The Equipment Technical Lead plays a critical role in ensuring the reliability, performance, and continuous improvement of key manufacturing equipment within a high-performance production environment. Acting as the technical authority for assigned toolsets, this position drives equipment uptime, process stability, and operational readiness while supporting the safe and efficient delivery of production targets.
Working closely with Process Engineering, Manufacturing, Facilities, and R&D teams, the Equipment Technical Lead leads technical problem-solving, supports the introduction of new technologies, and delivers improvement initiatives that enhance equipment capability, productivity, and long-term manufacturing performance.
Key Responsibilities
- Serve as the module’s technical authority for MOCVD equipment technologies, setting standards for performance, reliability, and continuous improvement, while acting as a trusted subject matter expert and the recognised “go-to” resource for equipment-related technical leadership and guidance.
- Act as the primary technical escalation point for tool owners, ensuring timely and effective resolution of complex issues.
- Partner with module tool owners to identify, prioritise, and deliver equipment improvements that enhance stability, capability, and productivity.
- Provide critical technical review of programme requirements, ensuring feasibility, robustness, and alignment with operational strategy.
- Review and challenge tool owner CAPEX proposals and peer-review continuous improvement plans to ensure strong technical justification and business value.
- Champion and drive continuous improvement initiatives across the module to improve uptime, yield, and operational efficiency.
- Collaborate closely with the Process Technical Lead on structured problem-solving, root cause analysis, and corrective actions.
- Work collaboratively with customers and stakeholders on project delivery, tool stability, and performance optimisation initiatives.
- Lead and support change management activities, including DCNs, ECNs, PCNs, process flows, PFMEAs, and control plans, ensuring technical integrity and compliance.
- Prepare and deliver clear, data-driven technical presentations to management and cross-functional stakeholders.
- Provide coaching, mentoring, and technical development support to Tool Owners, fostering capability growth within the team.
- Define and align priorities for Engineers and Technicians, ensuring objectives are clear, measurable, and delivered effectively.
- Collaborate across engineering functions to drive alignment, knowledge sharing, and best-practice adoption.
- Contribute to objective setting and performance development for on-shift Equipment Engineers.
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
- 7+ years experience in equipment engineering, maintenance leadership, or technical ownership within a MOCVD manufacturing environment.
- Strong hands-on background supporting MOCVD related tools such as MOCVD reactor systems, vacuum systems and metrology tools.
- Demonstrated experience leading tool reliability, uptime improvement, and performance optimisation initiatives.
- Experience driving preventive maintenance strategy, tool stability improvements, and lifecycle management.
- Experience supporting tool installations, qualifications, upgrades, and process transfers in a production environment.
- Strong understanding of how equipment performance impacts quality, uniformity, yield, and overall module performance.
- Experience working in high-growth, fast-paced manufacturing environments is highly desirable.
- Strong technical leadership with the ability to influence without direct authority.
- High ownership mindset with accountability for equipment performance and module success.
- Effective communicator, able to engage confidently with engineers, technicians, management, and external partners.
Benefits
- Pension scheme
- Private medical & dental insurance
- 28 days’ holiday + bank holidays
- Free onsite meals
- Onsite gym
- Relocation support
- Visa support available