Global SQE Director for Foundry

Job Description

The Foundry Supplier Quality Eng Director is a strategic leadership role responsible for establishing and maintaining the quality standards of semiconductor wafer suppliers, ensuring product consistency, and driving continuous improvement through supplier assessments, audits, and corrective action processes. This leadership role entails heading Renesas global Foundry Supplier Quality Engineers team located in US, Europe and various locations in Asia. Key responsibilities include developing and executing global quality strategies, ensuring compliance with industry certifications like ISO 9001, managing supplier performance metrics, and collaborating with internal teams to secure quality-aligned contracts and drive innovation.

The director also champions a quality-focused culture and mentors the internal quality team to achieve world-class quality levels for wafer fabrication. This role requires both supplier and direct customer support of Supplier Quality Systems through identification and evaluation of key process metrics, verification of Renesas specific requirements, support of Quality and risk mitigation activities and continuous improvement. Additional responsibilities include serving as a regional liaison for subcontracted foundry manufacturing operations providing support on Quality documentation and implementation of best-known-practices.

Individual ensures that established manufacturing inspection, sampling and statistical process control procedures are followed. May assure compliance to in-house and/or external specifications and standards, such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and IATF 16949 requirements.

• Strategic Leadership
  :
  Develop and implement global quality strategies for wafer suppliers that align with corporate objectives and ensure product quality.
• Supplier Management
  :
  Lead the development and management of wafer suppliers, including performance monitoring, quality assessments, and driving corrective actions to improve quality.
• Quality Systems
  :
  Oversee the implementation and adherence to comprehensive quality management systems, including ISO 9001 and other relevant industry standards, across the supply chain.
• Continuous Improvement
  :
  Champion continuous improvement initiatives, coaching suppliers on operational excellence, Root Cause Corrective Action (RCCA), and Lean Six Sigma methodologies.
• Supplier Development
  :
  Conduct regular supplier assessments, audits, and performance reviews to identify gaps and drive improvement plans for cost, delivery, and defect reduction.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
  :
  Partner with internal teams such as sourcing, engineering, manufacturing, and R&D to ensure viable quality strategies and resolve quality issues within the supply base.
• Reporting and Metrics
  :
  Track and report key supplier quality metrics, such as defect rates, cost of poor quality, and corrective action closure rates, to internal stakeholders and leadership.
• Team Leadership
  :
  Manage, mentor, and develop the internal wafer quality engineering team to achieve fab operation goals.

• Technical Expertise
  :
  Broad knowledge of semiconductor fabrication processes, device physics, and quality control.
• Quality Methodologies
  :
  Proven expertise in quality management systems, continuous improvement tools (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma), root cause analysis (e.g., 8D), and statistical process control (SPC).
• Leadership
  :
  Demonstrated experience in leading quality initiatives, managing cross-cultural teams, and fostering a culture of quality excellence.
• Audit Experience
  :
  Proficiency in conducting supplier audits, validating corrective actions, and performing FAIR (First Article Inspection Report) and PPAP (Production Part Approval Process) reviews.
• Communication
  :
  Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills to effectively manage relationships with suppliers and internal teams across different geographies.
• Industry Knowledge
  :
  Experience in the semiconductor industry, with an understanding of relevant certifications and quality requirements.

Renesas is one of the top global semiconductor companies in the world. We strive to develop a safer, healthier, greener, and smarter world, and our goal is to make every endpoint intelligent by offering product solutions in the automotive, industrial, infrastructure and IoT markets. Our robust product portfolio…