Senior Director of Epitaxy

Senior Director of Epitaxy

Pine Ave Office
- Goleta, CA 93117;
Kaiser Dr Office
- Fremont, CA 94555

Salary Range $ - $ Salary/year Level Senior Position Type Full Time

KYOCERA SLD Laser, Inc. (KSLD) is a global leader in the commercialization of gallium nitride (GaN) based laser light sources. As a wholly owned subsidiary of KYOCERA Corporation, KSLD combines advanced laser innovation with the strength, scale, and manufacturing excellence of a global technology leader.

KSLD develops and manufactures high performance Laser Light™ solutions engineered to deliver exceptional brightness, efficiency, and reliability. Our GaN laser technologies enable a wide range of applications, including automotive and mobility, specialty and portable lighting, projection and AR/VR displays, biomedical instrumentation, industrial imaging, and emerging communication technologies such as LiFi. With vertically integrated capabilities and deep technical expertise, KSLD collaborates closely with customers to deliver application specific laser solutions, accelerating development timelines from concept through production.

The company operates advanced R&D and manufacturing facilities in Santa Barbara, CA and Fremont, CA, supporting both innovation and high volume manufacturing needs.

KSLD is ISO 9001 certified and IATF 16949 compliant for automotive applications, and its products meet rigorous UL and IEC safety standards, reflecting a strong commitment to quality, safety, and reliability.

Recognized by Fortune magazine's Best Workplaces in Manufacturing & Production™, KSLD fosters an employee centric culture built on collaboration, technical excellence, and continuous innovation. Guided by a mission to engineer the future of light, KSLD develops laser based solutions that power next generation mobility, consumer, specialty lighting, and industrial technologies.

KSLD will continue to pioneer the future of light by developing, manufacturing and marketing innovative laser based products with high efficiency and luminance for mobility, specialty lighting, consumer, and industrial applications.

The Senior Director of Epitaxy leads the organization responsible for the manufacturing and engineering involved with the epitaxial deposition on GaN substrates. This role manages both the existing Goleta epitaxial operation as well as the emerging Fremont epitaxial team. The purpose is to lead direct reports, while also directly driving complex projects requiring in depth advanced technical expertise.

• Collaboration with Advanced Development to improve epitaxial technologies and implement solutions that meet product performance, yield, and cost targets.
• Capacity planning and reactor allocation between Operations and Advanced Development.
• Budget setting and budget management
• Provide leadership and experience, work directly with staff on development and execution of engineering projects, meeting timelines and objectives.
• Provide technical guidance and hands on support for complex engineering and execution challenges
• Recruit, develop, mentor, and retain a high performing epitaxial engineering and management staff.
• Mentor borderline performers and transition them into high contributors
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on yield, cost reduction, capacity increase, cycle time reduction, and product performance while contributing to the solutions.
• Manage interaction and communication with the substrate vendors by providing forecasts, cost targets and specifications.
• Be accountable for the production planning, the execution of the plan, and meeting established timelines.
• Actively contributes to problem solving and solution development

Demonstrate Experience and Leadership Skilled Consistent with Sr Level Director Role.

• Direct efforts for both production and engineering/ development initiatives
• Develop and implement organizational policies
• Identify and execute solutions to problems; take ownership for resolution within the organization
• Develop the ability to assess the situation, take perspective and take quick deliberate action
• Develop the ability to defend decisions without creating conflict; focus and act on what…