Key Technology Manager – Semiconductor

KUKA; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

KUKA, a leading robotics and automation company, seeks a Senior Key Technology Manager to champion semiconductor manufacturing solutions across the Americas. You will translate customer needs into differentiated KUKA value propositions, lead cross-functional teams, and influence product roadmaps with engineering partners.

You will participate in industry conferences, develop strategic accounts, and build relationships with customers and ecosystem players to address wafer fabrication, front-end

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or related technical discipline.
• Minimum 7 years of semiconductor industry experience.
• Experience translating customer requirements into business value propositions.

Responsibilities

• Serve as semiconductor industry expert across the Americas.
• Develop understanding of wafer fabrication, front-end, back-end, and automation needs.
• Identify growth opportunities and articulate differentiating KUKA value propositions.
• Collaborate with product management and engineering to align roadmaps with industry requirements.
• Deliver technology leadership in customer engagements and industry events.

Skills

Semiconductor expertise

Technology leadership

Customer engagement

Robotics & automation

Machine vision

AI in manufacturing

Smart factory

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field

Tools

Robot control systems

Machine vision

AI in manufacturing

Job description

Under the direction of KUKA's Americas Sales Leadership and in close collaboration with KUKA's global Semiconductor Industry organization, the Key Technology Manager serves as the industry's subject matter expert and strategic advocate for semiconductor manufacturing customers throughout the Americas.

The incumbent is responsible for understanding semiconductor manufacturing processes, technology roadmaps, operational challenges, and automation requirements, and translating those customer needs into compelling value propositions leveraging KUKA robotics, software, and automation solutions.

The Key Technology Manager works across sales, product management, engineering, and customers to identify growth opportunities, influence technology strategies, support business development activities, and establish KUKA as a recognized thought leader within the semiconductor ecosystem. The role also includes active participation in industry associations, technical conferences, forums, and customer events, where the incumbent is expected to deliver presentations, technical papers, panel discussions, and keynote addresses demonstrating how KUKA technologies address critical semiconductor manufacturing challenges.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Serve as KUKA's semiconductor industry expert throughout the Americas, maintaining deep knowledge of semiconductor manufacturing trends, processes, technologies, and customer requirements.


• Develop a comprehensive understanding of wafer fabrication, front-end manufacturing, back-end assembly, test operations, advanced packaging, material handling, contamination control, and factory automation requirements.


• Engage with semiconductor manufacturers, equipment makers, OEMs, integrators, and ecosystem partners to identify current and emerging automation needs.


• Capture customer technical requirements and business objectives and translate them into differentiated KUKA value propositions and automation strategies.


• Collaborate with KUKA product management and engineering teams to align product roadmaps with semiconductor industry requirements and future technology trends.


• Support strategic account teams in developing and executing semiconductor industry growth strategies across the Americas.


• Provide technology leadership during customer engagements, executive meetings, workshops, technical reviews, and solution development activities.


• Identify, develop, and qualify new business opportunities within semiconductor manufacturing and related high-tech industries.


• Develop industry-specific business cases demonstrating operational, productivity, quality, and sustainability benefits of KUKA automation solutions.


• Support the creation of solution concepts, proposals, presentations, and technology demonstrations tailored to semiconductor applications.


• Build and maintain strong relationships with customer engineering, manufacturing, operations, technology, automation, and executive leadership teams.


• Represent the voice of the customer internally, ensuring customer needs are effectively communicated to sales, engineering, product management, and executive leadership.


• Monitor industry technology roadmaps, market dynamics, competitive developments, investment trends, and emerging manufacturing challenges.


• Participate actively in semiconductor industry organizations, technical forums, standards bodies, trade associations, and conferences.


• Deliver technical presentations, customer seminars, industry talks, panel discussions, and keynote speeches showcasing semiconductor automation solutions and KUKA technology leadership.


• Collaborate with marketing to develop semiconductor-focused thought leadership content, white papers, case studies, technical articles, and conference presentations.


• Support strategic partnerships with industry stakeholders, research institutions, technology centers, and key ecosystem participants.


• Travel extensively throughout the Americas and periodically internationally to support customers, industry events, and corporate initiatives.


• Adhere to all company policies, quality standards, and safety requirements.

Education and/or Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Semiconductor Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related technical discipline.


• Minimum of 7 years of experience within the semiconductor industry, including wafer fabrication, advanced packaging, assembly, test, factory automation, semiconductor equipment, or related manufacturing environments.


• Demonstrated expertise in semiconductor manufacturing processes, automation systems, cleanroom operations, contamination control requirements, and production challenges.


• Experience evaluating, specifying, implementing, or supporting automation technologies within semiconductor manufacturing environments.


• Experience translating customer technical requirements into business value propositions, automation concepts, and technology solutions.


• Experience working directly with semiconductor manufacturers, equipment suppliers, OEMs, or advanced technology customers.


• Knowledge of industrial robotics, automation, machine vision, AI-enabled manufacturing, AMHS systems, and smart factory initiatives preferred.


• Experience presenting at industry conferences, technical forums, customer symposiums, or professional associations strongly preferred.


• Established network within the semiconductor industry ecosystem is highly desirable.

KUKA is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to building an inclusive and diverse workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other factor protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.