Director - Lab Operations

Job Summary:  

The Applied Materials India process lab is a class 10K-class 100 clean room lab with 300mm process capability, metrology and characterization focused on semiconductor equipment process technology, materials technology and new product development. Applied Materials is looking for a Lab Director with prior experience as a cleanroom fab manager and semiconductor process expertise (PVD, CVD, ALD thin films a plus). 

The lab director will have a single point of accountability for the lab and is responsible for maintaining safety, security and productivity standards for the lab including ensuring end-end support for BU product development and critical milestones tracking. This includes partnering with cross-functional teams to maintain equipment uptime, procurement & supply chain, controlling budget and investment plans and executing lab strategy.  

This role involves managing a team of lab operations comprising of technicians, engineers, support functions and 3rd party operators and lab users comprising of engineers, technicians, scientists and vendor partners, ensuring compliance with industry standards and regulations.  

Key Responsibilities: 

Team Management: 

• Oversee group of integration engineers, process engineers, operating technicians, equipment engineers, and lab operation teams. 

• Lead, hire, motivate, and retain a global team of highly skilled engineers and technicians. 

• Oversee personnel functions such as interviewing, selecting, training, supervising, evaluating performance, and developing staff. 

Lab Operations and Management: 

• Maintain operations, including safety standards, productivity and lab access management including certification programs. 

• Manage the daily operations of the lab, ensuring efficient utilization of all equipment. 

• Key focuses on equipment up time, corrective and preventive maintenance and running the business, including managing operating budgets, lab procurement, inventory and spares management.  

• Vendor management for all critical suppliers and equipment vendors for the lab in partnership with Facilities and Procurement teams 

• Develop and implement standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the use and maintenance of hardware equipment, metrology and characterization tools 

• Digitization and E2E process management of lab operations and inventory management 

• Drive innovations on cost saving, space, and equipment automation. 

• Monitor and distribute information regarding changes in regulatory guidelines and trends in techniques and technology. 

• Ensure clean, safe, and accident-free work environment. 

Collaboration and Communication: 

• Safety and accountability for the lab are key priorities in this role 

• Exec presence and ability to communicate and report to key business stakeholders to align on lab strategy, critical deliverables and program milestones.  

• Maintain effective collaboration with cross-functional teams to design and execute experiments that support product development and quality control. 

• Maintain open communication with stakeholders and act as a liaison between the laboratory and other departments. 

Financial Management: 

• Manage financial activities and reports pertaining to the laboratory. 

• Assist in the preparation of budget estimates. 

• Drive cost savings and lab efficiencies via site lab consolidation initiatives. 

Compliance and Safety: 

• Ensure laboratory compliance with health, safety, and environmental regulations. 

• Secure intellectual property, material inventory, and lab assets with outstanding procedures and processes co-designed with the Corporate Security Team. 

• Maintain area procedures and training required to ensure legal compliance and conformance to management system. 

Technical Guidance: 

• Provide scientific and technical leadership to laboratory staff and support their professional growth and development. 

• Provide technical guidance, consultation, and support to researchers, technicians, and other stakeholders. 

Crisis Management: 

• Assemble and manage task forces to tackle critical issues. 

Qualifications: 

Technical Expertise: 

• Experience working in front-end modern high-volume semiconductor fabrication process facility is a must 

• Experience operating and managing semiconductor metrology and characterization tools (including TEM, FIB, SEM, EELS, EDS, PED, 4D-STEM, and i-DPC) 

• Semiconductor process and equipment knowledge with a focus on thin films is a plus 

Problem-Solving Skills: 

• Expertise in problem-solving methods. 

• Ability to moderate root cause analysis to enable teams to solve complex problems. 

Industry Knowledge: 

• Familiarity with ISO standards and systems, FMEA, Phase Gate approach. 

• Knowledge of business and management principles, strategic planning, resource allocation, leadership techniques, production methods, and coordination of people and resources. 

• Knowledge of applicable safety requirements. 

Leadership Experience: 

• Proven leadership abilities and experience managing a team of scientists and technicians. 

• Ability to analyze and develop guidelines, procedures, and systems to outline specific goals and implement plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish tasks. 

Educational Background: 

• Masters/PhD in Engineering Sciences