PLC Safety Program Manager

ASM•Phoenix, AZ

About The Position

ASM is seeking a Product Life Cycle (PLC) Safety Program Manager to lead product safety activities throughout the full product lifecycle, from concept and design through development, qualification, production release, and field deployment. The role ensures semiconductor equipment and new product platforms meet applicable safety requirements, regulatory standards, customer requirements, and internal specifications at every stage of development. The manager partners with Engineering, Technical Product Management, Quality, Manufacturing, Facilities, and Service teams to identify safety risks, drive mitigation strategies, and ensure safety-critical issues are resolved before product release and shipment. The role requires technical leadership in product safety, risk assessment, compliance, and cross-functional collaboration, with sufficient independence and authority to escalate unresolved risks and recommend withholding phase-gate approval, product release, or shipment when objective safety requirements have not been met.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Safety Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
At least 5 years of experience in product safety, equipment engineering, systems engineering, regulatory compliance, or semiconductor equipment development.
Experience conducting structured hazard analyses and risk assessments.
Working knowledge of risk-management methodologies such as FMEA, Fault Tree Analysis (FTA), hazard analysis, and risk-reduction techniques.
Experience reviewing complex electromechanical systems for safety risks and compliance requirements.
Ability to interpret engineering drawings, schematics, specifications, and technical documentation.
Strong communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.
Demonstrated ability to identify safety risks and drive corrective actions to closure.
Sound technical judgment, strong influencing skills, and ability to drive safety excellence across cross-functional teams.

Nice To Haves

Experience with semiconductor capital equipment or other complex industrial systems.
Knowledge of semiconductor equipment safety standards and frameworks, including SEMI S2.
Familiarity with NFPA 79, IEC 60204-1, UL/IEC product safety standards, CE requirements, and applicable SEMI standards.
Experience with gas delivery systems, chemical handling systems, vacuum systems, RF systems, robotics, high-voltage equipment, heating systems, and safety interlocks.
Experience supporting New Product Introduction (NPI) programs and formal phase-gate product development processes.
Experience working with third-party certification organizations such as UL, TÜV, or Intertek.
Experience translating regulatory and safety requirements into engineering specifications and design requirements.

Responsibilities

Own and drive product safety requirements across all Product Life Cycle (PLC) phases.
Represent Product Safety in concept, design, alpha, beta, and product release/tollgate reviews.
Lead and coordinate product safety risk assessments, including hazard analysis; FMEA; electrical, mechanical, chemical and gas, thermal and fire, pressure and vacuum, radiation, laser and RF hazards as applicable; and ergonomic and serviceability assessments.
Ensure product designs comply with applicable semiconductor equipment safety standards, customer requirements, and internal specifications.
Drive resolution of safety-related design issues, corrective actions, and risk mitigation plans before phase-gate approvals.
Define safety acceptance criteria and establish objective evidence required for product release.
Evaluate engineering changes for potential impacts to product safety and regulatory compliance.
Partner with Design Engineering teams to integrate safety requirements into system architecture, hardware, software, interlocks, and protective controls.
Support third-party testing, certification, and regulatory compliance assessments as required.
Review safety-related incidents and field issues and ensure lessons learned are incorporated into future product designs.
Maintain product safety documentation, risk assessments, test records, compliance evidence, and approval documentation.
Escalate unresolved safety concerns that may affect employee safety, customer safety, product shipment, or phase-gate approval.
Serve as the subject matter expert for product safety across engineering and program teams.
Recommend withholding phase-gate approval, product release, or product shipment when objective safety requirements have not been met.