Director of Engineering – Semiconductor Photonics

At YST Semiconductor Technology Corporation, we develop next-generation laser chips and photodiodes that power data centers, fiber networks, and AI infrastructure. Based in Vancouver, Washington, we combine deep technical expertise with a practical, hands-on approach to building precision photonics solutions. When you join our team, you’ll work in a collaborative environment where engineering excellence, reliability, and accountable execution guide how we work.

We’re committed to delivering semiconductor technology our customers can depend on and following through on our promises.

The Director of Engineering provides technical direction and people leadership for YST’s compound semiconductor photonics engineering activities. This role guides semiconductor laser and photodiode development, fabrication process integration, manufacturing engineering, and chip characterization and testing to support optical technologies for AI infrastructure, data centers, and next-generation networks.

The Director translates business and product priorities into engineering plans, develops engineers and technical leaders, and helps move technologies from research and development into repeatable manufacturing. The role combines technical judgment with responsibility for team growth, engineering execution, product performance, and continuous improvement.

• Develop engineering roadmaps, priorities, milestones, staffing plans, and resource recommendations aligned with YST’s business goals.
• Lead technical reviews and resolve engineering tradeoffs involving device performance, manufacturability, reliability, cost, and schedule.
• Coordinate work across device, process, equipment, and test engineering; establish clear ownership and communicate progress, risks, and decisions to leadership.

• Provide technical leadership for InP and GaAs semiconductor lasers and photodiodes, including DFB, EML, VCSEL, PD, and APD technologies, as applicable to YST’s product roadmap.
• Guide device and process development through understanding of semiconductor materials, epitaxial structures, optical and electrical behavior, and fabrication interactions.
• Lead engineering problem solving across relevant fabrication steps, including lithography, etching, deposition, metallization, passivation, and device finishing; coordinate specialist expertise where needed.
• Partner with Operations and engineering teams on process transfer, equipment qualification, manufacturing readiness, and production ramp activities.

• Direct wafer-level and die-level characterization, test methods, test limits, and data analysis to verify laser and photodiode performance.
• Guide evaluation of relevant characteristics such as laser threshold current, optical output power, wavelength and spectral behavior, detector responsivity, dark current, breakdown behavior, and bandwidth.
• Ensure test repeatability, calibration, traceability, and correlation between development and production measurements; support test automation and throughput improvements.
• Partner with Quality and engineering specialists on qualification, burn-in and accelerated life testing where appropriate, failure analysis, and corrective action.
• Connect chip performance to customer applications and coordinate technical support for product integration and application-related issues.

• Use design of experiments, statistical process control, and structured root cause analysis to improve yield, process capability, consistency, and cost.
• Establish engineering documentation, review practices, process specifications, and change controls that support reproducible manufacturing and technology…