Silicon Valley students get rare look at chip inspection technology in visit to KLA 

A group of students from the Silicon Valley campus got an inside look at process control — the science of ensuring production standards for microchips — during a tour of KLA’s global headquarters in Milpitas, CA this February. The company is a leading manufacturer of the inspection and metrology systems used in the industry.

During the four-hour visit, students attended technical talks where they learned about yield management and hardware innovation; a panel discussion where employees offered career advice and shared insights into the company’s internship program; and a guided tour of the manufacturing floor. The experience also featured a visit to the clean room, where students observed high-precision process-control systems in operation.

“They walked us around, showed us how they build the inspection tools, and what it looks like when it’s all assembled,” said MS in Data Science student Debbie Viona (‘28). “We got to ask questions directly about what they’re actually doing.”

An education on semiconductor industry careers

Because process control is a highly specialized field with little visibility outside the semiconductor industry, the preliminary sessions served a vital purpose. The information helped students make sense of the sophisticated equipment they would later see as they toured the facilities.

“The intro session helped me see how even small defects can have a huge impact downstream,” said MS in Computer Science student Shang Liu (‘27).  “I didn’t realize how critical inspection is — or how much data and precision is involved at every step.”

“I also learned that solving modern problems [in nanometer-scale manufacturing] requires complex systems — optics, software, material science, and mechanical engineering — working closely together,” he added. “It takes a wide range of talent across disciplines for a single inspection machine to function.”

That was also a takeaway for MS in Data Science student Linxuan Li (‘27). “What inspired me the most was seeing how data, software, and hardware systems are tightly integrated,” she said, noting that data plays a critical role in ensuring precision and efficiency.

Beyond the machinery, Li found the interaction with KLA employees equally valuable. “Learning about their career paths and how they apply both technical skills and problem-solving in their daily work gave me a much clearer understanding of what it takes to succeed in data- and software-driven roles in industry,” she said.

Experiencing a clean room tour

Students were also impressed with KLA’s emphasis on security and environmental control. MS in Artificial Intelligence student Tiago Monteiro (‘27) noted that, as is customary in Silicon Valley, they were required to sign a non-disclosure agreement and adhere to a strict no-photography policy inside.

“I was excited — If I’m signing an NDA, then it means I’m going to see something serious,” he said.

The atmosphere of high-stakes engineering was evident throughout the tour. “It felt like everything was optimized for precision and reliability,” Liu noted.

This was especially true for the clean room, which students entered after several minutes suiting up.

“It was my first time wearing a clean suit,” Monteiro said. “I had no idea how complex it was to actually put on.” The effort was justified, however, as even a single hair can damage equipment worth millions.

Inside the sterile environment, the group was asked to observe without touching any equipment. “We watched people working and assembling systems,” Monteiro said. While two guides explained the technical processes, two others ensured the integrity of the environment was maintained.

Despite the rigorous protocols, visiting the clean room was the highlight for most. While getting suited up was “pretty cool,” Viona noted that the real value was in the visual experience. “I could see how big these systems are and how each process works.”

A tech company tour with big insights

For several of the sixteen students present, the KLA visit was their first tour of a tech company’s headquarters.

The experience deepened Liu’s understanding of how software supports hardware systems at scale. “I hadn’t really seen that in a classroom setting,” he said.

For Viona, visits like these offer an opportunity to learn about a company beyond its website. “It’s good to get an insight into what you would do if you were to apply for a job there,” she said.

Monteiro noted the unique longevity of KLA careers, and competitive compensation within the semiconductor industry compared to other software sectors. “KLA employees often have careers of 20, 30, or even 40 years,” he said.

For him, these tours are as much about networking and industry connections as they are about education. “A visit can open doors to meeting people, which often leads to referrals and internships,” he added.

The tour of KLA headquarters was one of several recent collaborations between the company and Northeastern University in Silicon Valley. In January, KLA representatives led a popular info session on campus at the Career Symposium. The campus places an emphasis on building university-industry partnerships in the Bay Area, which provide experiential learning for students and a talent pipeline for partners.

“Our hope is that students gain industry exposure beyond the usual, see the bigger picture, and use that knowledge to break into tech through adjacent or supporting industries,” said Experiential Learning Specialist Hannah Kang.