Cleanroom Operations Manager

OQC; Reading; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

OQC in Reading, UK, is building the next generation of quantum hardware. As Cleanroom Operations Manager, you will lead daily cleanroom activity, align resources and priorities with fabrication goals, and ensure safe, reliable manufacturing of world-leading technologies.

You will manage engineers and technicians, drive improvements in uptime, throughput and quality, and collaborate across engineering, quality, facilities and supply chain to industrialise our fabrication capability.

Qualifications

• Experience leading operations in a cleanroom or similar technical environment.
• Experience managing engineers or technicians, with coaching and performance oversight.
• Experience coordinating production schedules in complex settings.
• Ability to use operational KPIs to improve reliability, throughput and delivery.
• Experience with SOPs, controlled documentation and traceability requirements.
• Strong planning, stakeholder management and organisational skills.
• Commitment to safety, quality and continuous improvement.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Physics, Microelectronics, Semiconductor Manufacturing or related field.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day cleanroom operation, aligning resources with fabrication goals.
• Manage and develop a team of engineers and technicians for performance and capability growth.
• Coordinate equipment readiness, maintenance, consumables and inventory to maximise uptime.
• Monitor KPIs and drive continuous improvements in reliability, throughput, quality and safety.
• Maintain SOPs and traceability to support controlled fabrication processes.
• Collaborate with engineering, facilities, quality, supply chain and programmes to ensure readiness and delivery.
• Support industrialisation of fabrication capability through improved scheduling and controls.

Skills

Cleanroom operations

Team leadership

Production scheduling

Operational KPIs

SOPs & traceability

Stakeholder management

Safety & quality

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Physics/Microelectronics

Master's degree in related discipline

Job description

At OQC, we aren’t just theorising about the future; we’re building it. Born from a philosophy of bold innovation, we’ve successfully transitioned quantum computing from an academic dream into a commercial reality. The most exciting thing is that we’re just getting started and we’ve recently closed our £260 million Series C funding round – the largest fundraise ever completed by a quantum computing company in Europe.

The Purpose

As our Cleanroom Operations Manager, you'll lead the day-to-day operation of OQC's cleanroom as we scale the manufacture of world-leading quantum technologies. You'll build the operational discipline, team capability and processes that enable safe, reliable and efficient fabrication while supporting the next generation of quantum hardware.

The Role

Leading a team of engineers and technicians, you'll oversee cleanroom operations, equipment readiness, maintenance planning and operational excellence. Working closely with engineering, quality, facilities, supply chain and programme teams, you'll ensure our fabrication environment operates safely, efficiently and is ready to support increasing production demands.

What You'll Be Working On

• Lead the day-to-day operation of OQC's cleanroom, ensuring resources, equipment and priorities are aligned to fabrication goals.
• Manage, coach and develop a team of engineers and technicians, supporting performance, capability growth and operational excellence.
• Coordinate equipment readiness, maintenance, consumables and inventory to maximise uptime and minimise disruption.
• Monitor operational KPIs, identify delivery risks and drive continuous improvements in reliability, throughput, quality and safety.
• Maintain robust operational procedures, documentation, SOPs and traceability to support controlled fabrication processes.
• Collaborate with engineering, facilities, quality, supply chain and programme teams to ensure operational readiness and successful delivery.
• Support the continued industrialisation of OQC's fabrication capability by improving scheduling, operational controls and team effectiveness.

What We’re Looking For

• Experience leading operations within a cleanroom, semiconductor manufacturing, fabrication, production or other critical technical environment.
• Experience managing or leading engineers, technicians or operational teams, including coaching, task allocation and performance management.
• Strong experience coordinating production schedules, equipment readiness and maintenance activities in complex technical environments.
• Experience using operational KPIs to improve reliability, utilisation, throughput and delivery performance.
• Experience working with SOPs, controlled documentation, traceability requirements and operational processes.
• Strong planning, stakeholder management and organisational skills, with the ability to balance competing priorities.
• Commitment to safety, quality and continuous improvement.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Physics, Microelectronics, Semiconductor Manufacturing, Production Management or a related discipline.

The 'Nice-to-Haves'

• Experience supporting industrialisation, production ramp-up or operational excellence programmes.
• Master's degree in Engineering, Physics, Microelectronics, Semiconductor Manufacturing, Production Management or a related discipline.