Technical Manager, Advanced Tool & Module Development (7733)

TSMC’s Advanced Tool and Module Development Function in R&D is establishing a new engineering team in the US as a direct extension of its organization in Taiwan. This newly formed team will serve as the on-site technical bridge and represent headquarter R&D teams in working shoulder-to-shoulder with US-based semiconductor equipment suppliers to shorten the hardware development cycle from prototype to process verification.

 

In this role, you will do more than manage vendor relations—you will co-develop and co-design next-generation and pre-alpha hardware from the ground up. Your mission is to accelerate the hardware verification and commercialization pipeline, directly influencing the future of global semiconductor fabrication. Because this team covers the entire spectrum of process modules (Etch, EPI, Thin Film, Wet, CMP, Metrology, etc.), TSMC is seeking versatile, brilliant minds who understand how hardware design directly impacts process physics.

You will join us in our San Jose office, operating on a hybrid work schedule with 4 days in-office.

 

Responsibilities

• Co-Design & Joint Development: Partner deeply with key US tool suppliers to drive the engineering, architecture, and design of pre-alpha and next-generation process chambers and hardware systems.
• Hardware Innovation: Lead technical initiatives in critical sub-systems, including RF engineering, circuit design, plasma/gas delivery, chamber thermal dynamics, and mechanical modeling.
• Process Qualifications: Manage the hardware verification pipeline, identifying design flaws early in the pre-alpha phase to dramatically shorten the cycle from concept to high-volume manufacturing (HVM) readiness.
• Cross-Module Collaboration: Interface with R&D headquarter module teams to deliver robust hardware and process solutions on supplier sites.
• Technical Leadership: Act as the on-site TSMC technical expert in California, guiding supplier engineering teams to align with TSMC’s aggressive technology roadmap.

 

Minimum Qualifications

• Ph.D. in a relevant Engineering or Science discipline (EE, ME, Physics, Materials Science, etc.).
• A minimum of 7 years of experience (Ph.D.) in semiconductor hardware design, equipment development, or advanced process validation.
• Solid understanding of vacuum systems, gas delivery, thermal control, or precision mechanics.
• Practical knowledge of RF matching networks, plasma generation, or advanced circuit design.
• Ability to validate how hardware changes affect process performance (uniformity, defectivity, throughput) across modules like Etch, CVD/ALD, Wet, or CMP.

 

Preferred Qualifications

• Ph.D. with research focus on plasma-hardware interaction, RF systems, or fluid dynamics.
• Candidates with exceptional academic pedigrees and groundbreaking research in "pre-alpha" hardware systems will be considered, even if they have fewer years of industry experience.
• Strong cross-functional communication and negotiation skills to effectively collaborate with external supplier executives and internal TSMC R&D teams.
• A thriving mindset in an ambiguous, fast-paced, "pre-alpha" R&D environment.

Company Description

Join TSMC Technology, Inc. (TTI), an innovation hub of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSMC). TSMC has been a pioneer in the semiconductor industry since 1987. With teams located in San Jose, CA, and Austin, TX, TTI is dedicated to advancing semiconductor technology through expertise in physical design, memory design, analog mixed signal, power management, and groundbreaking computational AI machine learning research. Our mission is to drive the future of semiconductor innovation through unparalleled R&D and customer-focused IP. Be part of a team that shapes the next generation of technological advancements.

 

As a trusted technology and capacity provider, TSMC is driven by the desire to be:

1. The world’s leading dedicated semiconductor foundry
2. The technology leader with a strong reputation for manufacturing excellence
3. Advancing semiconduct