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:
- Has scaled a complex technology from prototype / R&D to small / mid-size production.
- Has led / managed teams > 10 (ideally 20+) and has proven experience building an organization to a critical mass.
- 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.