Front-End Processing Manager

HRL Laboratories•Camarillo, CA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

HRL Laboratories, an IBM company, pioneers physical and information science and develops technologies for automotive, aerospace, and defense applications. The Front-End Processing Manager oversees front-end manufacturing operations, coordinates internal stakeholders and external foundry partners, and ensures production efficiency, quality, and continuous improvement. The role works within a hybrid operating model that combines internal manufacturing and engineering capabilities with external partners. Success is measured by operational reliability, partner coordination, and achievement of quality, yield, capacity, cost, and delivery targets. The manager oversees internal front-end facility planning, staffing, equipment, process control, and improvement. The role also coordinates schedules, requirements, and deliverables with stakeholders and foundry partners; sustains R&D and production activities; manages mask design processes and production documentation; and balances metrology needs against schedule, cost, and throughput. The position reports directly to the Director of Manufacturing.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related field.
Experience managing semiconductor or advanced manufacturing front-end operations.
Strong understanding of process control, production planning, yield improvement, and quality systems.
Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage external partners.
US citizenship and the ability to obtain and maintain a US Government security clearance.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree.

Responsibilities

Manage internal front-end facility planning, staffing, equipment, process control, and improvement.
Coordinate schedules, requirements, and deliverables with internal stakeholders and external foundry partners.
Monitor KPIs across safety, quality, yield, cycle time, cost, and delivery.
Drive root-cause analysis and corrective actions for production issues.
Oversee the mask design process, including lifecycle management, cross-functional inputs, accuracy checks, schedule alignment, supplier performance, and documentation control.
Sustain R&D and production activities and ensure smooth transitions between development and manufacturing phases.
Balance metrology requirements with production schedules and cost constraints while maintaining measurement rigor and throughput.
Own and maintain internal production travelers and work instructions, ensuring accuracy, version control, and proper approvals.
Develop, define, and manage specifications and Statements of Work for external foundry and fabrication partners, aligning them with technical requirements, quality expectations, and delivery schedules.