Technical Program Lead, Foundry Partnerships

ABOUT US Great Sky is a technology startup based with a mission to rebuild AI from first principles. We are pursuing neuroscience-inspired hardware and algorithms that overcome the greatest challenges in scaling AI systems. We are seeking a Technical Program Lead to coordinate the fabrication and process development programs supporting our superconducting and photonic computing platform. This is a full-time onsite role based at IMEC in Leuven, Belgium (relocation support is available, ie visa support, relocation, etc). You will combine practical semiconductor fabrication experience with program leadership to assess technical plans, anticipate execution risks, and keep development activities aligned with Great Sky’s priorities and timelines. A central part of this role will involve close collaboration with IMEC's process development and fabrication teams, as a Great Sky employee embedded within their organization in Leuven. You will work side by side with process engineers, integration specialists, researchers, and program managers to advance the fabrication of our superconducting and photonic technologies. Reporting to the CTO, you will connect the work underway at IMEC with Great Sky's engineering teams, help resolve technical and organizational dependencies, and maintain clear visibility into progress and decisions. HOW YOU'LL MAKE AN IMPACT - Stay closely engaged in our foundry partners’ fabrication and process development work, assessing progress and working with their teams to address emerging issues and maintain cross-organizational alignment. - Apply your process engineering experience to evaluate proposed fabrication sequences, process changes, and experimental plans, identifying risks to integration, manufacturability, and schedule. - Work closely with IMEC's program managers and technical teams to coordinate wafer runs, track tool readiness, and manage dependencies between process steps. - Maintain integrated program timelines, milestones, and deliverable tracking; identify bottlenecks early and work with the appropriate teams to establish practical recovery plans. - Participate actively in technical discussions and process reviews, challenge assumptions, and bring together the right experts to resolve issues and determine next steps. - Maintain clear records of program commitments, technical decisions, process changes, risks, and deliverables; coordinate program administration and prepare concise updates for Great Sky leadership. WHAT YOU BRING Required: - MS, or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, Chemical Engineering, or a related field; or equivalent practical experience. - 3 to 5 years minimum Significant experience in semiconductor process development, process integration, or fabrication engineering, with responsibility for coordinating complex technical work. - Strong understanding of thin-film fabrication and integration steps, including deposition, lithography, etching, cleaning, and metrology. - Experience planning and following wafer fabrication runs, interpreting process and characterization data, and investigating integration or fabrication problems. - Demonstrated ability to translate technical objectives into executable plans, manage dependencies and milestones, and sustain progress through changing requirements and experimental results. - Ability to assess technical proposals critically, recognize where additional evidence or specialist input is needed, and communicate tradeoffs clearly. - Strong organizational and documentation skills, with experience coordinating engineers and researchers across teams or organizations. - Experience with modern project management tools and practices. - Willingness to be based in Leuven and work on site alongside our development partners. Preferred: - Experience with superconducting thin films and circuits, integrated photonics, or other emerging semiconductor technologies. - Experience integrating new materials or device layers into established fabrication flows, including management of thermal budgets, contamination, interfaces, and process compatibility. - Experience in an R&D fabrication environment, pilot line, or foundry partnership. - Familiarity with experimental design, process control, yield analysis, and data analysis. - Proficiency with Python or other tools for data analysis and automation. BENEFITS AND PERKS - Meaningful equity ownership in an early-stage deep tech company - Employer-matched 401(k) - Health, dental, vision, and life insurance - Flexible PTO - Support for ongoing learning, conference attendance, and skill development Our culture is onsite by default (we're founded by scientists who are used to working in the lab), with flexibility for hybrid arrangements. For the right person and role, we're open to filling roles remotely