Site Lead

Inpho is a fast-growing Canadian startup, focused on developing cutting-edge optoelectronic solutions for next-generation communications, and photonic systems. Our mission is to lead the world in photonic chips for computing.

Inpho’s new class of opto-electronic chips is poised to revolutionize and disrupt the global optical interconnect market. Utilizing this new class of chips enables existing optical interconnect systems to be built at much lower cost; new architectures to be deployed that provide significantly higher price/performance; and a whole new generation of higher speed interconnect to be built that to date have been impossible.

We're looking for a Site Lead to take on a critical leadership role at our backend manufacturing site in Halifax. This person will build the team, stand up the manufacturing lines from the ground up, and then own day-to-day operations once the site is running.

The Site Lead will oversee all daily operations of a small backend semiconductor production site, ensuring manufacturing is safe, efficient, and high quality. This role owns production execution, equipment readiness, staffing, compliance, and cross-functional coordination with corporate engineering, supply chain, and quality teams. We're looking for a decisive leader with deep experience in semiconductor manufacturing environments, someone who can balance hands‑on problem solving with long‑term operational planning.

This is a leadership opportunity to run a focused, high-impact semiconductor production site — shaping operations, developing teams, and driving the performance of a facility that plays a critical role in delivering advanced technology products.

• Lead all production activities across wafer processing, assembly, test, or photonics manufacturing lines.
• Ensure daily output meets quality, yield, and delivery targets.
• Maintain a strong presence on the production floor, supporting operators, technicians, and engineers.

• Manage and develop a small cross functional team including production operators, equipment technicians, and support staff.
• Oversee staffing, training, performance management, and shift planning.
• Foster a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.

• Ensure all production equipment is maintained, calibrated, and operating at peak performance.
• Coordinate preventive maintenance, repairs, and upgrades with equipment engineering teams.
• Oversee facility needs including cleanroom operations, ESD controls, and environmental monitoring.

• Work closely with planning, supply chain, and contract manufacturing partners to align production schedules and material availability.
• Support new product introduction (NPI) builds, ensuring smooth integration into site operations.
• Monitor WIP, cycle times, and bottlenecks; implement corrective actions to maintain flow.

• Ensure adherence to semiconductor manufacturing standards, cleanroom protocols, and safety regulations.
• Partner with quality engineering to address defects, excursions, and yield issues.
• Maintain accurate documentation, SOPs, and audit readiness.
• Drive operational excellence through lean manufacturing, root cause analysis, and data driven decision making.
• Identify opportunities to improve throughput, reduce downtime, and enhance process stability.
• Lead small scale capital projects or equipment expansions as the site grows.

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, or related field.
• 7–10+ years of experience in semiconductor, photonics, or electronics manufacturing.
• Proven leadership experience managing production teams or small…