Axelera AI

Vice President of Operations

Axelera AI

full-time

Posted on:

Location Type: Hybrid

Location: United Kingdom

Visit company website

Explore more

✨ AI Apply
Apply

Job Level

Lead

About the role

  • Establish and scale fabless operations from early silicon through volume production
  • Design and implement operational processes, systems, and KPIs suitable for rapid growth
  • Lead NPI, qualification, ramp, and sustaining production across multiple products and customers
  • Balance speed, cost, and quality in a resource-constrained environment
  • Own all external manufacturing: foundries, OSATs, test partners, and logistics providers
  • Drive production planning, demand forecasting, and capacity management
  • Identify and mitigate supply chain risks early (capacity, yield, lead times, geopolitical exposure)
  • Develop alternate sourcing and contingency plans as the company scales
  • Build strategic, senior-level relationships with foundries and OSAT partners
  • Negotiate contracts, pricing, capacity commitments, and escalation paths
  • Advocate for the company internally with partners despite early-stage volume constraints
  • Establish quality, reliability, and failure analysis frameworks appropriate for startup scale
  • Lead yield learning, root cause analysis, and corrective actions from first silicon onward
  • Ensure customer quality requirements and certifications are met as the business grows
  • Work closely with Engineering on DFM/DFT, process selection, and yield improvement
  • Partner with Product and Sales to align customer commitments with operational reality
  • Collaborate with Finance on cost modeling, cash planning, and gross margin improvement
  • Build, lead, and mentor a lean, high-impact operations and supply chain team
  • Set a culture of ownership, urgency, transparency, and continuous improvement
  • Roll up sleeves when needed — no task is “too small” at this stage

Requirements

  • 12+ years of experience in semiconductor operations, manufacturing, or supply chain
  • Strong background in fabless semiconductor companies, preferably at startup or scale-up stage
  • Proven experience taking products from tape-out to volume production
  • Deep knowledge of wafer fabrication, packaging, test, and yield optimization
  • Track record of building processes and teams from the ground up
  • Ability to operate effectively with ambiguity, incomplete data, and tight timelines
  • Preferred experience scaling a startup through rapid growth or acquisition
  • Preferred exposure to advanced nodes and/or complex packaging
  • Preferred background in markets such as AI, automotive, industrial, or data infrastructure
  • Preferred MBA or advanced technical degree
Benefits
  • Opportunity to build the operations engine from the ground up
  • High visibility and direct impact on company success
  • Executive ownership in a company transitioning from startup to scale-up
  • Attractive compensation package
  • Extensive employee insurances
  • Option to get company shares
Applicant Tracking System Keywords

Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.

Hard Skills & Tools
semiconductor operationsmanufacturingsupply chain managementwafer fabricationpackagingtestyield optimizationproduction planningdemand forecastingcapacity management
Soft Skills
leadershipmentoringnegotiationcollaborationproblem-solvingadaptabilitycommunicationstrategic relationship buildingcontinuous improvementownership
Certifications
MBAadvanced technical degree