Director, Mechanical Engineering – Electrostatic Chuck

Reporting to the Corporate VP, the Director of Mechanical Engineering for Electrostatic Chuck (ESC) is accountable for the strategy, design, and delivery of hardware engineering solutions focused on ESC and heaters technology.

The Director will be responsible for systematically analyzing customer needs through next-generation initiatives and focusing on the development of highly innovative technologies over legacy solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design and development of ESC and heaters hardware platforms and modules.
• Ensure timely delivery of new equipment designs including safety, specifications, conceptual configuration, detailed design, factory release, configuration control, and documentation.
• Support customer-specific designs and product cost reduction initiatives.
• Drive new technology exploration and development of new processes.
• Establish budgets and measurable performance indicators for the department.
• Manage engineering projects to meet deliverables, quality, budget, and timing.
• Foster a collaborative and engaging environment across departments and suppliers.
• Collaborate with universities, research institutes, and engineering firms for breakthrough technological solutions.
• Motivated to drive innovation through R&D and create patents.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree or PhD in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering.
• 10-15 years of experience in hardware engineering including semiconductor processing.
• 5+ years in a leadership position.
• Expertise in material science including AlN, Al2O3, SiC, and C22 alloys.
• Understanding of failure modes and process performance behavior.
• Strong background in electrical engineering including high voltage biasing, RF/DC integration, dielectric breakdown, leakage, and charging/discharging.
• Knowledge of clamping mechanisms and thermal engineering.
• Experience in vacuum and plasma physics.
• Proficiency in mechanical design and manufacturing processes.
• Demonstrated system thinking capabilities.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Proven ability to meet time-to-market requirements.
• Track record of delivering engineering solutions in multicultural and dynamic environments.
• Visionary thinking and long-term strategic planning.
• Strong planning and organizational skills.
• Effective communication across diverse audiences.
• Team building and networking capabilities.
• Experience in global organizations.
• Hands-on R&D experience and familiarity with fab equipment.
• Experience in productization from prototype to volume production.
• Customer interface experience with Tier 1 customers.
• Supplier management including communication, negotiation, strategic planning, and problem solving.
• Mentorship and innovation mindset.