Industrialisation Project Manager
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
- Department
- Industrialization and Quality
- Location
- Lausanne, Switzerland
About LIGENTEC
LIGENTEC is a company that produces Photonic Integrated Circuits (PIC) for customers in advanced technology sectors like ground and space communication, Quantum technologies, LiDAR, and Biosensors. LIGENTEC specializes in the commercialization of the all-nitride-core technology. LIGENTEC empowers customers to develop their products in the era of industrial revolution 4.0 by offering low-loss PICs with active components.