Director, Quality - Semiconductors

Ayar Labs•San Jose, CA

11d•$180,000 - $230,000•Onsite

About The Position

Ayar Labs is seeking a strategic and technical Director of Quality to lead our global quality organization. As a fabless semiconductor and module company, our success relies on the seamless orchestration of external partners. You will be the primary custodian and champion of our existing Quality Management System (QMS), ensuring it evolves alongside our technology and that our Contract Manufacturers (CMs), Foundries, and OSATs adhere strictly to our established standards. This role requires a unique blend of expertise across Silicon Foundries, Optical/Laser Modules (ELSFP), and Software Quality, with a heavy emphasis on external partner management and the rigorous maintenance of organizational compliance.

Requirements

Experience: 12+ years in Quality Engineering/Operations, with 5+ years in a senior leadership role in the semiconductor and/or electronics industries.
QMS Proficiency: Deep experience managing and auditing an established QMS (ISO 9001 or IATF 16949). Experience with Quality Management Software (e.g., Arena, Propel, or ETQ) is highly preferred.
Fabless Expertise: Deep experience managing quality through External Foundries, OSATs, and Tier 1 Contract Manufacturers.
Technical Breadth: Strong understanding of Semiconductor manufacturing and advanced packaging. Familiarity with Photonics or Laser Module assembly (ELSFP) and high-precision alignment. Knowledge of Software Quality Assurance for embedded systems.
Education: BS/MS in Electrical Engineering, Optical Sciences, Physics, or a related technical discipline.

Responsibilities

QMS Stewardship & Continuous Improvement System Optimization: Own and evolve the existing Ayar Labs QMS (ISO 9001 based). Continually refine SOPs and Work Instructions to eliminate bottlenecks and reflect the increasing complexity of optical-semiconductor integration.
Internal & External Audit Program: Lead the annual audit calendar. Conduct internal process audits and external supplier audits to ensure the QMS is being followed "on the floor" and not just on paper.
Corrective & Preventive Action (CAPA): Manage the high-level CAPA system. Analyze trends across the QMS to identify systemic weaknesses and drive cross-functional projects to resolve them.
Management Review: Lead regular Quality Management Reviews (QMR) with the executive team, providing data-driven insights into the health of the QMS and our quality posture.
PDP Gatekeeper: Own the "Stage-Gate" process for all hardware and software products. Ensure that no product moves from R&D to production without meeting the maturity metrics defined in our QMS.
FMEA Leadership: Drive comprehensive DFMEA (Design) and PFMEA (Process) sessions. Ensure that risk mitigation strategies are documented and traceable within the QMS framework.
Supplier Governance: Ensure all external partners (Foundries, OSATs, CMs) are onboarded and managed according to QMS requirements.
IQC/OQC Strategy: Define and enforce Incoming/Outgoing Quality Control requirements. This includes setting inspection criteria for high-precision optical components and establishing "Golden Unit" benchmarks.
8D/SCAR Management: Hold partners accountable for the 8D process. Use the QMS to track Supplier Corrective Action Reports (SCAR) and ensure permanent systemic fixes are implemented at partner sites.
Yield & SPC Monitoring: Establish real-time data hooks into our partners. Monitor Statistical Process Control (SPC) and First Pass Yield (FPY) to proactively identify trends before they become field issues.
On-site Oversight: Manage a schedule of periodic business reviews (QBRs) and "spot-checks" at partner sites to ensure strict adherence to the Ayar Labs Quality Manual.
SQA Ecosystem: Maintain quality gates for firmware and software stacks. Ensure software release processes are integrated into the broader QMS for full hardware-software traceability.