KLA Engineering Manager salaries in Chennai (Updated 2025)

Likes

Lots of recognitions and appraisals. Bonus will be given immediately after done good job.

Dislikes

Mostly sustenance works. Very old code base. Code is little messy since lots of people have put their hands on the code.

Likes

I tried my best to find some positives about KLA, but honestly, it was like searching for a needle in a haystack. Anything I'd might write might end up directly contradicting the long list of "dislikes" I'm about to drop to. So...yeah, let's just say the "likes" section is a bit under construction.

Dislikes

My review is not intended to be entirely focused on KLA as a company. Rather, it reflects my experiences specifically within the division I was part of. 1. Tech stack from Jurassic Period - KLA is all about sticking to the classics - and by classic, I mean tools that have been outdated for at least a decade. Get ready to learn, unlearn, and relearn things that everyone else has moved on from. 2. Leave Requests - A month in Advance (or Else!) - In an industry where flexible work schedules are becoming the norm, my manager insisted on having at least a month's notice for any leave request or WFH option. Need a day off? Make sure you plan your life a month ahead. Spontaneity is overrated anyway! 3. An award-winning Lack of Diversity - If you are tired of a melting pot of cultures and Ideas, KLA will offer you a welcome escape. You'll quickly notice a glaring lack of diversity. But, hey, who needs different different perspective when you can enjoy a homogeneous environment where everyone looks and thinks the same? 4. Bias? What Biases? - There's no room for subtlety when it comes to favoritism. While KLA is inclusive, you may see certain divisions/groups/people getting more attention and opportunities. 5. WFH Request - So I asked my dear Manager for 1 week WFH. I thought it was a simple request, right?, Well he rejected it faster than a bad job offer and asked me to be back in ofc on a specific date. Meanwhile, I know a few folks in my division pulling off "tatkal tickets" for spontaneous home trips. Guess some rules apply... and others, well, not so much. 6. Language Barrier Adventures - Working in a team where everyone from Southern India was a real cultural experience. I spent most of my time in a state of confusion, nodding along as my colleague chatted away in Tamil. Who knew "language diversity" would be my biggest challenge? 7. Leaders? Boss? Managers? - In my division, managers used to call themselves leaders, but most of them are still living in the era of BOSS. 8. Snacks Saga - Snacks were served at precisely 6:30 PM, and woe betide anyone who dared to show up a minute early. If you dared to stroll in at 6:28 PM, you'd be met with cold rejection and told to "wait till 6:30 PM". --"Early? Not on our watch - I almost expected a velvet rope and bouncer to appear" A few other cons are written below Biasness / Favoritism Politics Stagnant financial growth Low increments Bowl of Muesli as breakfast Paid lunch (Pathetic)

Likes

Flexible work hours.

Dislikes

Culture is bit of localized, mostly I think due to india management is from TN only. Majorly would hear people talking in Tamil during meeting. Recently company got good funding for expansion, but due to TN mindset they couldn't even think of anything outside chennai. They could very well opened new office in Bangalore but they choose chennai itself. Very narrow minded, sense of insecurity they don't want to expand to non-Tamilians. That is not good for company as whole - though its American MNC but filled with Tamilian at higher management or decision makers at KLA India.

Likes

This is a place where you can learn workplace politics. You can see all kinds of bad managers. Once you graduate from KLA, nothing will ever surprise you.

Dislikes

A KLA manager called his report who was attending a funeral and asked him to join a meeting. When the report explained his situation, the manager asked him to join after the funeral.

Likes

Great team Horizontal hierarchy People genuinely interested in solving problems faced in Semiconductor Industry

Dislikes

Varying workload with below average work life balance Overstrained resources causing fatigue