Sr Director, Engineering

Ultra Clean Technology; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 180,000 - 270,000; Full time

Job summary

Ultra Clean Technology in Phoenix, AZ is seeking a Sr Director of Engineering to lead R&D strategy and cross-functional product development. You will drive governance, portfolio prioritization, and budgets while partnering with Product, Operations, and Quality to ensure scalable, high-quality outcomes.

The role requires a strong track record in moving concepts to production, with experience in regulated or high-reliability environments and a focus on continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Progressive engineering leadership experience in R&D, product development, or technology development environments.
• Demonstrated success leading multi-disciplinary engineering teams and complex development portfolios.
• Strong understanding of product development lifecycles, requirements management, design verification/validation, and transfer readiness.
• Proven ability to influence stakeholders and drive execution in a matrixed organization.
• Strong business and financial acumen, including portfolio tradeoffs, budgeting, and investment justification.
• Excellent communication skills, including executive-level presentations and technical decision facilitation.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute the Engineering R&D strategy, aligned with business objectives, customer needs, and technology roadmaps.
• Lead R&D portfolio planning, prioritization, and resource allocation across programs and platforms.
• Establish development governance (stage-gate or equivalent), technical reviews, and decision forums to ensure predictable delivery.
• Direct engineering execution across concept development, design, prototyping, verification/validation, and technology transfer activities.
• Drive technical excellence through engineering standards, design practices, risk management, and robust documentation.
• Partner with Product Management and Commercial teams to translate market needs into requirements and development plans.
• Collaborate with Operations, Supply Chain, and Quality to ensure design for manufacturability, reliability, and scalability.
• Oversee R&D budgets, capital requests, external partnerships, and vendor/contract engineering engagements as applicable.
• Lead cross-functional resolution of high-complexity technical issues; ensure effective root cause and corrective action closure.
• Establish KPIs and reporting for schedule, cost, quality, performance, and benefits realization across the R&D portfolio.
• Recruit, develop, and retain engineering talent; build a culture of innovation, accountability, safety, and continuous improvement.
• Support intellectual property and knowledge management activities (e.g., invention disclosures, technical documentation standards) as applicable.

Skills

Engineering leadership

R&D portfolio planning

Cross-functional leadership

Product development lifecycle

Budgeting & costs

Executive communication

Risk management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Master's degree or PhD

Job description

Join UCT and be part of the fastest-growing sector in the world! We indirectly touch every semiconductor chip that goes into every smartphone, smart car, and device that uses artificial intelligence.This is a critical time for the semiconductor industry and for UCT - as technology evolves, we evolve with it. UCT is a diverse workplace where every talented employee is committed to continuous innovation, challenging the status quo and exceeding customer expectations. If you are a person with a relentless drive to succeed, a strong focus on quality with a passion for success – join us today! UCT is looking for a talented Sr Director, Engineering to join us in Phoenix, AZ!

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Define and execute the Engineering R&D strategy, aligned with business objectives, customer needs, and technology roadmaps.
• Lead R&D portfolio planning, prioritization, and resource allocation across programs and platforms.
• Establish development governance (stage-gate or equivalent), technical reviews, and decision forums to ensure predictable delivery.
• Direct engineering execution across concept development, design, prototyping, verification/validation, and technology transfer activities.
• Drive technical excellence through engineering standards, design practices, risk management, and robust documentation.
• Partner with Product Management and Commercial teams to translate market needs into requirements and development plans.
• Collaborate with Operations, Supply Chain, and Quality to ensure design for manufacturability, reliability, and scalability.
• Oversee R&D budgets, capital requests, external partnerships, and vendor/contract engineering engagements as applicable.
• Lead cross-functional resolution of high-complexity technical issues; ensure effective root cause and corrective action closure.
• Establish KPIs and reporting for schedule, cost, quality, performance, and benefits realization across the R&D portfolio.
• Recruit, develop, and retain engineering talent; build a culture of innovation, accountability, safety, and continuous improvement.
• Support intellectual property and knowledge management activities (e.g., invention disclosures, technical documentation standards) as applicable.

Other Duties:

• This job description may not encompass all responsibilities and activities assigned to this role. Duties may evolve with business needs.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Minimum Qualifications

• Progressive engineering leadership experience in R&D, product development, or technology development environments.
• Demonstrated success leading multi-disciplinary engineering teams and complex development portfolios.
• Strong understanding of product development lifecycles, requirements management, design verification/validation, and transfer readiness.
• Proven ability to influence stakeholders and drive execution in a matrixed organization.
• Strong business and financial acumen, including portfolio tradeoffs, budgeting, and investment justification.
• Excellent communication skills, including executive-level presentations and technical decision facilitation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience delivering products/technologies from concept through commercialization or production transfer at scale.
• Experience implementing or maturing development governance (stage-gate, Agile/hybrid, or systems engineering practices).
• Background in regulated or high-reliability environments (as applicable), including design controls, risk management, and compliance expectations.
• Demonstrated success building innovation pipelines, platform strategies, or re-use frameworks to accelerate time‑to‑market.
• Experience partnering with global teams, external research partners, or contract engineering resources.

Educational/Certification Requirement:

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related technical discipline.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree or PhD in Engineering or a related field.
• Formal training or certification in program/project leadership, systems engineering, or product development governance.
• Training in risk management methodologies (e.g., FMEA) and continuous improvement (e.g., Lean/Six Sigma).

Work Environment:

This job is usually performed in a professional office environment, routinely using standard office equipment such as computers, telephones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and other related equipment. The employee will also be expected to be present in the manufacturing areas as required. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles, moving mechanical parts and vibration. The noise level in the work environment and manufacturing areas can occasionally be moderate or loud.

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is required to sit; climb stairs, maintain balance; employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust optical focus.

Travel Requirements:

• Domestic and international travel away from primary work location will be required.

Note:

This job description may not represent a complete list of job duties or responsibilities. Other duties, responsibilities and activities may be added at any time and without notice.

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

Ultra Clean Technology is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and expression, marital status, and any other characteristic protected under laws and regulations.