Principal Director, Semiconductor Programs

Job Description

Position Status: This position is contingent upon government contract award and funding. 

Flexible Engagement Opportunity: We are open to flexible arrangements for the right candidate, including part-time engagements. Senior industry professionals interested in part-time, advisory, or subject matter expert roles supporting this program are also encouraged to apply.

Who we are:

• FedTech is a group of entrepreneurially minded people on a mission to unlock the benefits of technology.
• We believe in the value of deep tech and its positive impact on the world, aspiring to democratize access to it for entrepreneurs and professionals around the world.
• We are venture builders who thrive at the intersection of US entrepreneurship, breakthrough technologies, and mission-driven organizations. 
• Since 2015, we have supported over 1,000 companies that have collectively raised more than $5B in funding, while also partnering with hundreds of corporate, government, and university clients.

What you’ll do:

This role will lead a National Science Foundation (NSF Elegant) initiative focused on advancing next-generation semiconductor technologies from research into manufacturing. As the Director, this individual will cultivate strategic relationships across the semiconductor industry, and drive collaboration among industry leaders, technical experts, and federal stakeholders. The role will be responsible for providing strategic direction, overseeing execution, and positioning FedTech as a key partner in advancing emerging semiconductor technologies and supporting their long-term industry adoption. 

Key Responsibilities

• Industry Engagement & Ecosystem Development
  • Build and maintain strategic relationships with semiconductor manufacturers, equipment and materials suppliers, design software vendors, and industry standards organizations.
  • Represent FedTech at industry conferences, partner meetings, and NSF events to strengthen industry engagement and program visibility.
  • Support NSF’s Industry Roundtable by coordinating meetings, preparing materials, and documenting stakeholder input while maintaining the Roundtable’s independence.
  • Coordinate with related federal initiatives
• Program Leadership
  • Lead the end-to-end coordination and execution of the program across its five technology themes, supporting expert research teams 
  • Recruit, deploy, and manage a multidisciplinary team of technical experts responsible for sharing findings, tracking milestones, identifying risks, and reporting progress to NSF.
  • Oversee program budgets, milestone-based payments, performance indicators, and reporting requirements under the NSF agreement.
  • Prepare for NSF phase-end go/no-go reviews, ensuring program activities remain aligned with objectives, timelines, and deliverables.
  • Establish effective program management processes to support collaboration, accountability, and coordination across multiple stakeholder groups.
• Technology Roadmap
  • Develop and maintain an industry-validated technology roadmap that supports the transition of emerging semiconductor technologies toward manufacturing and commercialization.
  • Lead engagement with industry standards organizations to advance standards development for next-generation semiconductor materials and technologies.
  • Oversee the program’s intellectual property framework, including invention tracking, patent coordination, licensing, IP registry management, and quarterly reporting to NSF.
  • Facilitate industry engagement and alignment around technology adoption, standards development, and long-term commercialization opportunities.

What success looks like in this role:

• Industry alignment & adoption: Industry partners actively engage in shaping the technology roadmap, validate its direction, and begin evaluating emerging technologies for potential adoption.
• Successful program execution:Program activities are effectively coordinated across technical experts and stakeholders, with milestones, standards development, and IP licensing activities progressing as planned.
• Long-term sustainability: Industry stakeholders demonstrate a commitment to advancing the technology and sustaining the program beyond its initial funding period.

Successful candidates will have the following qualifications:

• 10+ years of experience in the semiconductor industry, including experience advancing technologies from research and development into commercialization.
• Established relationships and credibility across the semiconductor ecosystem, including manufacturers, equipment providers, materials suppliers, and other industry leaders.
• An advanced degree (PhD, MBA, or equivalent experience) with a technical background in semiconductors, materials science, or device technologies, combined with strong business acumen.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex, multi-stakeholder programs, including budget management, milestone tracking, performance measurement, and funder reporting.
• Experience working with federal programs or funding mechanisms
• Familiarity with technology road mapping, industry standards organizations, intellectual property management, or technology licensing.
• Effective communicator, comfortable building executive-level relationships and presenting complex technical topics to industry leaders and government sponsors.
• Analytical and data-driven, with the ability to translate technical findings and program performance into actionable insights.
• Hands-on experience with productivity, collaboration, and AI tools, with a demonstrated ability to quickly learn and adopt new technologies.

Our Values:

• Boldness: We have the fortitude to forge new paths and push beyond our comfort
• Unity: We treat our clients, team members and partners as we would like to be treated - we are one united team
• Introspection: We recognize introspection is the necessary ingredient in which self-improvement flourishes
• Leadership: We embrace servant leadership - putting the interests of client, team partners and partners first
• Decisiveness: We have a strong bias towards action

Compensation:

• Base salary range: $175-230k
  • The salary range listed for this position is based on market data and internal compensation structure. The final compensation package will be determined based on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, relevant experience, skills and education. This range is not a guarantee of compensation, and offers may fall outside this range in exceptional cases.
• In addition to the base salary, compensation includes performance-based bonus (OTE) 
• A competitive benefits package including 401K with employer match, health/dental/vision plans through Blue Cross Blue Shield, accrued PTO, professional development funds, employer paid disability insurance, parental leave, transportation and wellness reimbursements, amongst others.

Location:  This role can be set up as a hybrid work arrangement at our Arlington, VA (HQ), Boston, MA or Austin, TX offices or fully remote for candidates based in the United States.

Travel: 15-20% based on business needs