Fab Automation Manager

Applied-Optoelectronics-Inc; Sugar Land (TX); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health plans

401(k) employer matching

Unused PTO payout at year end

Relocation package available within US

Immigration sponsorships

Job summary

Applied-Optoelectronics-Inc in Sugar Land, TX, is seeking a senior leader to manage the Fab Automation section. You will guide automation engineers, design and deploy SECS/GEM interfaces, and drive improvements in quality, delivery, and cost.

You will oversee dashboards, coordinate with vendors and production lines, and lead Lean initiatives to boost productivity while maintaining strict cleanroom practices.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Computer, Industrial, or Manufacturing Engineering (Masters/PhD preferred).
• 5+ years in semiconductor automation with supervisory experience preferred.
• Strong analytical skills to derive strategies from data.
• Knowledge of MES, ERP, and SECS/GEM interfaces preferred.
• Proficiency with MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Familiarity with SQL and programming languages (Python, C#, or similar).
• LabVIEW, PLC, or industrial control programming experience is a plus.
• Experience in a semiconductor manufacturing and cleanroom environment is required.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills across management levels.
• Ability to lead a team of section managers and engineers in a fast-paced setting.

Responsibilities

• Lead a section of Fab Automation managers and engineers, assigning work and building capability.
• Collaborate with vendors and production teams to deliver automation solutions meeting goals.
• Maintain dashboards showing equipment automation health and project status.
• Drive projects to increase productivity, reduce lead time, and cut costs.
• Identify automation capabilities and coordinate with production control.
• Design and sustain SECS/GEM, recipe, interlock, and data interfaces.
• Improve labor productivity via Lean and best-known methods in automation.
• Support acceptance, buy-off, spare strategy, and restocking for automation hardware/software.
• Provide training to engineers, technicians, and operators of automation tools.
• Coordinate tasks to meet deadlines and handle other supervisor-assigned tasks.
• Work extended hours in a cleanroom environment (full body coverings).
• Coordinate with groups to complete tasks on time.

Skills

Analytical skills

Team leadership

Communication

Time management

Cleanroom readiness

MS Office

Inventory and dashboard management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering

Masters or PhD preferred

Tools

SQL

Python

C#

SECS/GEM

LabVIEW

PLC programming

Job description

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The purpose of this position is to manage a Fab Automation section of automation engineers supporting compound semiconductor fab and transceiver assembly line. The role leads a team of automation engineers to design develop, deploy, and sustain equipment automation, MES interfaces, and factory systems that improve Quality, Delivery, Cost, and production capacity.

Responsibilities

• Lead a section consisting of Fab Automation section managers and engineers, assigning work, reviewing designs, and developing team capability and performance. Automation teams will be involved with multiple Fab locations.
• Collaborate with automation equipment vendors, production line, process, and equipment engineering to understand operations and deliver automation solutions that meet capability, Quality, Delivery, and Cost goals.
• Determine section metrics and maintain dashboards that communicate equipment automation health, project status, and production impact to the Fab Automation Manager.
• Drive section projects that increase productivity, reduce lead time, improve quality, and achieve cost savings.
• Identify equipment and process automation capabilities and limitations; calculate automation-enabled capacity and coordinate with production control.
• Design, implement, and sustain SECS/GEM, recipe, interlock, and data collection interfaces for assembly and fab equipment.
• Improve labor productivity through deployment of best-known methods, error-proofing, and Lean Manufacturing principles in automated operations.
• Support incoming automation equipment acceptance, automation buy-off, spare strategy, and restocking follow-up for automation hardware and software.
• Provide training and instruction to engineers, technicians, and production users of automation tools and procedures.
• Coordinate section first level response and troubleshooting to fab incidents, including safety alarms, environmental abnormalities, and equipment or host-system repairs.
• Working extended hours in a cleanroom environment. (cleanroom suit with full body coverings)
• Coordinate with group to get tasks and projects completed on time and perform other work-related tasks as required and assigned by your supervisor.

Qualifications

• Minimum of Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Computer, Industrial, or Manufacturing Engineering (Masters and PhD preferred).
• Five or more years of experience in semiconductor, compound semiconductor, and/or transceiver and semiconductor manufacturing automation; prior supervisory experience preferred.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to draw conclusions and develop strategies based on data.
• Knowledge of MES, ERP, and equipment automation interfaces (SECS/GEM) preferred.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Familiarity with SQL and other programming languages (Python, C#, or similar) preferred.
• LabVIEW, PLC, or industrial control programming experience is a plus.
• Experience in a semiconductor manufacturing and cleanroom environment is required.
• Strong organizational, prioritization, planning, and time management skills, including the ability to lead a team of section managers and engineers.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills across all levels of management and diverse functional teams.
• Effectively report up and down on progress of tasks and projects.
• Ability to work in a cleanroom environment while wearing full body covered gowns and to perform effectively in a fast-paced, rapidly changing environment

Location

This position will be on-site based in Sugar Land, Texas.

WHY AOI?

• Flexible and competitive health (medical, dental, vision) plans offer the employee with the right options to meet individual needs
• Employer matching on 401(k) deferrals
• Unused PTO payout at end of the year
• Relocation package available within US
• Immigration sponsorships (Must be currently authorized to work in the US)