Manager/ Senior Manager, Process and Quality Control (Fab Operations), IME

Agency for Science, Technology and Research; Queenstown; On-site; NZD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technological research organization in Queenstown is looking for a Manager/Senior Manager in Process and Quality Control. This role involves leading a team to ensure high product yield and compliance with quality standards in semiconductor fabrication processes. Candidates should have over 10 years of experience in the semiconductor industry, with significant leadership experience in process control and yield engineering. A Black Belt in Lean/Six Sigma is preferred.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in the semiconductor industry, 5+ years in a leadership role.
• Expert in semiconductor fabrication processes and quality assurance.
• Black Belt certification in Lean/Six Sigma preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and drive a roadmap for yield improvement.
• Lead design and maintenance of SPC and FDC systems.
• Manage a team of Quality Engineers and Process Control Engineers.

Skills

Leadership

Statistical Process Control (SPC)

Problem Solving

Data Analytics

Lean/Six Sigma

Education

Degree in Engineering, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering

Tools

Statistical Process Control systems

Metrology tools

Job description

Manager/ Senior Manager, Process and Quality Control (Fab Operations), IME

Agency for Science, Technology and Research – Queenstown

Leading a team responsible for the strategic design, implementation, and continuous improvement of all quality and process control systems within Fab Operations. This role is critical for ensuring world-class product yield, reducing defectivity, and maintaining strict compliance with customer specifications, internal quality standards, and relevant industry certifications.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and drive a strategic roadmap for yield improvement and defect reduction across critical process modules.
• Lead the design and maintenance of advanced, real-time Statistical Process Control (SPC), Fault Detection and Classification (FDC), and Advanced Process Control (APC) systems to stabilize and optimize all fabrication steps.
• Cross-contamination management to achieve balance between research and development flexibilities in integration runsheet flow path vs process tools health and process repeatability.
• Small volume prototype protocol and product and process control plan alignment and set-up with requestor, process margin runs till demonstration of product SPC repeatability and line defect and electrical yield.
• Serve as the technical expert and primary quality interface for key customers, leading customer audits, addressing quality-related concerns, and driving customer-specific quality improvement plans.
• Problem Solving: Direct and oversee high-level, cross-functional root-cause analysis (RCA) and corrective and preventive action (CAPA) teams for major process excursions, non-conformances, and field returns, utilizing methodologies like 8D or Six Sigma
• Metrology & Inspection: Oversee the selection, qualification, and maintenance of all in-line and off-line metrology and defect inspection tools, ensuring measurement system accuracy (Gage R&R) and high data quality.
• Process Window Definition: Collaborate with Process Integration and R&D teams to define, qualify, and stabilize robust manufacturing process windows for all new product introductions (NPI), ensuring Design for Manufacturability (DFM) principles are met.
• Data Analytics: Leverage large-scale manufacturing data (Big Data) to identify subtle process drifts, predict failures, and proactively implement controls.
• Lead, mentor, and manage a team of Quality Engineers, Process Control Engineers, and Technicians, setting performance goals, developing career paths, and fostering a culture of ownership and data-driven decision-making.
• Collaborate closely with all stakeholders to balance the trade-off between quality stability, process efficiency, and tool uptime.

Required Qualifications:

• Degree in Engineering, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Preferable 10+ years of experience in the semiconductor industry, with a minimum of 5 years in a leadership/management role focusing on Process Control, Quality Assurance, or Yield Engineering within a Fab environment.
• Deep technical knowledge of semiconductor fabrication processes in different modules.
• Expert-level knowledge of Statistical Process Control (SPC), Design of Experiments (DOE), Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA), and Lean/Six Sigma methodologies (Black Belt certification highly preferred).
• Strong leadership, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the proven ability to influence and align technical and executive stakeholders.

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from qualified candidates.