Director, Customer Solution Engineering

Hitachi•Hillsboro, OR

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Director, Customer Solution Engineering position is located in Hillsboro, OR, to support the hardware, design and supply chain engineering business objectives of HTA’s Semiconductor Equipment Division. This role requires a strategic technical and commercial approach, analyzing Hitachi supply chain for disruption risks, continuity robustness and business expansion opportunities, working closely with HTA SCT and HHT KSD. Understanding key customer productivity and manufacturability concerns on Hitachi etch toolsets as technology nodes advance, as well as EOL concerns, this position will lead an engineering team at HTA to identify hardware and design solutions to overcome these challenges, translating internal and customer requirements into actionable development roadmaps, driving execution from proof of concept through qualification and implementation. This role serves as a key technical interface between HTA, our local customer, HHT and key Hitachi group company internal engineering and development organizations, ensuring current customer needs are addressed while proactively and collaboratively identifying and developing solutions for future technology nodes requirements. Director will also be involved in driving digital services development, commercialization and customer adoption. While primarily focused on SED solutions, Director will also be required to actively seek to collaborate with MAD on both HW and digital services. The position combines hardware and design development leadership, cross-functional program management, strategic planning and commercial enablement towards business expansion. Travel to Japan and other locations will be necessary to build relationships and drive strategic programs of key importance to all Hitachi stakeholders.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in engineering, materials science, chemistry, physics, or a related technical field.
15+ years of experience in semiconductor manufacturing, process development, applications engineering, equipment/process engineering, or a related technical discipline.
Experience leading cross-functional teams and driving alignment on strategic priorities, business objectives, and organizational initiatives.
Experience supporting Hitachi or similar semiconductor industry customers.
Experience developing technology roadmaps and translating customer requirements into internal R&D programs.
In depth knowledge of internal semiconductor customer processes and commercial decision making methodologies.
Proven strategic commercial experience mindset, experience in and knowledge of business expansion strategies.
Strong understanding of semiconductor industry technology trends and customer development cycles.
Demonstrated experience influencing cross-functional organizations without direct authority.
Experience managing strategic customer relationships and long-term technical partnerships.
Requires the ability to travel domestically and internationally, as needed.
Demonstrated experience leading technical development programs from initial concept through customer qualification and implementation, against tight deadlines.
Strong experience working directly with semiconductor customers and their technical organizations.
Experience managing cross-functional technical teams and multiple development programs.
Strong understanding of semiconductor manufacturing processes, process integration, and customer technology requirements.
Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
Ability to operate effectively in a technically complex, customer-facing, and highly cross-functional environment.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree or Ph.D. in a relevant technical discipline is preferred, or an equivalent combination of education and related experience.
Financial – formal financial qualifications or MBA preferred.

Responsibilities

Analyze supply chain for disruption risks and business opportunities, working closely with HTA SCT and HHT KSD
Create and lead engineering team at HTA to identify CIP opportunities, investigate solutions around EOL parts, design hardware solutions and perform “proof of concept” at NCP/HTA; maintaining alignment with HTA SCT and HHT throughout, with HHT facilitating long term ECN/CIP/cut-in.
Investigate opportunities for commercial development of second source parts/systems business, working jointly with HTA SCT and HHT, to ensure viability
Regular interface with HTA customers to understand key equipment concerns; ongoing close communication with key group companies and HHT, collaborating on best known hardware solutions to manufacturability concerns of all customers, eliminating duplication of effort, minimizing toolset configuration variations where possible; driving improvements and insertion roadmaps with regular report out to key Hitachi stakeholders
Translate customer productivity and manufacturability challenges into executable hardware and design roadmaps. Establish development priorities, milestones, technical objectives, and success criteria for key programs. Drive internal teams to deliver on schedule and in line with business objectives and opportunities.
Work with account team to help drive digital services solution development and customer adoption
Role is focused on SED, but Director should actively seek to collaborate with MAD on both HW and digital services
Maintain a forward-looking understanding of customer technology roadmaps and anticipated hardware and design challenges.
Translate customer technology roadmaps into proactive, actionable internal development plans.
Identify gaps between current capabilities and future customer requirements and develop strategies to close those gaps.
Support technology planning, resource requirements, capital needs, and development priorities associated with future customer programs.
Drive disciplined problem-solving and continuous improvement across all development activities.
Ensure customer commitments and development deliverables are clearly defined and effectively executed.
Direct and oversee hardware and design initiatives, providing technical and strategic leadership across project teams.
Communicate technical findings, recommendations, development plans, and status clearly to customers and internal stakeholders.
Build strong working relationships with customer and internal engineering and technical teams and establish credibility as a trusted development partner.
Lead, coach and develop engineers/technical staff in solutions development, customer engagement, and structured problem-solving.
Promote a customer-focused, collaborative, and results-oriented culture.
Develop and maintain strong relationships across Hitachi and internal organizational functions.
Represent the organization in customer meetings, technical reviews, development discussions, and strategic planning activities.