Head of Formulations & Optronics Quality Europe /all genders / Part-fulltime

Merck Electronics; Darmstadt; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Merck Electronics seeks a senior quality leader to manage regional quality for next-generation semiconductor materials. You will direct a team of Quality Engineers and collaborate with R&D, scale-up, and manufacturing to resolve complex issues and drive continuous improvement.

The role requires a PhD in a relevant field, 10+ years in wafer fabrication, and fluency in German and English. You will apply advanced statistics and data tools to enhance traceability and process controls across Europe.

Qualifications

• PhD in a relevant field is required.
• Minimum 10 years in semiconductor wafer fabrication or related area.
• Strong command of German and professional English needed.

Responsibilities

• Lead regional quality for next-generation semiconductor materials.
• Direct a team of Quality Engineers and partner with R&D, process scale-up, QC, suppliers, and manufacturing.
• Guide root-cause investigations and coordinate corrective and preventive actions.

Skills

PhD in STEM

Semiconductor wafer fab

German & English fluency

SPC & statistics knowledge

Root-cause & FMEA

Problem solving mindset

Education

PhD in Chemical Eng./Chemistry/Physics/Materials Science

Tools

JMP

Palantir Foundry

Python

Tableau

Job description

Work Your Magic with us! Ready to explore, break barriers, and discover more? We know you’ve got big plans – so do we! Our colleagues across the globe love innovating with science and technology to enrich people’s lives with our solutions in Healthcare, Life Science, and Electronics. Together, we dream big and are passionate about caring for our rich mix of people, customers, patients, and planet. That's why we are always looking for curious minds that see themselves imagining the unimaginable with us.

Everything we do in Electronics is to help us deliver on our purpose of being the company behind the companies, advancing digital living. We are dedicated to being the trusted supplier of high‑tech materials, services and specialty chemicals for the electronics, automotive and cosmetics industries. We foster a global collaborative organization made up of individuals who have the passion to win, obsess about the customer, are relentlessly curious and act with urgency. Together, we push the boundaries of science to make more possible for our customers.

Your role

Lead regional quality for next‑generation semiconductor and electronic materials, helping ensure customers receive products they can rely on. You’ll direct a team of Quality Engineers and partner with R&D, process scale‑up, analytical QC, supplier quality, supply chain, and manufacturing to resolve complex technology and quality issues. You’ll guide investigations to root cause and coordinate effective corrective, preventive, and mitigation actions. You’ll oversee quality audits at regional sites and toll manufacturers, while building a proactive semiconductor quality culture with site and cross‑functional teams. As the voice of the customer, you’ll support timely disposition of discrepant material and work with internal teams and external partners to close process gaps and prevent recurrence. You’ll be accountable for regional quality performance and drive continuous improvement through disciplined process controls, SPC reviews, and variation reduction. You’ll identify automation and data‑driven opportunities that improve traceability and help teams make sound decisions faster. You’ll support new product introductions with rigorous risk assessments and process controls, and contribute to global quality initiatives and process optimization. This role involves travel to customers and sites across Europe and, as needed, other international locations.

Who You Are

• You hold a PhD in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, Materials Science.
• You have at least 10 years of semiconductor wafer fabrication experience.
• You are proficient in spoken and written German and have business-level English.
• You bring advanced statistical knowledge, including SPC, t-tests, ANOVA, and univariate or multivariate statistical modeling.
• You have experience leading quality and problem‑solving practices such as 5 Whys, segmentation, model‑based problem solving, FMEAs, continuous improvement, management of change, and document control.
• You are familiar with data and statistical tools such as JMP, Palantir Foundry, Python, and Tableau, and have experience with semiconductor automation, data automation, or digitization.
• You understand ISO 9001 quality management systems; ISO 9001 or IATF 16949 internal auditor certification is an advantage. Experience in chemical manufacturing, process or control engineering, or analytical chemistry is also valued.
• You communicate effectively, collaborate across cultures, and can build alignment with diverse teams; additional languages such as Mandarin, Korean, Japanese, French, Italian, or Dutch are a plus.

What we offer:

We are curious minds that come from a broad range of backgrounds, perspectives, and life experiences. We believe that this variety drives excellence and innovation, strengthening our ability to lead in science and technology. We are committed to creating access and opportunities for all to develop and grow at your own pace. Join us in building a culture of inclusion and belonging that impacts millions and empowers everyone to work their magic and champion human progress!