Equipment Director

Bold Thinking. World Changing. At SkyWater, our ingenuity helps improve lives around the world by manufacturing U.S. made semiconductors that are essential ingredients of modern life. Automotive safety enhancements, life-saving medical devices, consumer electronics and American security require semiconductors. Working in our Minnesota headquarters or Florida location, employees join together to improve the world.


Explore what’s possible. Joining our U.S. - based team means contributing to and learning about the commercialization of some of the most exciting technologies the world has ever seen. We are turning “science fiction” into everyday reality through technologies such as superconducting, 3D integrated circuits or computer chips, carbon nanotubes, photonic logic devices, micro electro-mechanical systems and other emerging device topologies. We manufacture products for aerospace and defense, medical, automotive, consumer and industrial markets, to name a few. Our customers include emerging leaders who rely on our intellectual property security and quality manufacturing services.


Step into the future. SkyWater’s values of Integrity, Excellence, Collaboration, Empowerment and Growth Mindset guide us to cultivate an empowered, learning environment. We also invest in developing highly skilled, dedicated employees — and employees who are entering the workforce for the first time, from the military, and a variety of educational backgrounds.


Are you bold thinking? Find your place on our team and help us change the world!


The Director of Equipment Maintenance is responsible for developing and executing strategic maintenance initiatives to optimize equipment performance, reliability, and cost efficiency in a high-volume manufacturing and development environment. This role provides leadership across all modules, ensuring compliance with safety and industry standards while driving continuous improvement through data-driven decision-making. Additionally, the director oversees capital planning, vendor management, and cost-reduction strategies to support operational excellence and long-term business objectives. With a strong focus on team development, this position fosters a high-performance culture by mentoring engineers and technicians, implementing training programs, and driving innovation in equipment maintenance and automation.
Responsibilities:
1. Strategic Leadership & Compliance
◦ Develop and execute long-term equipment maintenance strategies to align with organizational goals and drive continuous improvement.
◦ Champion a culture of safety, operational excellence, and compliance within the fab environment.
2. Cross-Functional Leadership & Operational Execution
◦ Provide executive leadership for Photo, Etch, Diffusion, Thin Films, Implant, Metals, Metrology, and CMP module teams, ensuring seamless cross-functional coordination.
◦ Establish and enforce best practices for equipment utilization, maintenance, and troubleshooting across all modules to optimize efficiency.
◦ Drive collaboration between engineering, operations, and maintenance teams to align equipment performance with overall manufacturing and ATS objectives.
3. Manufacturing KPI Achievement & Performance Optimization
◦ Define, execute, and continuously refine equipment strategies to support the fab in achieving key manufacturing KPIs such as uptime, yield, and cycle time.
◦ Leverage predictive and preventive maintenance programs to enhance equipment availability and reliability while minimizing downtime.
◦ Implement data-driven decision-making processes to proactively address bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and performance gaps.
4. Equipment Performance & Continuous Improvement
◦ Establish a comprehensive framework for monitoring, analyzing, and optimizing equipment performance, leveraging key metrics such as MA, throughput, and defect rates.
◦ Lead managers and engineers to drive root cause analysis and corrective action implementation for chronic equipment failures, utilizing advanced diagnostic tools and methodologies.
◦ Spearhead technology-driven improvements, including automation, AI, and machine learning, to enhance overall equipment efficiency.
5. Capital Planning, Budgeting & Vendor Management
◦ Develop and manage capital expenditure budgets for equipment procurement, installation, upgrades, and decommissioning.
◦ Oversee equipment layout and modification projects to align with evolving production needs and capacity expansion plans.
◦ Negotiate and manage contracts with equipment suppliers and service providers, ensuring cost-effectiveness while maintaining high operational standards.
6. Cost Reduction & Asset Management
◦ Driv