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 in their background:

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.