Strategic Program Director — Semiconductors & Optics

CScale; Palo Alto (CA); On-site; USD 160,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

CScale is seeking a seasoned Technical Program Manager to lead cross-functional execution for next-gen optical semiconductor programs in Palo Alto. The role spans architecture, design, verification, tapeout, bring-up, validation, sampling, and qualification, coordinating engineering, fabrication, and ops teams globally.

Ideal candidates have 12+ years in semiconductor hardware, with 7+ years in program leadership, and a proven track record of delivering complex silicon initiatives on time and

Qualifications

• 12+ years in semiconductor or hardware product development.
• 7+ years leading technical programs.
• Experience leading programs across global teams.
• Startup or first-generation product experience.
• Bonus: optical engine or silicon photonics programs.
• Bonus: high-speed connectivity products.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary point of contact for cross functional program execution.
• Own the cross-functional execution plan from concept through production (architecture, design, verification, tapeout, bring-up, validation, customer sampling, qualification, release to manufacturing).
• Build the integrated program plan across design (multiple silicon die, hardware, software), fab, packaging, QA, test, and qualification.
• Set milestones, phase gates, and the critical path with engineering and operations leads, and own the gate reviews.
• Manage program scope, schedule, budget, and resource plans, and drive decisions when any of them change.
• Run the program cadence across global sites and hold teams to their commitments.
• Identify risks early, drive mitigations, and escalare issues with options and a recommendation.
• Define program health indicators and build the executive dashboards leadership uses to run the business.
• Own sample readiness and release-to-manufacturing criteria with engineering and operations.
• Establish program management processes and tools as CScale moves into production.

Skills

Technical PM

Cross-functional leadership

Silicon development flow

Risk management

Executive communication

Scheduling tools

Decision making

Education

B.Sc. in EE/Physics

Tools

MS Project

Jira

SharePoint

Notion

Job description

CScale is seeking a seasoned Technical Program Manager to lead cross-functional execution for next-gen optical semiconductor programs in Palo Alto. The role spans architecture, design, verification, tapeout, bring-up, validation, sampling, and qualification, coordinating engineering, fabrication, and ops teams globally.

Ideal candidates have 12+ years in semiconductor hardware, with 7+ years in program leadership, and a proven track record of delivering complex silicon initiatives on time and