Program Manager, Test Vehicles

Natcast (short for The National Center for the Advancement of Semiconductor Technology) is a new, purpose-built, non-profit entity created to operate the National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC) consortium, established by the CHIPS Act of the U.S. government.

Working at Natcast represents an opportunity to help extend America’s leadership in semiconductor technology, significantly reduce the time and cost of moving from idea to commercialization, and build and sustain a semiconductor workforce development ecosystem.

These efforts to advance semiconductor technology and seed new industries built on the capabilities of a wide range of advanced chips hold the potential to benefit the country and the world for generations to come.

Program Manager, Test Vehicles

Remote to start, with the potential for headquarters and satellite offices in the future.

In this role, you will lead the strategic planning, execution, and delivery of innovative test vehicle programs that acceleratethe successful development, integration, and qualification of new semiconductor processes and technologies in a fast paced, rapid innovation environment.

Every day, you will collaborate with industry and academic research teams, device engineers, yield analysts, and cross-functional partners to define test vehicle requirements and manage their implementation from design through fabrication and characterization.

To thrive in this role, you must have a deep understanding of semiconductor technology development processes, strong project management skills, and the ability to drive execution in a dynamic environment.

Natcast is a new non-profit consortium created to operate the National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC) established by the CHIPS Act. We are bringing together industry, academia, and government to solve the most pressing challenges facing semiconductor research, development, and workforce training. Our efforts will re-establish American leadership in semiconductor technology and secure critical supply chains.

As the Program Manager for Test Vehicles, you will play a critical role in enabling the development and qualification of new semiconductor processes and technologies. With your expertise in process integration, device engineering, and test vehicle methodologies, you will develop strategic roadmaps, coordinate requirements capture, and manage the execution of test vehicle programs from design through characterization.

Responsibilities

• Develop strategic test vehicle roadmaps and program plans aligned with technology development milestones as aligned with the needs of established industry, start-ups, and academic researchers

• Coordinate with industry and academic researchers on process integration, device engineering, and yield teams to capture test structure requirements for new processes/technologies

• Define test chip specifications, design rules, and integration schemes in partnership with research teams

• Manage schedule, resources, and execution plans for test vehicle design cycles through tape-out

• Interface with manufacturing operations to plan and coordinate test vehicle fabrication runs

• Oversee electrical characterization, data analysis, and reporting activities for test vehicle data

• Drive timely closure of issues based on test vehicle learnings through process/integration refinements

• Establish methodologies and frameworks to enhance test vehicle efficiency and leverage

• Develop and deliver program communications to leadership and cross-functional stakeholders

Deliverables

• Test vehicle roadmaps, requirements, and specifications documents

• Test vehicle tape-out and fabrication schedules

• Electrical and physical characterization test plans

• Detailed test data reports and analysis

• Presentations summarizing test vehicle learnings and recommendations

• Metrics and reports tracking program performance

Required Skills and Experience

• Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Materials Science, or related field

• 10+ years of experience in semiconductor process integration or technology development

• Direct experience managing test vehicle programs

• Solid understanding of semiconductor FEOL, BEOL, and patterning unit processes, device physics, and characterization in both leading edge and legacy nodes

• Experience with test vehicle design, including circuit design, design for test (DFT), layout, verification, tape-out and mask making, use, and integration

• Familiarity with electrical and physical characterization methodologies, including wafer auto-probe and parametric testing

• Experience with statistical analysis, design of experiments, and data modeling techniques, and yield analysis

• Excellent project management skills with ability to manage multiple parallel programs

• Strong technical communication skills to interface cross-functionally

• Proficiency with data analysis tools and technical document authoring

• Self-motivated with ability to drive execution in a dynamic environment

Preferred Qualifications

• PhD in Electrical Engineering, Material Science, or related field

• Device simulation, modeling, and TCAD expertise

• Prior experience with FinFET, GAA (Gate All Around) transistor architectures

• Prior experience with Cu, backside interconnect

• Extensive knowledge of semiconductor manufacturing operations

• Prior experience in semiconductor manufacturing environment including:

  • Test chip packaging and packaged part testing

  • Semiconductor reliability and reliability characterization techniques

  • Significant experience in maturing technologies through the lab-to-fab gap, from early R&D to commercial viability

Natcast is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, or any protected attribute. We encourage qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply and join us in our mission. If you require accommodation at any stage of the application process due to a disability, please let us know.

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