Reliability Engineering Manager

Job Summary

We are seeking a hands‑on Reliability Engineering leader to establish, own, and execute reliability engineering for an InP‑based III‑V photonic semiconductor manufacturing operation producing optical amplifiers, laser diodes, and related photonic devices. This role serves as the single source of truth for product performance, reliability, and wear‑out behavior across new product introduction, qualification, and high‑volume manufacturing.

Key Responsibilities

• Reliability Leadership & Ownership (Hands‑On at All Levels)

• Establish and lead the Reliability Engineering function for SPPOwn reliability requirements, targets, and performance for all InP‑based photonic products
• Serve as the authoritative owner of reliability data, conclusions, and risk assessments
• Define and maintain reliability specifications, qualification targets, MTFF / FIT goals, and end‑of‑life criteria, define and execute in-process testing and screening
• Set technical direction and personally review or execute critical analyses and conclusions
• Telcordia Qualification & Accelerated Life Testing
• Hands‑on planning, execution, analysis, and reporting of accelerated life tests (HTOL, aging, step‑stress, etc.) per Telcordia GR‑468
• Lead Telcordia qualification programs from initial strategy through customer acceptance
• Perform or directly oversee degradation modeling and life‑test statistics
• Ensure technical rigor and defensibility of all qualification conclusions
• Degradation Physics & Wear‑Out Mechanisms
• Lead deep understanding of degradation physics specific to III‑V (InP) compound semiconductor photonic devices
• Identify, model, and mitigate dominant wear‑out mechanisms in lasers and optical amplifiers
• Correlate reliability behavior to material properties, epitaxial growth conditions, device design, and process variation
• Translate physics‑based insight into concrete design, process, and screening actions
• Yield Improvement, Failure Analysis & Corrective Action
• Lead hands‑on yield and reliability improvement initiatives using structured methodologies:
• Defect Pareto analysis
• Wafer mapping and spatial correlation
• Inline parametric data correlation across epitaxy, wafer fab, chip fabrication, and CoC assembly
• Perform or directly guide detailed failure analysis and root cause investigations
• Own 8D corrective actions for reliability issues, ensuring durable and verified closure
• Partner with Operations, R&D, and Corporate FA to drive prevention, not just containment
• Data, Reporting & Executive Communication
• Develop dashboards and structured reporting for:
• Reliability performance and trends
• Yield loss mechanisms
• Life‑test and degradation behavior
• Communicate clear technical recommendations to executive leadership
• Influence decisions through data, modeling, and engineering judgment
• Corporate Quality & FA Collaboration
• Align local reliability practices with Corporate Quality Systems
• Interface with Corporate Failure Analysis teams on escalated or complex issues
• Ensure consistency between SPP practices and corporate quality frameworks
• Support internal, external, and customer audits
• Act as the primary SPP reliability representative in corporate initiatives

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in physics, Materials Science, or related field required
• MS or PhD strongly preferred, particularly in compound semiconductor physics and devices
• 10+ years of reliability experience in III‑V compound semiconductor photonic devices
• Direct, hands‑on experience with Telcordia GR‑468 qualification planning, execution, analysis, and reporting
• Deep expertise in compound III/V semiconductor material systems (particularly InP/InGaAsP/InGaAs/AlGaInP), epitaxial growth defects, and reliability impact
• Strong understanding of degradation physics and wear‑out mechanisms for lasers and optical amplifiers
• Hands‑on or advanced working knowledge of FA techniques:SEM / EDSFIB cross‑sectioningEBIC, PEMOBIC / OBIRCHElectroluminescence mapping
• Proficiency in reliability statistics:Weibull and lognormal modelingDegradation modelingSPC and control chartingDoE
• Experience with JMP, Minitab, Python, R, and advanced data analysis using machine learning and AI tools
• Leadership Competencies
• Strong analytical and structured problem-solving mindset
• High level of objectivity and data-driven decision making
• Effective communicator across technical and operational teams
• Comfortable operating in a fast-scaling environment

Desired Qualifications

• Cleanroom semiconductor fab experience
• Environmental and mechanical reliability testing:Experience with the following:
• Thermal cycling
• HAST / THB
• Mechanical shock and vibration
• Optical device characterization:LIV curvesSpectral / wavelength stabilityNear‑field / far‑field analysis
• Electroluminescence mapping
• Fiber‑coupled device testing under stress conditions
• Industry visibility preferred (publications, conferences, standards committees)

Role Scope & Leveling Clarification

• This role may be filled at the Manager or Sr. Manager, based on experience, judgment, and demonstrated scope.
• All levels are expected to remain hands‑on, personally engaged in reliability analysis, qualification, and problem solving.
• Organizational build‑out will be incremental; this is not a pre‑staffed leadership role.
• Success depends on the ability to execute personally first, then scale influences and capability over time.