Leads global software engineering organizations developing semiconductor test-platform software across equipment control, handlers, thermal systems, factory automation, production data, and system integration. Oversees technical strategy, architecture, delivery, validation, release readiness, customer deployments, and cross-functional execution. The role is highly hands-on, with approximately 50% dedicated to coding, debugging, and solving complex hardware-software integration issues. Responsibilities also include managing managers and technical leaders, mentoring, performance reviews, succession planning, and adopting AI-assisted engineering practices.
Job Summary & Responsibilities
Director, Software Engineering
Position Overview
We are seeking a Director of Software Engineering to lead Hardware System Integration, Handler, Test Engineering, and Portfolio Engineering for semiconductor test platforms supporting SLT, Burn-In, HPC, and ATE.
The role leads global teams responsible for equipment-control software, material handling integration, test engineering, factory interfaces, production data, and shared software capabilities.
This position is expected to be highly technical and hands-on with software and hardware, with approximately 50% of time spent directly coding, debugging, and solving complex technical issues across the semiconductor test ecosystem.
Key Responsibilities
- Translate engineering strategy into engineering plans, technical milestones, resource plans, and delivery schedules.
- Lead software managers, technical leads, developers, and test engineers across Thermal, System Integration, Handler, Test, and Portfolio Engineering.
- Drive execution across multiple products and customer programs and ensure teams deliver committed milestones.
- Align software development, integration, validation, and release schedules with SW Product Management and Hardware TPMs.
- Lead software integration across testers, handlers, thermal systems, device interfaces, PLCs, firmware, and equipment-control systems.
- Lead development of communication interfaces for material handling, factory automation, and factory management systems.
- Lead GEM/SECS, EAC/EAP, lot processing, alarms, availability reporting, equipment telemetry, and production data capabilities.
- Lead automated validation, hardware-in-the-loop testing, regression, endurance testing, system qualification, and production readiness.
- Improve throughput, reliability, availability, recovery, and downtime through system performance analysis.
- Drive reuse and standardization of APIs, SDKs, messaging, data models, logging, diagnostics, and common software components.
- Ensure customer requirements are implemented as scalable, configurable product capabilities.
- Track milestones, dependencies, risks, quality, integration readiness, and release criteria across the portfolio.
- Improve software development, testing, validation, and release processes.
- Coordinate execution with Product Management, Program Management, Business Development, Hardware, Firmware, QA, Production, Applications, and Product Support.
- Lead adoption of AI-assisted software development, testing, diagnostics, and documentation.
- Conduct architecture, design, integration, and release-readiness reviews.
- Present technical and program-readiness reviews to customers and internal leadership.
- Support customer technical discussions, system bring-up, escalations, and production deployments.
- Conduct performance reviews, set goals, mentor leaders, and support succession planning.
- All other duties as assigned.
Required Skills & Experience
- B.S in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering with a strong software background, Software Engineering, or related field; M.S. preferred.
- 15+ years of software engineering or related technical experience.
- 10+ years of technical engineering management experience.
- 3+ years managing a multi-tier organization, including managers or supervisors.
- Significant experience with semiconductor equipment-control software, material handling systems, factory automation, or complex hardware/software systems.
- Strong knowledge of GEM/SECS and related SEMI standards.
- Strong understanding of semiconductor test and measurement principles.
- Experience integrating software with testers, handlers, thermal systems, PLCs, firmware, drivers, and production equipment.
- Strong understanding of software architecture, distributed systems, APIs, messaging, telemetry, databases, and equipment-control software.
- Experience with C#/.NET, C++, Python, or similar production software environments.
- Experience managing multiple products and customer programs, including schedules, resources, dependencies, and technical risks.
- Strong understanding of CI/CD, automated testing, hardware-in-the-loop validation, release management, observability, and production support.
- Proven ability to lead global engineering teams and drive accountability.
- Strong customer, technical, executive, and cross-functional communication skills.
- Must be willing to work onsite in our Lake Forest, CA office.
Preferred / Plus Qualifications
- Experience with SLT, Burn-In, ATE, HPC, handlers, or semiconductor capital equipment.
- Experience with EAP/EAC, lot processing, factory automation, equipment telemetry, availability reporting, or manufacturing data systems.
- Experience with handler, thermal, PLC, and tester integration.
- Familiarity with Apache Pulsar, Kafka, RabbitMQ, MQTT, or similar messaging technologies.
- Experience delivering on-premises software for high-volume semiconductor manufacturing.
- Experience modernizing legacy systems while maintaining compatibility with installed environments.
- Experience applying AI to software development, testing, diagnostics, or documentation.
- Experience leading engineering teams across the U.S. and international locations.
Additional Requirements
- Ability and willingness to travel domestically and internationally as required.
- On-site presence in the Lake Forest, CA office is required.
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