Location: San Jose, CA
Compensation: $180,000 to $240,000 base + 25% target annual bonus
Benefits: Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, retirement, relocation assistance for qualified candidates, and additional long-term incentive potential
Work Arrangement: 100% onsite in a cleanroom, manufacturing, and office environment
Work Authorization: Must be ITAR compliant / U.S. Person
A leading semiconductor and advanced materials technology company is seeking a Process Engineering Director to lead ion implantation process engineering operations at a highly specialized semiconductor services facility in San Jose, California.
This is a rare opportunity for a technically deep process engineering leader with direct ion implantation expertise to oversee engineering, process control, customer qualification, process development, continuous improvement, and maintenance operations within a precision wafer-processing environment.
Unlike a traditional semiconductor manufacturing facility, this operation functions as a specialized semiconductor services site where customer wafers are received, processed through ion implantation technologies, and returned to customers for use in advanced semiconductor applications.
This is not a generic process engineering leadership role. The company is specifically seeking a leader with hands-on ion implantation process engineering experience who can engage deeply with engineers, customers, process technologies, tool platforms, and technical problem-solving while also leading a small but highly specialized engineering organization.
Key Responsibilities
The Process Engineering Director will be responsible for leading and supporting engineering, process development, production support, customer qualification, and continuous improvement activities, including:
- Lead engineering activities for customer qualification, process control, and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Sustain and improve existing ion implantation processes across the facility.
- Drive process improvements, experiments, gauge capability studies, and process optimization efforts.
- Supervise process engineering and technical resources supporting implant operations.
- Provide technical leadership across High Current Implant and Broad Range Implant production areas.
- Work directly with customers on process development, customer qualification, and process-related technical issues.
- Develop and maintain simulation models to support customer requirements and business growth initiatives.
- Support production operations and troubleshooting activities as needed.
- Partner with Sales to support customer objectives, technical discussions, and business development efforts.
- Lead process-related equipment enhancement initiatives and continuous improvement activities.
- Support process FMEAs, control plans, statistical process control, and Six Sigma initiatives.
- Manage maintenance and facilities support activities tied to tool uptime and preventative maintenance programs.
- Identify, justify, and deploy new capital equipment and process-related investments as needed.
- Support process capability improvement, throughput optimization, yield enhancement, and production stability initiatives.
- Serve as the EHS liaison for the site and promote safe manufacturing and cleanroom practices.
- Monitor environmental, health, and safety compliance and reporting requirements.
- Partner closely with operations, maintenance, facilities, customers, sales, and site leadership teams.
- Lead and mentor a small but highly technical engineering and maintenance organization.
Technical Environment
This role operates within a highly specialized semiconductor process environment focused on ion implantation technologies.
The ideal candidate will have strong experience with:
- Ion implantation / implant process engineering.
- Semiconductor wafer fabrication environments.
- High Current Implant and Broad Range Implant processing.
- Multiple implant process technologies such as CMOS, bipolar, discrete devices, or related semiconductor technologies.
- Multiple ion implant tool platforms.
- Statistical Process Control (SPC).
- Process FMEAs and control plans.
- Six Sigma and continuous improvement methodologies.
- High-volume semiconductor fabrication processes.
- Process development and customer qualification activities.
- Tool uptime, preventative maintenance, and process equipment optimization.
- Ion physics, high voltage systems, low current electronics, logic circuits, and pneumatic logic.
- Cleanroom manufacturing environments.
Ideal Candidate Profile
The ideal candidate is a highly technical semiconductor process engineering leader who combines deep ion implantation expertise with practical leadership capability and customer-facing credibility.
This person should be comfortable leading engineers, engaging directly with customers, troubleshooting complex process issues, improving production capability, and guiding highly technical discussions around implant processes and semiconductor technologies.
The company is not looking for a purely administrative people leader. Technical depth is heavily weighted in this search. The successful candidate must be capable of understanding the process at a detailed level, challenging assumptions, guiding engineering decisions, and supporting customer process development activities.
At the same time, the organization values practical leadership and cultural fit. The ideal person will be collaborative, grounded, and able to work effectively with engineers, technicians, operations teams, customers, and executive leadership without unnecessary ego or friction.
Qualifications
- 10+ years of relevant experience in semiconductor manufacturing, wafer fabrication, or highly technical process engineering environments.
- 7+ years of engineering leadership or management experience preferred.
- Direct ion implantation / implant process engineering experience required.
- Semiconductor wafer fabrication or semiconductor process technology background required.
- Strong understanding of process control, process capability, and continuous improvement methodologies.
- Experience supporting customer qualification and process development activities.
- Experience with multiple implant technologies and tool platforms preferred.
- Ability to work directly with customers on technical process issues and development programs.
- Strong technical leadership and engineering problem-solving capability.
- Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.
- Ability to work effectively across Engineering, Production, Maintenance, Facilities, Sales, EHS, and Leadership teams.
- Comfortable operating in a cleanroom and manufacturing environment.
- Bachelor’s degree preferred in Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, Chemical Engineering, or a related semiconductor discipline.
- Advanced technical degrees are valued but not required.
- Must be a U.S. Person as defined by ITAR regulations.
Work Environment
This role supports a specialized semiconductor services facility in San Jose, California with approximately 16–17 ion implantation systems supporting advanced wafer processing operations.
The environment includes:
- Semiconductor cleanroom operations.
- Manufacturing and production floor support.
- Customer-facing process engineering work.
- Advanced semiconductor process technologies.
- High-voltage and precision process equipment.
- Cross-functional engineering and technical collaboration.
Leadership & Team Structure
- Reports directly to the site General Manager.
- Current organization includes approximately three direct reports.
- Team responsibilities include process engineering, implant engineering, and maintenance/facilities leadership.
- The organizational structure may evolve over time based on business needs and the strengths of the new hire.
Why This Opportunity
This role offers the chance to lead highly specialized semiconductor process engineering operations tied directly to advanced wafer-processing technologies and precision ion implantation services.
Key highlights include:
- Rare opportunity to lead ion implantation engineering operations in a highly specialized semiconductor environment.
- Highly technical leadership role with meaningful influence over process capability, customer qualification, and engineering direction.
- Opportunity to work directly with advanced semiconductor customers and process technologies.
- Strong balance of technical depth, customer interaction, and operational leadership.
- Small, highly specialized engineering organization with visible impact.
- Planned retirement transition allows for onboarding overlap and knowledge transfer.
- Stable, established technology platform with long-term growth opportunities.
- Exposure to advanced semiconductor process technologies and next-generation wafer applications.
- Relocation assistance available for qualified candidates.
- Long-term leadership opportunity within a highly technical manufacturing and semiconductor environment.
