Director, 24/7 Lab Operations & Quality Excellence

Applied Materials; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 164,000 - 225,500; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus program

Stock awards

Comprehensive benefits

Job summary

Applied Materials in Santa Clara, CA seeks a Director of Lab Operations to lead end-to-end lab operations, driving safety, quality, and output. You will oversee cleanroom and production control activities, partner with engineering and customers, and foster a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.

The role requires 8+ years in semiconductor manufacturing or similar environments, with proven leadership and data-driven decision-making skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• 8+ years of experience in semiconductor manufacturing, cleanroom operations, or similar environments.
• Proven leadership experience managing operations teams in a high-volume or R&D fab setting.
• Experience with process improvement methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma, or equivalent).
• Strong leadership and team management skills in a 24/7 operational environment.
• Deep understanding of lab operations, equipment utilization, and production control.
• Expertise in problem-solving methodologies (5 Whys, 8D, RCA).
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Data-driven decision-making and performance management.
• Strong customer focus and ability to manage escalations effectively.

Responsibilities

• Drive daily, weekly, and quarterly production targets.
• Maximize equipment utilization and ensure tools run when available.
• Identify bottlenecks and implement corrective actions.
• Ensure adherence to quality standards to protect wafer integrity.
• Promote ownership of quality at every operational step.
• Lead 24/7 lab operations including PCC and CROs.
• Coordinate with engineering and support teams for alignment.
• Serve as primary contact for customer and tenant concerns.
• Lead root cause analysis and CAPA to prevent recurrence.
• Monitor SQO targets and provide data-driven explanations of deviations.
• Report performance, risks, and improvements to the Fab Manager.
• Lead weekly production meetings with Engineering to review tool status.

Skills

Leadership

Problem solving

Data-driven decisions

Communication

Stakeholder management

Continuous improvement

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering/Operations

Tools

Lean Six Sigma

Job description

Applied Materials in Santa Clara, CA seeks a Director of Lab Operations to lead end-to-end lab operations, driving safety, quality, and output. You will oversee cleanroom and production control activities, partner with engineering and customers, and foster a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.

The role requires 8+ years in semiconductor manufacturing or similar environments, with proven leadership and data-driven decision-making skills.