Sr. Mgr, Systems Design/Architecture

The group you’ll be a part of

The Software and Controls organization develops software and control technologies that enable reliable operation of Lam’s semiconductor equipment.  The organization partners across Product Groups and global engineering teams deliver scalable software and controls platforms aligned with product roadmaps, customer requirements, product quality, cost, reliability, and long-term product support.

The impact you’ll make

The Controls Engineering Manager will lead a hardware, firmware, and FPGA engineering team responsible for Lam’s equipment control systems on assigned product platforms. This leader will manage the development, qualification, release, and lifecycle support of control-system products, including new product introduction, customer requirements, obsolescence management, sustaining engineering, and resolution of complex product issues.

The role will work closely with Product Groups, Systems Engineering, Software Engineering, Platform Engineering, Global Product Support, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Field Service, suppliers, and customers to deliver reliable, scalable, and customer-ready equipment control solutions.

What you’ll do

- Lead and develop an engineering team responsible for equipment controls hardware, embedded firmware, and FPGA design for assigned Lam product platforms.
- Support roadmaps, development, qualification, release, and lifecycle management for controls products and platforms.
- Drive delivery of controller platforms, circuit boards, FPGA-based logic, communication interfaces, sensor and I/O systems, and associated firmware.
- Plan and prioritize team deliverables in line with Product Group roadmaps, customer requirements, product quality, cost, and schedule.Add
- Support new product introduction and sustaining engineering, including design reviews, verification and validation, release readiness, field deployment, and corrective actions.
- Execute obsolescence and technology-refresh plans for control-system hardware, electronic components, FPGA devices, firmware platforms, and communication technologies.
- Lead root-cause analysis and corrective action for complex issues spanning hardware, firmware, FPGA logic, communications, electrical interfaces, and equipment integration.
- Collaborate with Product Groups, Systems Engineering, Software Engineering, Platform Engineering, Global Product Support, Field Service, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, suppliers, and customers to deliver integrated solutions.
- Apply and continuously improve engineering practices that enhance product reliability, diagnostics, serviceability, reuse, and commonality within the team’s product scope.
- Recruit, coach, and develop engineers and technical leads while fostering a culture of technical excellence, accountability, and predictable execution.
- Communicate project status, technical risks, release readiness, and recovery plans clearly to management, internal stakeholders, suppliers, and customers.
- Support critical customer engagements and travel to Lam US and customer locations as required.

Who we’re looking for

- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electronics Engineering, or a related technical field with 10+ years of relevant experience; or a Master’s degree with 8+ years of relevant experience; or equivalent experience.
- At least 3 years of people management or technical leadership experience leading engineering teams.
- Demonstrated experience leading hardware, embedded firmware, and FPGA-based product development through the full product lifecycle.
- Strong knowledge of electronic control systems, board-level design, processor and FPGA architectures, real-time embedded systems, and industrial communication interfaces.
- Experience delivering complex products through architecture, design, implementation, verification, qualification, release, sustaining, and obsolescence phases.
- Proven ability to lead system-level troubleshooting and root-cause analysis across hardware, firmware, FPGA, electrical interfaces, and equipment integration.
- Strong customer and cross-functional communication skills, including the ability to communicate technical status, risks, priorities, and recovery plans clearly.

Preferred Qualifications

- Experience with semiconductor capital equipment, industrial automation, or other high-reliability equipment.
- Experience with FPGA design languages and development environments, such as Verilog, SystemVerilog, or VHDL.
- Experience with processor, memory, and communication interfaces, including SPI, I2C, Ethernet, PCIe, DDR, or eMMC.
- Experience with industrial control and sensor buses such as EtherCAT, Lonworks, DeviceNet, or equivalent technologies.
- Experience with PCB architecture, schematic review, component selection, hardware validation, design verification, and product qualification.
- Experience with functional safety, programmable interlocks, or safety-critical equipment control systems.
- Experience working with globally distributed engineering teams and external engineering partners.
- Experience managing product obsolescence, redesign, supplier transitions, and long-lifecycle electronic systems.
- Experience supporting customer escalations, new product introductions, field deployments, and sustaining engineering for complex equipment platforms.
- Experience applying AI-based tools and methods in engineering workflows, such as design, verification, data analysis, or documentation, or a strong willingness to adopt and promote AI to improve team productivity and product quality.

What We're Offering

This position will be occupied in Villach. It is subject to the Austrian Collective Bargaining Agreement for Employees in the Metal Technology Industry in occupation group H. A higher payment is negotiable depending on expertise and skills. The monthly salary is paid 14 times per year. Please follow the link on the below section "Employment in Austria" for further information.

Villach - a great place to live and work
Follow the link  www.welcome2villach.at  and you will find on the spot the most important information about living, working and studying in and around Villach/Austria.

Our commitment

We believe it is important for every person to feel valued, included, and empowered to achieve their full potential. By bringing unique individuals and viewpoints together, we achieve extraordinary results.

Lam Research ("Lam" or the "Company") is an equal opportunity employer. Lam is committed to and reaffirms support of equal opportunity in employment and non-discrimination in employment policies, practices and procedures on the basis of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions), gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, or military and veteran status or any other category protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. It is the Company's intention to comply with all applicable laws and regulations. Company policy prohibits unlawful discrimination against applicants or employees.

Lam offers a variety of work location models based on the needs of each role. Our hybrid roles combine the benefits of on-site collaboration with colleagues and the flexibility to work remotely and fall into two categories – On-site Flex and Virtual Flex. ‘On-site Flex’ you’ll work 3+ days per week on-site at a Lam or customer/supplier location, with the opportunity to work remotely for the balance of the week. ‘Virtual Flex’ you’ll work 1-2 days per week on-site at a Lam or customer/supplier location, and remotely the rest of the time.

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