Graduate Process Engineer in Newport

Company Overview: The SPTS division of KLA designs, manufactures and markets wafer processing solutions for the global semiconductor and related industries. SPTS provides industry leading etch and deposition process technologies on a range of single wafer handling platforms. End-market applications include micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS), advanced packaging, LED, high speed RF device IC's and power semiconductors. SPTS is part of KLA Corporation which develops industry-leading equipment and services that enable innovation throughout the electronics industry.

Group/Division: SPTS wafer processing solutions include market-leading silicon etch, dielectric etch, dry-release etch, PVD, PECVD and molecular vapor deposition (MVD), available with a range of wafer-handling options applicable to R&D, pilot production, or volume production environments. SPTS is headquartered and has its main manufacturing facility in Newport, UK, with additional manufacturing in Allentown, Pennsylvania. SPTS operates across 19 countries in Europe, North America and Asia-Pacific, and offers comprehensive service and spare parts support through a worldwide network of service centers and qualified local agents.

Job Description/Preferred Qualifications: This role will be based in Celtic Lakes. Our new 237,000-square-foot Newport facility provides additional production and customer collaboration spaces, including 25,000 square feet of R&D clean rooms, 35,000 square feet of state-of-the-art manufacturing space and tool demo areas, all designed to support development of semiconductor process technologies across advanced packaging, power devices, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), radio frequency (RF) and photonics sector technology. You will be joining one of our Process and Applications teams covering either our CVD, PVD, or Etch products, providing process support and solutions from our head office in Newport. This role is part of our 2026 Graduate programme and will start in September 2026.

Your day-to-day responsibilities will include:

• Developing and demonstrating our operational processes to meet the agreed manufacturing specifications.
• Contributing constructively to the work of our project teams in developing new products that meet the requirements of our global customer for their next generation designs.
• Assessing results using our fully equipped analytical laboratory and software tools including Minitab, Excel etc.
• Problem solving, troubleshooting and investigating faults on manufacturing process solutions.
• Providing regular updates to the engineering and operations teams on progress of project work, where required summarising results in a written report or presentation.
• Establishing both effective customer and team relationships particularly for clear communication of results and ideas.
• Planning your work and executing plans in a safe, sensible and timely manner.
• Research into published work relevant to our process development.
• Writing technical reports for patent applications and writing technical papers for publication at conferences, seminars etc.

This position will give an opportunity for working some shift patterns to fully utilise our state-of-the-art manufacturing cleanroom. We will seek to give as much notice as possible where shift work is required. KLA will of course provide shift allowance in line with company policy.

KLA is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Whilst no experience is necessary, in your application and through assessment you will show us you have:

• A passion for learning and development, continuously seeking for new knowledge and learning opportunities.
• A logical approach to provide internal customer solutions with a good attention to detail and foresight and ability to collect, filter and analyse data to build solutions for sophisticated technological problems.
• The ability to think creatively of novel but practical solutions to internal customer problems.
• Communication skills – You will enjoy establishing and maintaining good working relationships with both customers and colleagues.

Your qualifications:

• Minimum Bachelor’s Degree (2:1) in Physics, Chemistry or Material Science.
• Applicants with a Masters or prior experience of studies within the semiconductor industry would be desirable but certainly not a must.
• A good acquaintance with SW tools (MS office, MATLAB) would be advantageous.

What we will offer you? KLA's benefits package includes: Annual leave starting at 25 days.