Industrialisation Project Manager
LIGENTEC · Ecublens, Switzerland
About us
We're a multicultural team of experts pushing the boundaries of what's possible in integrated optics. Our mission is to make photonic integration accessible and industrially scalable. We deliver best-in-class PIC platforms, design enablement, and integrated solutions that empower our customers to innovate faster and bring light-based technologies from concept to production.
About the role
As our Industrialisation Project Manager, you will lead technical innovation to scale LIGENTEC’s Thin-Film Lithium Niobate (TFLN) platform to high-volume commercial manufacturing. Reporting directly to the Head of Industrialisation, PMO & Quality, you will be the driving force bridging advanced R&D, process engineering, external foundries, and executive leadership. In this high-impact position, you will orchestrate complex New Product Introduction (NPI) roadmaps, establish PMO best practices, and deliver robust, high-yield manufacturing processes that bring next-generation integrated photonics to global markets.
Key Responsibilities
* Lead TFLN Scale-Up & NPI Initiatives: Drive the end-to-end transition of Thin-Film Lithium Niobate technology from pilot stage to high-volume, high-yield wafer-scale manufacturing, keeping customer technical specifications and market needs front and center.
* Full-Lifecycle Project Ownership: Define scope, budget, work packages, milestones, and critical-path schedules; proactively identify technical bottlenecks and implement robust risk mitigation plans to maintain project velocity.
* Strategic Partner & Foundry Management: Manage technical and commercial relationships with external foundries, supply chain partners, and equipment vendors. Define statements of work (SOWs), conduct on-site technical audits, and lead contract negotiations.
* Cross-Functional & Executive Alignment: Serve as the central communication bridge across R&D, process engineering, operations, and the executive leadership team to guarantee resource alignment and strategic execution.
* PMO Excellence & Quality Standards: Institutionalize standard project management methodologies, stage-gate reviews, and KPI dashboards. Integrate semiconductor/automotive quality and manufacturing standards to ensure operational excellence.
What you bring
* Educational Background: Advanced degree (Master’s or Ph.D.) in Photonics, Microelectronics, Semiconductor Physics, Materials Science, or a related engineering discipline.
* Semiconductor & Photonics Expertise: Demonstrated hands-on track record in semiconductor or photonic integrated circuit (PIC) fabrication and manufacturing environments; specific familiarity with Thin-Film Lithium Niobate (TFLN) and/or Silicon Nitride (SiN) platforms is a strong advantage.
* NPI & Quality Track Record: Solid experience in New Product Introduction (NPI), yield ramp-up, and wafer-level fabrication scaling, with an appreciation for automotive or industrial semiconductor quality standards.
* Proven Project Leadership: Demonstrated ability to manage multi-stakeholder, technically complex hardware and process development initiatives from design transfer through full commercial deployment (PMP, Prince2, or Agile certification is a plus).
* Vendor & Partner Collaboration: Confidence in managing external strategic partners and foundries, including contract scoping, technical specifications, and willingness to travel for on-site reviews and audits.
* Agility & Communication: Resilient problem solver who thrives in a fast-paced, high-growth deep-tech scale-up environment; fluent professional English is required, and knowledge of French is a valuable asset.
What we offer
A dynamic role at the heart of the deep-tech revolution where your technical expertise directly impacts product adoption. You will join an international team of specialists, gain deep exposure to market-leading photonic applications, and shape how photonic integration is deployed worldwide.
Practicalities
* Location: Lausanne / Ecublens, Switzerland (on-site).
* Work percentage: 100%.
* Languages: English is our working language; French or other languages are a plus.
* Home office: Up to two days per week.
* Start date: As soon as possible.
We are an equal-opportunity employer and welcome applications from all backgrounds.
Please note that we do not accept applications or CVs sent via email; submit yours directly through our career page as soon as possible.
If you have any questions, reach out to Manal Mohamed, HR Business Partner, at manal.mohamed@ligentec.com