thrively
Overview
Foundry Engineering Lead role description provided by Thrively on behalf of a client in the photonics/semiconductor space. The company is a well-funded startup developing optical circuit switch technology to enable direct optical connections among GPUs and memory units in AI/data center environments. The opportunity focuses on owning the foundry process from prototype to high-volume manufacturing, acting as the key liaison between internal design teams and external foundry partners to fabricate, scale, and bring silicon photonics designs into reliable production. The Role: Foundry Engineering Lead
This is a role for someone who thrives at the intersection of technical problem-solving, program management, and relationship building, with the opportunity to make an immediate and lasting impact. What You’ll Do Foundry Management & Process Flow Serve as the primary technical contact for silicon photonics foundries. Manage the full lifecycle of designs, from initial tape-out to volume manufacturing. Oversee seamless flow of product across multiple fabs, ensuring efficiency and alignment. Risk Mitigation & Problem Solving Proactively identify and mitigate risks in fabrication and process integration. Troubleshoot issues during engineering runs and production ramp-up. Act as liaison between foundry process engineers and internal design teams. Project Tracking & Coordination Track and report progress of designs through fabrication. Provide coordination and technical guidance to align all stakeholders. What We’re Looking For
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, or related field. 7+ years in the semiconductor industry with direct experience in foundry management and process integration. Proven success moving new silicon photonics designs through foundries into production. Deep understanding of semiconductor fabrication processes; CMOS and MEMS experience preferred. Strong record of risk management, problem-solving, and delivering results. Excellent project management and communication skills. Nice-to-Have Skills
Advanced packaging and integration experience. Familiarity with SPC and quality management systems. Background in fabless or semiconductor design companies. Competitive base salary: $165,000 – $220,000 annually (commensurate with experience). Equity opportunity in a rapidly scaling company. Comprehensive benefits and a culture of innovation. Why This Role Is Exciting
This is not just a foundry management role—it’s a chance to be part of a small, agile, deeply technical team solving one of AI’s most pressing infrastructure bottlenecks. As Foundry Engineering Lead, you’ll directly influence how the world’s largest data centers scale and operate in the years to come. About Thrively
Thrively is a recruiting partner to some of the world’s most innovative technology companies. We’ve been trusted to help scale leadership and technical teams across software, data, AI, and hardware. We’re excited to represent this client in their search for a Foundry Engineering Lead and to connect top talent with this transformative opportunity. Job Details
Seniority level: Mid-Senior level Employment type: Full-time Industries: Semiconductor Manufacturing, Data Infrastructure and Analytics, Computers and Electronics Manufacturing Note: This job description is a sanitized representation for evaluation purposes and may include related context on compensation and market comparisons.
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Foundry Engineering Lead role description provided by Thrively on behalf of a client in the photonics/semiconductor space. The company is a well-funded startup developing optical circuit switch technology to enable direct optical connections among GPUs and memory units in AI/data center environments. The opportunity focuses on owning the foundry process from prototype to high-volume manufacturing, acting as the key liaison between internal design teams and external foundry partners to fabricate, scale, and bring silicon photonics designs into reliable production. The Role: Foundry Engineering Lead
This is a role for someone who thrives at the intersection of technical problem-solving, program management, and relationship building, with the opportunity to make an immediate and lasting impact. What You’ll Do Foundry Management & Process Flow Serve as the primary technical contact for silicon photonics foundries. Manage the full lifecycle of designs, from initial tape-out to volume manufacturing. Oversee seamless flow of product across multiple fabs, ensuring efficiency and alignment. Risk Mitigation & Problem Solving Proactively identify and mitigate risks in fabrication and process integration. Troubleshoot issues during engineering runs and production ramp-up. Act as liaison between foundry process engineers and internal design teams. Project Tracking & Coordination Track and report progress of designs through fabrication. Provide coordination and technical guidance to align all stakeholders. What We’re Looking For
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, or related field. 7+ years in the semiconductor industry with direct experience in foundry management and process integration. Proven success moving new silicon photonics designs through foundries into production. Deep understanding of semiconductor fabrication processes; CMOS and MEMS experience preferred. Strong record of risk management, problem-solving, and delivering results. Excellent project management and communication skills. Nice-to-Have Skills
Advanced packaging and integration experience. Familiarity with SPC and quality management systems. Background in fabless or semiconductor design companies. Competitive base salary: $165,000 – $220,000 annually (commensurate with experience). Equity opportunity in a rapidly scaling company. Comprehensive benefits and a culture of innovation. Why This Role Is Exciting
This is not just a foundry management role—it’s a chance to be part of a small, agile, deeply technical team solving one of AI’s most pressing infrastructure bottlenecks. As Foundry Engineering Lead, you’ll directly influence how the world’s largest data centers scale and operate in the years to come. About Thrively
Thrively is a recruiting partner to some of the world’s most innovative technology companies. We’ve been trusted to help scale leadership and technical teams across software, data, AI, and hardware. We’re excited to represent this client in their search for a Foundry Engineering Lead and to connect top talent with this transformative opportunity. Job Details
Seniority level: Mid-Senior level Employment type: Full-time Industries: Semiconductor Manufacturing, Data Infrastructure and Analytics, Computers and Electronics Manufacturing Note: This job description is a sanitized representation for evaluation purposes and may include related context on compensation and market comparisons.
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