Chief Technology Officer - #2076190

We are representing an international semiconductor organisation going through a leadership transition due to retirement in its Photonics business unit.

The position is well-suited to a candidate with deep-rooted photonics experience or wider semiconductor experience to set and execute strategic objectives and drive the business towards market share growth.

They require a candidate with proven experience in leading a technology vision, ideally aligned with custom semiconductor photonic devices for optical networks and optical sensing.

A summary of responsibilities is below:

• Define and execute the company’s long-term technology roadmap across photonics, lasers, and integrated optical solutions.
• Identify emerging trends in optical communications, AI/Datacenter interconnects, and sensing technologies.
• Lead global R&D teams to deliver high-performance laser products from concept through to product qualification.
• Drive innovation in III-V semiconductor technologies, silicon photonics integration, and packaging.
• Develop and strengthen patent portfolio
• Foster a culture of technical excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Oversee the development lifecycle of laser products, ensuring performance, scalability, reliability, and cost efficiency.
• Align engineering efforts with market needs in telecom, datacom, industrial, and consumer sectors.
• Ensure timely delivery of next-generation solutions that meet commercial requirements.

A summary of the required skillset is below:

• PhD or Master’s degree in Photonics, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or related field.
• 10+ years of experience in semiconductor or photonics technology leadership roles.
• Proven track record in developing and commercialising photonic or optical communication products.
• Strong understanding of lasers (DFB, SOAs) and end-user requirements.
• Experience leading large, multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Strategic thinking with deep technical expertise
• Leadership and team building across geographies
• Background working with telecom/datacom OEMs or hyper-scalers.
• Prior executive leadership (VP Engineering, CTO, or equivalent).