Director of Facilities

Optics 1, Inc.; Camarillo (CA); On-site; USD 206,640,000 - 254,856,000; Full time

Job summary

Safran Defense & Space, Inc. in Camarillo oversees a 45,000 sq ft facility including a 5,000 sq ft Class 100–1000 wafer-fabrication cleanroom. The Director of Facilities leads operations, maintenance, and expansions while ensuring uptime, contamination control, and safety in a regulated defense and semiconductor environment.

The role requires a strong background in cleanroom infrastructure, EHS compliance, and past leadership of facilities staff. U.S.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical, electrical, chemical, or facilities engineering, or equivalent experience.
• 10+ years in facilities or plant engineering, including direct responsibility for a semiconductor cleanroom.
• Experience operating cleanrooms and expanding/modifying them with minimal disruption.
• Strong command of cleanroom infrastructure (HVAC/filtration, utilities, monitoring) and ISO 14644 classification/certification.
• Ownership of preventative-maintenance and critical-spares programs.
• Knowledge of semiconductor process tools and facility requirements (operational knowledge not required).
• Working knowledge of EHS and regulatory requirements (OSHA, hazmat, air/wastewater permitting).
• Familiarity with CMMS and BMS.
• Proven leadership of facilities/maintenance staff.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and respond to facility-critical issues.

Responsibilities

• Own day-to-day operation, maintenance, and reliability of the entire ~45,000 sq ft facility across four suites and the 5,000 sq ft wafer-fab cleanroom.
• Oversee safe handling and containment of corrosive/toxic process gases and strong acids with gas detection and abatement systems.
• Plan cleanroom expansions, reconfigurations, and infrastructure upgrades with minimal disruption to fabrication.
• Own the critical utilities: process cooling water, DI water, process gases, compressed dry air, nitrogen, vacuum, exhaust, scrubbing, and electrical/HVAC systems.
• Maintain general facility across all suites: envelope, mechanical/electrical, and tenant infrastructure.
• Manage EHS compliance (OSHA, hazmat, air/wastewater permitting) and ISO/14644 certification.
• Develop and monitor preventative-maintenance schedules and spare parts inventories.
• Oversee capital projects, budgets, contractors, and service providers.
• Coordinate with process engineering and facilities staff; supervise Facilities Manager, technicians, and assistants.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Facilities leadership

Cleanroom management

ISO 14644

CMMS

BMS

EHS compliance

Budget planning

Project management

Regulatory knowledge

US citizenship

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical, electrical, chemical, or facilities engineering

Job description

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ABOUT OUR MISSION:

Join the forefront of innovation and make an impact at Safran Defense & Space, Inc.!

Safran Defense & Space Inc. (Safran DSI), headquartered in Arlington, Va., is a leading U.S. aerospace company dedicated to supporting national defense and space missions. As a trusted partner to the U.S. armed forces, government agencies, and commercial sectors, Safran DSI delivers advanced technology solutions through its specialized business units: Assured PNT, Attollo Engineering, Geospatial AI, Optronics, Space Solutions, and Testing & Telemetry.

Attollo Engineering is a designer and manufacturer of cutting-edge infrared cameras and laser sensor systems for defense and industrial applications. Leveraging extensive expertise in the electro-optical market, systems design, and packaging, Attollo delivers superior solutions for system integrators, original equipment manufacturers, and custom applications. Their commitment to quality engineering empowers Safran DSI to provide innovative and reliable technology to its partners.

If you’re ready to join our mission and serve those who serve, Safran DSI is the perfect place for you to take your career to the next level. Make a real difference and be part of something extraordinary. Apply now and help us build the future of defense and space.

POSITION PROFILE:

The Director of Facilities is experienced and hands on, and leads the operation, maintenance, and expansion of our Camarillo facility — approximately 45,000 sq ft across four suites, including a 5,000 sq ft wafer-fabrication cleanroom. This role, owns the cleanroom environment, the critical facility systems that support semiconductor device fabrication, and the general facility, while leading a small team and protecting uptime, contamination control, and hazardous-materials safety in a regulated defense and semiconductor environment.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Own the day-to-day operation, maintenance, and reliability of the entire ~45,000 sq ft facility across four suites, including the 5,000 sq ft Class 100–1000 (ISO 5–ISO 6) wafer-fabrication cleanroom
• Tasks may involve lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling of objects and materials of moderate weight (up to approximately 25–50 pounds).
• Maintain the cleanroom within its classification: particle monitoring, HEPA/ULPA filtration and fan-filter units, laminar flow, temperature/humidity control, and pressure cascade between zones
• Own gowning and contamination-control protocols and ISO 14644 certification/recertification
• Plan and execute cleanroom expansions, reconfigurations, and infrastructure upgrades with minimal disruption to active fabrication
• Own the critical utilities supporting the fab: process cooling water, DI water, process gases and gas cabinets, compressed dry air and nitrogen, process exhaust and acid-gas scrubbing/abatement, acid-waste neutralization, vacuum, electrical, HVAC, and the building management/monitoring system
• Maintain the general facility across all four suites — building envelope, base-building mechanical/electrical, and tenant infrastructure
• Own safe handling, storage, and supporting infrastructure for corrosive and toxic process gases (e.g., chlorine, ammonia) and strong acids (including hydrofluoric acid and other mineral acids), with associated gas detection, scrubbing/abatement, wet-bench/fume-hood, eyewash/safety-shower, and emergency-response systems
• Own EHS compliance, including OSHA, California hazardous-materials requirements (HMBP/CUPA), and applicable air and wastewater permitting
• Build and monitor preventative-maintenance schedules across facility systems and cleanroom-supporting equipment
• Own the critical-spares inventory, calibration program, and service/vendor contracts to protect uptime
• Maintain working awareness of the cleanroom's process tools and process-support equipment and their function and facility requirements — sufficient to support, facilitate, and maintain them — without responsibility for process operation (handled by process-engineering staff)
• Oversee maintenance and facility support of cleanroom equipment through the Semiconductor Equipment Technician, coordinating with process engineering
• Plan and manage facility capital projects, contractors, and service providers; develop and manage budgets
• Perform other duties as assigned

SUPERVISORY RESPONCIBILITIES:

• Facilities Manager (responsible for the entire facility excluding the cleanroom)
• Semiconductor Equipment Technician (responsible for cleanroom equipment)
• Indirect oversight of the Facilities Assistant (reports to the Facilities Manager)

WHAT YOU’LL NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL:

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, electrical, chemical, or facilities engineering, or equivalent experience
• 10+ years in facilities or plant engineering, including direct responsibility for a semiconductor cleanroom
• Demonstrated experience both operating cleanrooms and expanding or modifying them with minimal disruption to ongoing operations
• Strong command of cleanroom infrastructure (HVAC/filtration, utilities, monitoring) and ISO 14644 classification and certification
• Demonstrated ownership of preventative-maintenance and critical-spares programs
• Working awareness of semiconductor process tools and process-support equipment and their facility requirements (operation-level expertise not required)
• Working knowledge of EHS and regulatory requirements (OSHA, California hazmat, air/wastewater permitting)
• Familiarity with building management systems (BMS) and computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS)
• Proven leadership of facilities and/or maintenance staff
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to manage multiple priorities and respond to facility-critical issues
• Requires U.S. Citizenship or Permanent Resident Status required.

IDEALLY, YOU’LL ALSO HAVE:

• Experience with corrosive/toxic process-gas (e.g., chlorine, ammonia) and strong-acid (including HF) handling infrastructure
• Experience supporting a compound-semiconductor or photonics fabrication environment
• Relevant certifications (e.g., cleanroom certification, Professional Engineer license, EHS certifications)
• Familiarity with computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS) and building management systems (BMS)
• Experience working in an ITAR environment
• Willingness to be on call for facility and cleanroom emergencies
• Experience working in an ITAR environment

SALARY RANGE: Hourly compensation is $150,000 - $185,000, plus participation in a management performance bonus program.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the role.

EOE/AA/M/F/Vets – US Protected Individual status required (US citizen, lawful permanent resident, asylee, refugee or temporary resident (as defined at 8 USC 1160(a).

Nearest Major Market: Ventura
Nearest Secondary Market: Oxnard