HVM Process Manager

Kokusai Semiconductor Equipment Corporation; Boise (ID); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Kokusai Electric is seeking a Process Engineering Manager to lead HVM process support for a major memory customer in Boise, Idaho. This role sits at the intersection of process technology, fleet performance, and people leadership, with ownership of stability and tool performance in a live production environment.

You will own and optimize deposition processes, manage customer escalations, and build a high-caliber team of process engineers delivering reliable, high-yield results across development

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Physics, Chemistry, Materials Science, or related field.
• 7+ years of semiconductor process or equipment engineering experience in HVM or customer production environments.
• 3+ years of people leadership or engineering management experience.
• Strong knowledge of LP-CVD, ALD, and/or plasma-enhanced processes.
• Experience with process recipe creation, modification, optimization, and troubleshooting.
• Strong understanding of semiconductor metrology, data analysis, particle trend analysis, and film trend analysis.
• Experience supporting or leading new product introduction (NPI) in semiconductor manufacturing environments.
• Travel: ~10%.
• Base salary between $140,000 and $190,000, with comprehensive benefits.

Responsibilities

• Lead fleet-wide process performance in a live HVM environment.
• Own investigation and resolution of process-related defects and escalation management.
• Serve as the management-level interface for customer process escalations.
• Direct process engineering support to maintain stable manufacturing lines within control limits.
• Review and approve new or modified process recipes and improvements.
• Partner with internal teams to define equipment, handling, and process requirements.
• Lead evaluation of test data, process limits, and key variables for repeatable outcomes.
• Oversee NPI and process implementation at customer sites.
• Provide senior technical guidance on particle, film, and metrology trends.
• Translate customer needs into engineering priorities and roadmaps.
• Manage, coach, and develop a team of process engineers.
• Set priorities and allocate resources across customer support, development, and escalation.
• Establish goals, rhythms, and performance expectations.
• Foster a culture of technical rigor and proactive problem solving.
• Communicate clearly with customers and stakeholders through reports and reviews.

Skills

Process engineering

People leadership

NPI experience

Metrology knowledge

Data analysis

Root cause analysis

Problem solving

Customer engagement

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Physics, Chemistry, Materials Science, or related

Job description

Process Engineering Manager - Semiconductor Equipment (HVM)

Boise, Idaho | Onsite

Kokusai Electric is a global technology leader in vertical diffusion furnace systems, enabling advanced semiconductor manufacturing at scale. We partner closely with the world’s most demanding logic and memory fabs, supporting both development and high-volume manufacturing (HVM) across critical process modules.

We are hiring a Process Engineering Manager to lead HVM process support for one of the industry’s most advanced and successful memory customers. This role sits at the intersection of process technology, fleet performance, customer escalation management, and people leadership - with real ownership and visibility.

If you thrive in high-volume manufacturing environments, enjoy building technically strong teams, and want to be accountable for process stability, defectivity reduction, and sustained tool performance, this is a rare opportunity.

Why This Role Matters

• You will own fleet-wide process performance for critical deposition technologies in a live HVM environment.
• You will lead the front line of customer engagement for process escalations, stability, and ramp.
• You will build and develop a high-caliber process engineering team supporting both development and manufacturing.
• Your work directly impacts yield, uptime, and customer confidence at scale.

What You’ll Own

• Lead a team responsible for sustaining process performance within customer specifications, using SPC, trend analysis, and structured problem-solving methodologies.
• Own investigation and resolution of process-related defects, including escalation management, root cause analysis, and corrective action implementation.
• Serve as the management-level interface for customer escalations related to process performance, defectivity, and line stability.
• Direct process engineering support to maintain stable manufacturing lines within control limits.
• Review and approve new or modified process recipes, formulations, and improvements aligned to customer and product needs.
• Partner with internal engineering and scientific teams to define equipment, handling, and process requirements.
• Lead evaluation of process test data, material/process limits, and key variables to drive repeatable, stable outcomes.
• Oversee NPI and process implementation at customer development and HVM sites.
• Provide senior technical guidance on particle trends, film trends, process fingerprints, metrology interpretation, and recipe troubleshooting.
• Translate customer development needs into engineering priorities and roadmap recommendations.
• Manage, coach, and develop a team of process engineers delivering high-quality technical support.
• Set priorities and allocate resources across customer support, development work, and escalation response.
• Establish clear goals, operating rhythms, and performance expectations.
• Build a culture of technical rigor, accountability, and proactive problem solving.
• Ensure clear, effective communication with customers and internal stakeholders through reports, presentations, and technical reviews.

Experience

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Physics, Chemistry, Materials Science, Semiconductor Manufacturing, or a related technical discipline (or equivalent experience).
• 7+ years of semiconductor process or equipment engineering experience, including hands-on support in HVM or customer production environments.
• 3+ years of people leadership or engineering management experience, including team development, work prioritization, and coaching.
• Strong working knowledge of one or more of the following process domains: LP-CVD, ALD, and/or plasma-enhanced processes.
• Demonstrated experience in process recipe creation, modification, optimization, and troubleshooting.
• Strong & Solid understanding of semiconductor metrology, process data analysis, particle trend analysis, and film trend analysis.
• Experience supporting or leading new product introduction (NPI) and implementation in semiconductor manufacturing environments.
• Travel: ~10%
• Compensation: $140,000 - $190,000 base salary (depending on experience), plus comprehensive benefits and additional compensation eligibility

Kokusai is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law.