Director of Design and Technology

Director of Design and Technology

Team – Engineering

Location – Cambridge, UK

Contract – Full-time, Permanent

About CGD

Making Sustainable Power Electronics Possible

A spin-out of the Cambridge University, Cambridge GaN Devices (CGD) is a fabless semiconductor company that develops a range of energy-efficient GaN-based power devices to make greener electronics possible.

The global power semiconductor market is expected to exceed $50BN. In addition to the multi-million seed fund and Series A and now B private investments, CGD has so far successfully secured four projects funded by iUK, BEIS and EU (Penta). The technical and commercial expertise of the CGD team combined with an extensive track record in the power electronics market has been fundamental in early market traction of our proprietary technology.

Bringing Innovation into Everyday Life

The environmental need for solutions to resolve the world’s most significant challenges (energy consumption and CO2 emissions) inspires us to contribute to society by preserving nature with energy-efficient power solutions.

With a mindset on pushing the limits of semiconductor (GaN) properties and an outstanding team of worldwide experts leveraging knowledge, IP, and decades of research, we demonstrate technological advancement by developing green solutions for everyday electronics, respecting our planet’s natural resources, and creating a more sustainable future for the generations to come.

Why Work for CGD

We Champion Commitment, Celebrate Empowerment, and Reward the Brave.

We are interested in change-makers with a passion for power semiconductors who are willing to explore unconventional ways to meet the company’s green agenda.

At CGD, we pride ourselves on putting empowerment and commitment at the core of our company culture. We offer a relaxed yet productive working environment where everybody is valued and respected and becomes part of commercial success while experiencing professional growth.

If your heart beats for innovation, challenge, and growth, and if the prospect of joining a friendly and game-changing company is for you, we want to hear from you.

The Opportunity

CGD are looking for a Director of Technology and Design to join our growing engineering team. You will lead the technology and design team as the business continues to grow. The team consists of multiple highly skilled engineers, and will grow further under your leadership. The team is responsible for technology and product design with a focus on IC and packaging design.

You will be involved in R&D projects through their full life cycle, from concept to market entry.

The Director of Technology and Design will be responsible for day-to-day line management of the team, providing both technical and personal leadership to all the team members.

In this role, you will be able to develop and use your knowledge of a variety of aspects of semiconductor device development at the forefront of GaN device R&D, from device physics to applications.

The outcome of your work will be novel GaN power products entering the market.

This role is based at the company’s office and lab in Cambridge, UK, although it is expected that some travel will be required from time to time for this role.

Main Responsibilities

• Lead the Technology and Design team in line management and technical management
• Provide technical, multidisciplinary leadership of GaN power IC development projects, leading a team of highly skilled engineers from analog IC design to package design
• Hands-on contribution to or leading of technical activities
• Conduct feasibility studies of novel GaN IC features and product concepts
• Work with Project Management and other technical teams to develop new products, meeting the time, cost and performance targets
• Contribute to product requirements and specifications in collaboration with the System Architecture and Applications Engineering teams

Requirements

Skills and Experience

Essential

• Master’s degree in a relevant engineering or science subject
• Solid experience as an engineering manager in the development of semiconductor devices, preferably power devices
• Expert in the development and design of at least one of the following: analog ICs; power semiconductors; GaN devices; power device packaging.
• A strong track record in developing ICs for mass production
• Experienced in project management
• Strategic thinker with practical skills and experience
• Inspires confidence in team, colleagues, partners and customers
• Comfortable in a fast-paced start-up environment
• Willing and able to travel and work with partners in Europe, the Americas and Asia
• Pro-active by nature, responsive to changing needs of the projects and business
• Good communication and presentation skills. In particular, writing white papers and application notes as well as presenting technical topics to an audience.
• A mindset for precise and high-quality results
• An eye for detail

Desirable

• Experience with semiconductor testing and reliability would be advantageous, but not essential
• Knowledge of power semiconductor device physics, preferably GaN.
• Skilled in power electronics and their applications.
• Experience with semiconductor failure analysis
• Experience as system or device technical lead
• Experienced in FMEA
• Project management qualifications
• Six Sigma black belt
• Experience in 8D problem solving or similar framework

Benefits

• Excellent salary
• Share options scheme available (so you own a piece of the company!)
• Pension scheme (6% Company contribution)
• Life Assurance (3x Salary)
• BUPA Cash Plan (Level 3)
• Flexible working options (both location and times)
• Annual leave allowance of 33 days (including bank holidays)
• Training and development
• Cycle to work scheme
• IP bonus scheme
• Involvement in collaborative projects and grants with University of Cambridge and other partners
• Recruitment referral bonus
• Regular social events including frequent company lunches, annual summer party, Christmas party, team building and wellbeing activities

We believe in equal opportunities

It takes a diverse and inclusive community of passionate, talented and committed people to build a system to shape the future of power electronics.

We are committed to providing equal opportunities to all current and prospective employees regardless of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership.

We believe that a more inclusive workplace, where people of different backgrounds work together, ensures better outcomes for all employees. We aspire to have a diverse workforce because, in our view, diversity enables better business outcomes. From application to interview, we place inclusion at the heart of all we do.

We are well set up for collaborative hybrid working, with some members of the team working in the UK office and some from home in the UK and other cities in Europe and Asia.