Director, Process Engineering (AI)

SBT is the exclusive executive recruiting firm for this confidential position.

Company Overview

This semiconductor startup is seeking a Head of Process Engineering to lead the transition of cutting-edge R&D technologies into mid-scale front-end wafer production. This leadership role is at the intersection of innovation and execution, critical to the company’s next phase of growth.

The ideal candidate has these three distinct qualities:

1. Has scaled a complex technology from prototype / R&D to small / mid-size production.
2. Has led / managed teams > 10 (ideally 20+) and has proven experience building an organization to a critical mass.
3. Has remained highly technical and “hands on” even in their leadership capacity.

Role Responsibilities

• Lead the development and optimization of front-end wafer process engineering strategies, supporting the transition from R&D prototypes to mid-scale production environments.
• Drive cross-functional collaboration between R&D, operations, and manufacturing teams to ensure seamless technology scale-up and process integration.
• Define and implement robust process control methodologies and yield improvement initiatives to support manufacturing ramp-up.
• Provide technical leadership across a broad range of process areas, ensuring flexibility and innovation remain central to scaling efforts.
• Build, mentor, and guide a high-performing engineering team capable of supporting both research-focused development and volume-oriented manufacturing.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in semiconductor process engineering, with a strong track record of scaling technologies from R&D to production.
• Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, Applied Physics, or a related field is highly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience in startup or early-stage environments is required.
• Deep understanding of front-end wafer development processes, with the ability to lead across a range of process engineering disciplines.
• Onsite presence is required to support close collaboration with R&D, engineering, and manufacturing teams.