Vice President of Operations (Semiconductor)

Vice President of Operations (Semiconductor)

Summary:

• The VP of Operations will be the architect of Ethernovia’s delivery engine. Unlike purely administrative operations roles, this position requires a leader who is hands-on with semiconductor product, test, and qualification. You will bridge the gap between world-class networking chip designs and high-volume, automotive-grade silicon manufacturing. The position is based in San Jose, CA.

Key Responsibilities:

• Hands-on Product & Test Leadership: Drive the development of test hardware and software (wafer sort and final test). Oversee characterization, bench-to-ATE correlation, and limit-setting to ensure high-performance networking specs are met.
• End-to-End Semiconductor Qualification: Take direct ownership of the qualification strategy. You must have hands-on experience defining and executing stress testing, including HTOL (High-Temperature Operating Life), ESD, Latch-up, and HAST to ensure long-term silicon reliability.
• Automotive Grade Execution: Lead the transition to Automotive Qualification, ensuring all products meet rigorous reliability standards (AEC-Q100) and functional safety requirements (ISO 26262).
• Networking Silicon Manufacturing: Direct the operational lifecycle for high-speed Ethernet packet processors and PHYs, ensuring signal integrity and performance standards are maintained at scale.
• Foundry & OSAT Management: Act as the primary technical and commercial interface with Tier-1 foundries and OSAT partners; manage wafer capacity, production scheduling, and technology nodes.
• Yield & Cost Optimization: Use data-driven product engineering techniques to drive aggressive yield improvements and COGS reductions.

Required Experience & Skills:

Professional Background

• Semiconductor Operations Mastery: 15+ years of experience in fabless semiconductor operations, specifically for complex, high-performance SOCs or networking ICs.
• Hands-on Qualification Expertise: Must have direct experience managing and executing semiconductor qualification flows. You should be comfortable reviewing raw reliability data and troubleshooting failure mechanisms (FA).
• Product/Test Engineering: Proven track record of direct involvement in ATE (Automated Test Equipment) strategy, test time reduction, and product binning for high-speed communications chips.
• Automotive Tech & Quality: Experience navigating the Automotive electronics ecosystem, including IATF 16949, ISO 26262, and PPAP (Production Part Approval Process).
• Series B to Scale: Proven track record of building an operations and supply chain function from the ground up in a venture-backed startup.
• Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a related technical field.

Technical Leadership & Skills:

• Vendor Management: Expert-level negotiation skills with Tier-1 partners (Foundries, Assembly, and Test houses).
• Networking Communications Focus: Understanding of the operational requirements for high-bandwidth data-path products (Ethernet, Switching, or high-speed SerDes).
• Systems Implementation: Experience deploying ERP systems (e.g., NetSuite, SAP) tailored for semiconductor supply chain and inventory tracking.

Nice to Have (The "Competitive Advantage"):

• TSMC Experience: Direct experience managing manufacturing flows through TSMC, including familiarity with their latest process nodes, FinFET technologies, and capacity planning.
• IPO & Public Company Readiness: Experience scaling operations for a company that successfully navigated an Initial Public Offering (IPO).
• International Expansion: Experience establishing operational hubs or quality centers in Europe or Asia to support global Tier-1 automotive OEMs.

Personal Skills:

• Excellent communication/documentation skills.
• Attention to details.
• Collaboration across multidisciplinary and international teams.

What You Can Expect From Ethernovia:

• Technology depth and breadth expansion that can’t be found in a large company
• Opportunity to grow your career as the company grows
• Pre IPO stock options
• Cutting edge technology
• World class team
• Competitive base salary
• Flexible hours
• Medical, dental and vision insurance for employees

Salary Range:

• The actual offered base salary for U.S. locations will vary depending on factors such as work location, individual qualifications, specializations, experience, skills, job-related knowledge, and internal equity. The annual salary range for this position is $220,000 - $300,000. The compensation package will also include incentive compensation in the form of pre-IPO ISO options, as well as eligibility for performance bonuses, in addition to base salary and a full range of medical and other benefits.

* Principals Only (No Agencies)

#LI-Onsite