Equipment Engineering Manager (Player-Coach)
Halo Industries, Inc. Open At a glance
Manager-level Engineering Leadership role at Halo Industries, Inc. Santa Clara · full-time · $160,000–$185,000 base.
techroles summary, based on the employer's posting.
What you'll do
- Troubleshoot complex equipment problems on the factory floor, including electro-mechanical, vacuum, motion and laser systems
- Coach and develop equipment engineers and technicians while modeling safe, rigorous work and continuous improvement
- Lead acceptance testing, installation and qualification of new or upgraded manufacturing tools through production release
- Build preventive and predictive maintenance and spare-parts programs to improve equipment reliability and uptime
- Use structured root-cause methods to address repeat equipment failures and losses in yield
What you bring
- A bachelor’s degree in mechanical, electrical, mechatronics engineering or a related discipline
- At least seven years in hands-on semiconductor or advanced capital equipment engineering
- At least two years leading, supervising or managing a technical team
- Shop-floor skill reading schematics and debugging electro-mechanical, vacuum or gas systems, or automated tools
Who this fits
This is a hands-on manager role: you’ll lead the team while directly tackling equipment issues on the factory floor. The job is onsite in Santa Clara.
From the employer
The Company
Halo Industries has developed breakthrough technology to revolutionize a decades-old semiconductor material slicing process. Our laser-based solution minimizes waste, enhances material cost efficiency, and drives innovations across high-growth markets, including automotive, telecommunications, and power electronics. Founded in 2014 at Stanford University, Halo received significant funding in 2024, paving the way for rapid expansion, strategic customer engagement, and the launch of volume manufacturing.
The Opportunity
We are seeking an Equipment Engineering Manager (Player-Coach) to lead, build, and work alongside our Equipment Engineering organization. As we scale volume manufacturing for our Stanford-backed laser slicing technology, this role requires a unique balance of strategic technical leadership and direct, hands-on execution.
You will not just manage from a desk—you will lead from the factory floor, driving equipment reliability, leading complex tool debugs, qualifying new equipment, and setting up preventive/predictive maintenance systems from the ground up.
Primary Responsibilities
- Hands-On Technical Leadership: Serve as the technical escalation point for complex diagnostic, electro-mechanical, vacuum, precision motion, and laser/optical system troubleshooting on the floor.
- Team Building & Coaching: Lead, mentor, and grow a team of Equipment Engineers and Technicians. Lead by example on the floor, fostering a culture of technical rigor, safety, and continuous improvement.
- Tool Qualifications & Installs: Directly lead and execute Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), Site Acceptance Testing (SAT), IQ/OQ/PQ, and release of new or upgraded manufacturing tools.
- Maintenance & Reliability Infrastructure: Build preventive (PM), predictive (PdM), and spare parts management systems from scratch to optimize OEE, MTBF, and MTTR.
- Root Cause Analysis: Drive structured problem solving (8D, 5-Why, FMEA) to solve recurring equipment failures and yield loss.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner directly with Process Engineering, Facilities, Manufacturing, and Executive Leadership to hit aggressive production milestones safely and cost-effectively.
Requirements
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Mechatronics Engineering, or related discipline.
- 7+ years of hands-on semiconductor or advanced capital equipment engineering experience.
- 2+ years of technical team leadership, supervisory, or management experience (player-coach mindset essential).
- Demonstrated expertise in reading schematics, debugging electro-mechanical systems, vacuum/gas systems, or automated processing tools on the shop floor.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in high-growth startup or pilot-to-volume manufacturing scale-up environments.
- Hands-on experience with Wafer Grinding, CMP, PVD, Wet Benches, Metrology, or Laser Processing equipment.
- Strong background in Lean Manufacturing, 8D/FMEA, and SOP creation.
Benefits
- Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
- Retirement Plan (401k, IRA)
- Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)
- Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D)
- Family Leave (Maternity, Paternity)
- Free Food & Snacks
- Stock Option Plan
- Annual Bonus Plan eligible
- Short Term & Long Term Disability
- Base Salary: $160,000 - $185,000
Additional Information
We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all team members feel valued and supported. We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds, including those from underrepresented communities in STEM. If you meet most of the qualifications and are excited about this opportunity, we encourage you to apply.
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