"Stuck in Time: A Review of KLA's Prehistoric Tech and Unique Work Culture" - Software Engineer KLA Employee Review

1.0
Dec 10, 2024
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

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.

Cons

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stack from Jurassic Period - KLA is all about sticking to the classics - and by classic, I mean tools that have been outdated for at least a decade.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)

Explore other reviews about KLA

5.0
May 26, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Interesting technology, hardworking people, always busy

Cons

Sometime disorganized, lots of travel

1.0
May 5, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

If you’re looking for a place where accountability doesn’t exist and you can do the bare minimum while getting paid maximum overtime, this is your spot. No approval needed, no questions asked—just stay late, watch YouTube, and collect your paycheck (plus free food if you linger long enough). Weekends are basically a free-for-all since the people who are supposed to supervise are either absent or the worst offenders.

Cons

This place is what happens when a parent company buys a smaller one and then completely forgets it exists. There is zero meaningful oversight. Management knows exactly what’s going on—they just don’t care as long as quotas are eventually met. Efficiency, integrity, and actual productivity mean nothing here. Documentation is either nonexistent or completely useless, full of errors and missing critical information. Parts are constantly missing, and instead of fixing the system, people exploit it to justify delays and stretch their hours. The entire operation rewards time-wasting over competence. The culture actively punishes anyone who tries to work a normal, honest 8-hour day. Want recognition or a raise? Better start padding your hours. The more time you burn, the more management “appreciates” you. It’s not about results—it’s about how long you can pretend to be working. Managers, being salaried, conveniently disappear when it matters most—nights and weekends—while turning a blind eye to the dysfunction they fully understand. Leadership isn’t absent by accident; it’s absent by choice.

2
See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All