The impact you'll makeThe Controls Engineering Director will lead the global hardware, firmware, and FPGA engineering organization responsible for Lam's equipment control systems across multiple product platforms. This leader will own the strategy, development, qualification, release, and lifecycle management of control-system products, including new product introduction, customer requirements, obsolescence management, sustaining engineering, and resolution of complex product issues.
The role will partner across Product Groups, Systems Engineering, Software Engineering, Platform Engineering, Global Product Support, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Field Service, suppliers, and customers to deliver reliable, scalable, and customer-ready equipment control solutions.
What you'll do- Lead and develop a global engineering organization responsible for equipment controls hardware, embedded firmware, and FPGA design across multiple Lam product platforms.
- Own technology strategy, architecture, roadmaps, development, qualification, release, and lifecycle management for controls products and platforms.
- Drive delivery of controller platforms, circuit boards, FPGA-based logic, communication interfaces, sensor and I/O systems, and associated firmware.
- Align engineering plans and investments with Product Group roadmaps, customer requirements, product quality, cost, schedule, and long-term platform strategy.
- Lead new product introduction and sustaining engineering, including design reviews, verification and validation, release readiness, field deployment, and corrective actions.
- Own obsolescence and technology-refresh strategies for control-system hardware, electronic components, FPGA devices, firmware platforms, and communication technologies.
- Drive system-level root-cause analysis and corrective action for complex issues spanning hardware, firmware, FPGA logic, communications, electrical interfaces, and equipment integration.
- Partner globally with Product Groups, Systems Engineering, Software Engineering, Platform Engineering, Global Product Support, Field Service, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, suppliers, and customers to deliver integrated solutions.
- Establish engineering practices that improve product reliability, diagnostics, serviceability, reuse, and commonality across Lam equipment platforms.
- Recruit, coach, and develop engineering managers and technical leaders while building a culture of technical excellence, accountability, and predictable execution.
- Communicate technical direction, product risks, release readiness, and recovery plans clearly to executive leaders, internal stakeholders, suppliers, and customers.
- Support critical customer engagements and travel to Lam and customer locations as required.
Who we're looking for- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electronics Engineering, or a related technical field with 15+ years of relevant experience; or a Master's degree with 12+ years of relevant experience; or equivalent experience.
- At least 7 years of engineering leadership experience, including leadership of managers, technical leads, or multidisciplinary engineering teams.
- Demonstrated experience leading hardware, embedded firmware, and FPGA-based product development through the full product lifecycle.
- Strong knowledge of electronic control systems, board-level design, processor and FPGA architectures, real-time embedded systems, and industrial communication interfaces.
- Experience delivering complex products through architecture, design, implementation, verification, qualification, release, sustaining, and obsolescence phases.
- Proven ability to lead system-level troubleshooting and root-cause analysis across hardware, firmware, FPGA, electrical interfaces, and equipment integration.
- Strong executive, customer, and cross-functional communication skills, including the ability to communicate technical direction, risks, priorities, and recovery plans clearly.
Preferred qualifications- Experience with semiconductor capital equipment, industrial automation, or other high-reliability equipment.
- Experience with FPGA design languages and development environments, such as Verilog, SystemVerilog, or VHDL.
- Experience with processor, memory, and communication interfaces, including SPI, I2C, Ethernet, PCIe, DDR, or eMMC.
- Experience with industrial control and sensor buses such as EtherCAT, Lonworks, DeviceNet, or equivalent technologies.
- Experience with PCB architecture, schematic review, component selection, hardware validation, design verification, and product qualification.
- Experience with functional safety, programmable interlocks, or safety-critical equipment control systems.
- Experience leading globally distributed engineering teams and external engineering partners.
- Experience managing product obsolescence, redesign, supplier transitions, and long-lifecycle electronic systems.
- Experience supporting customer escalations, new product introductions, field deployments, and sustaining engineering for complex equipment platforms.
SalaryCA San Francisco Bay Area Salary Range for this position: $168,000.00 - $350,000.00.
The above salary range for this position is relevant to applicants that reside or work onsite in the California, San Francisco Bay Area only. Salary offers will depend on factors that include the location you work from, your level, education, training, specific skills, years of experience and comparison to other employees already in this role. Actual salary may vary from salary offered due to numerous factors including but not limited to unpaid time off, unpaid leave, company mandated shutdown, and other relevant factors.
Our Perks and BenefitsAt Lam, our people make amazing things possible. That's why we invest in you throughout the phases of your life with a comprehensive set of outstanding benefits.
