Director of Cleanroom Operations & Microfabrication

Silicon Austria Labs GmbH; Faak am See; On-site; EUR 82,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation support

Vital4SAL program

Meal allowance

Public transport subsidy

Job summary

Silicon Austria Labs (SAL) in Austria seeks a Head of Cleanroom Operations & Engineering to lead a growing team and shape the future of SAL’s semiconductor R&D cleanroom. You will drive operational excellence, people development and technology transfer to scalable processes.

You will manage ~40 staff, oversee budgets, safety, and the introduction of new tools, while aligning research flexibility with disciplined manufacturing readiness. Fluency in English is essential; German is a plus.

Qualifications

• M.S. or PhD in semiconductor engineering, electrical engineering, materials science, physics or related field.
• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in a technical leadership role within semiconductor, MEMS, microfabrication or cleanroom.
• Proven leadership and management experience in a multidisciplinary technical organization.
• Experience at the interface between semiconductor research, process development and manufacturing.
• Strong understanding of semiconductor fabrication and cleanroom operations.
• Experience transferring R&D processes toward pilot production, low-volume manufacturing or early productization.
• Experience introducing and ramping up new equipment, processes and infrastructure in a cleanroom.
• Knowledge of quality management, process control, yield improvement and problem solving.
• Strong ability to balance research flexibility with operational discipline and reproducibility.
• Strong technical writing, presentation and communication skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English; German is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a growing cleanroom operations and engineering organization of approximately 40 employees.
• Ensure reliable operation of the SAL semiconductor R&D cleanroom and plan for future growth.
• Manage the cleanroom cost center, budgets, resources and investments.
• Establish procedures, standards and operating practices for safe, flexible and efficient execution of research activities.
• Develop the organization through recruitment, delegation of responsibilities, coaching and succession planning.
• Define and implement operating principles balancing research flexibility with reproducibility and reliability.
• Support ramp-up and development of cleanroom infrastructure, qualification of new equipment, tools and infrastructure.
• Plan integration of new tools and capabilities to meet program needs.
• Take over EHS responsibilities, particularly in chemistry.
• Enable transition of research-developed processes toward robust, reproducible and scalable flows and early productization.
• Work with SAL research units to translate technologies into manufacturable processes.
• Support pilot prototyping activities while maintaining flexibility in R&D environment.
• Establish quality and process-control practices to support reproducibility, yield improvement and root-cause investigation.
• Regularly align priorities, resources and capabilities with SAL management and supporting departments.

Skills

Leadership

Team management

Strategic planning

Communication

English proficiency

German language

Education

M.S./PhD in semiconductor engineering

Electrical engineering

Materials science

Physics

Job description

Silicon Austria Labs (SAL) in Austria seeks a Head of Cleanroom Operations & Engineering to lead a growing team and shape the future of SAL’s semiconductor R&D cleanroom. You will drive operational excellence, people development and technology transfer to scalable processes.

You will manage ~40 staff, oversee budgets, safety, and the introduction of new tools, while aligning research flexibility with disciplined manufacturing readiness. Fluency in English is essential; German is a plus.