drive strong system‑level architecture and integration across hardware, software, and algorithms.
- Define and enforce engineering standards, methodologies, and best practices.
- Partner with Program and Product Management on technical direction, feasibility, and roadmap execution.
People & Organizational Management
- Manager of Managers, leading large multi‑disciplinary engineering organizations (40+ engineers).
- Develop engineering leaders and senior technical staff.
- Build a strong engineering culture focused on accountability, collaboration, and execution excellence.
Minimum Qualifications
Education
- B.Sc in Engineering or exact Science (M.Sc / PhD or MBA– advantage)
Experience
- 10+ years of engineering experience in complex, technology‑driven environments.
- At least 5 years managing multi‑disciplinary engineering organizations
- Proven experience as a leader in large organizations
- Proven experience with Executive level communication
- Solid system‑level technical understanding across software, algorithms, and hardware.
Core Capabilities
- Strong engineering management foundation with the ability to dive deep technically when needed.
- Excellent collaboration and communication skills at senior and division levels.
- Experience leading large‑scale engineering programs and technical execution.
We offer a competitive, family friendly total rewards package. We design our programs to reflect our commitment to an inclusive environment, while ensuring we provide benefits that meet the diverse needs of our employees.
KLA is proud to be an equal opportunity employer
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