Senior Manager Semiconductor Process Engineering

SLD Laser a world leader in commercialization of gallium nitride (GaN) based laser light sources was acquired by KYOCERA Corporation and has commenced operations as a wholly owned subsidiary and group company of KYOCERA Corporation under the name KYOCERA SLD Laser Inc. (KSLD). KSLD is commercializing a new generation of gallium nitride-based laser light sources. KSLDs high luminance LaserLight^TMsources are utilized in a myriad of applications including automotive & mobility specialty & portable lighting entertainment & outdoor projection & AR/VR displays biomedical instrumentation & therapeutics and industrial imaging & material processing.

The company is ISO 9001 certified and automotive compliant to IATF 16949 and operates facilities in Santa Barbara CA and in Fremont CA. KSLDs high luminance LaserLightTM sources are UL and IEC safety certified. The company was recently ranked 7th in Fortune magazines 2021 Best Workplaces in Manufacturing & ProductionTM having promoted an employee-centric corporate culture since its founding.

KSLD will continue to pioneer the future of light by developing manufacturing and marketing innovative laser-based products with high efficiency and luminance for mobility specialty lighting consumer and industrial applications.

To learn more about KSLD visit contact the company ator 1-.

Job Description

We are seeking an accomplished Senior Manager Semiconductor Process Engineering to lead our process engineering team in driving manufacturing excellence and innovation. This role requires a seasoned leader with deep technical expertise in semiconductor fabrication processes and a proven track record of managing high-performing engineering teams in a fast-paced development environment. The ideal candidate will demonstrate exceptional organizational skills meticulous attention to detail and a passion for developing technical talent.

Key Responsibilities

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead and mentor a team of process engineers focused on optimizing semiconductor manufacturing processes.
• Serve as a coach and mentor actively developing team members technical and professional skills through regular feedback training opportunities and structured career development planning.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement technical excellence and cross-functional collaboration.
• Create clear growth pathways for engineers at various career stages and establish mentorship programs within the team.

Process Development & Optimization

• Oversee the development qualification and implementation of new process technologies and equipment.
• Drive yield improvement initiatives and cost reduction programs while maintaining product quality and reliability.
• Champion advanced process control methodologies and statistical process management techniques.
• Maintain rigorous documentation standards and ensure all process changes follow structured change control procedures.

Organizational Excellence

• Establish and maintain systematic approaches to project management resource allocation and priority setting.
• Develop structured workflows and standard operating procedures that ensure consistency and efficiency.
• Implement robust tracking systems for key performance indicators action items and project milestones.
• Ensure meticulous documentation of processes experiments and engineering decisions.

Manufacturing Support

• Provide technical leadership for sustaining engineering activities troubleshooting complex process issues and implementing corrective actions.
• Manage process excursions through detailed root cause analysis and structured problem-solving methodologies.
• Ensure seamless technology transfers between development and high-volume manufacturing with comprehensive documentation and knowledge transfer protocols.

Strategic Planning

• Develop and execute process engineering roadmaps aligned with business objectives.
• Collaborate with product engineering quality equipment engineering and operations teams to deliver on project goals.
• Evaluate and recommend new technologies and capital equipment investments through structured evaluation frameworks.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with R&D teams internally and across Kyocera group on process technology development and new product introductions.
• Work closely with quality assurance to drive defect reduction and reliability improvements.
• Interface with external partners including equipment vendors and research institutions.

Required Qualifications

• Masters degree or PhD in Materials Science Chemical Engineering Electrical Engineering Physics or related field.
• 10 years of experience in semiconductor process engineering with at least 5 years in a leadership or management role.
• Deep expertise in semiconductor unit processes (lithography etch deposition implant CMP diffusion or metrology).
• Demonstrated excellence in organizational skills with proven ability to manage complex multi-faceted projects.
• Strong mentorship capabilities with documented success in developing engineers and building technical competency within teams.
• Systematic and structured approach to problem-solving process development and team management.
• Strong knowledge of statistical process control design of experiments and data analysis methodologies.
• Excellent leadership communication and interpersonal skills.
• Experience with fab automation systems and MES platforms.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with laser diode processing (epitaxial growth facet coating cleaving packaging or testing).
• Background in III-V semiconductor materials and compound semiconductor device fabrication.
• Experience with advanced or emerging technologies.
• Six Sigma Black Belt or equivalent certification.
• Track record of patent publications and technical contributions.
• Experience managing geographically distributed teams.
• Proven track record of implementing knowledge management systems and best practice documentation.

Technical Competencies

• Comprehensive understanding of semiconductor device physics and integration challenges.
• Proficiency with process simulation tools and data analytics platforms.
• Strong problem-solving skills with systematic root cause analysis capabilities.
• Understanding of contamination control yield management and reliability engineering principles.
• Exceptional attention to detail in data analysis process documentation and quality control.

Key Leadership Attributes

• Structured thinker who creates clear frameworks and processes for team execution.
• Detail-oriented approach to engineering decisions and data interpretation.
• Natural mentor who invests time in developing others and building team capabilities.
• Organized leader who establishes clear priorities milestones and accountability systems.
• Strong emotional intelligence and ability to communicate effectively across all organizational levels.
• Commitment to building diverse inclusive and high-performing teams.

The full-time base salary range for the position Senior Manager Semiconductor Process Engineering is $191000 to $ 225000 per annum. The range reflects the minimum and maximum possible base salary for new hires for the role based on the advertised location. Individual pay is determined by several factors including work location job-related skills experience and relevant education and training. For more information about the base salary range applicable to the work location talk to the recruiter.

Kyocera SLD Laser Inc. is an equal opportunity do not discriminate on the basis of race color religion sex (including pregnancy childbirth or related medical conditions) gender identity gender expression national origin ancestry citizenship age physical or mental disability legally protected medical condition military or veteran status marital status domestic partner status sexual orientation genetic information or any other basis protected by local state or federal laws.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities duties and requirements of personnel as classified.