Head of Advanced Research & Development – SPTS Division

SPTS Technologies Limited Newport, Wales Posted Dec 8, 2025

Full Time
Onsite
Senior

Job description

Description

/Preferred Qualifications

This role will be based in Newport Wales, but we may consider this person working out of KLA's Milpitas, CA headquarter with regular and ongoing travel to Wales required. The Advanced R&D team this person will recruit and lead and the current product development team will all be in Wales.

Role Purpose

Reporting directly to the General Manager, the Head of Advanced Research & Development directs and implements KLA’s research initiatives for future and emerging wafer processing technologies. Research & Development will play a vital role in delivering industry leading semiconductor plasma processing technologies, aimed at increasing KLA’s competitive position.

You will be responsible for delivering highly strategic research and development work and driving our strategic planning process related to future technology investments. You will be required to build strong relationships with key strategic partners and suppliers, which will be pivotal to this role.

Duties

  • Grow and develop a team of like-minded R&D specialists with a passion for technology development

  • Deliver future, highly differentiated technologies that can be implemented to drive increased product performance

  • Develop strategic supply chain relationships for critical components

  • Drive Strategic planning process for future technology investment

  • Culture, Ethos, and Value

    Work with other Heads of Departments/Directors to ensure communication flows across the organisation.

    Person Specification

  • Minimum 10 years of experience as a Researcher

  • Master’s Degree or higher, ideally Physics or a relevant research field with experience in plasma processing research

  • Strong ability to work outside KLA with customers, suppliers and other organizations

  • Proven track record of successful R&D Projects

  • Skills & Knowledge

  • As an individual possess a strong vision for technology development

  • Ability to manage a team and lead projects

  • Qualitive and Quantitative Research Mastery

  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Ability to communicate well at Senior Management level

  • High level of problem solving and decision-making abilities

  • Ability to analyse and interpret data

  • Ability to develop strategies and plans

  • Minimum Qualifications

  • Doctorate (Academic) with a minimum of 10 years of relevant experience OR

  • Master's Level Degree with a minimum of 13 years of relevant experience OR

  • Bachelor's Level Degree with a minimum of 15 years of relevant experience

  • Be aware of potentially fraudulent job postings or suspicious recruiting activity by persons that are currently posing as KLA employees. KLA never asks for any financial compensation to be considered for an interview, to become an employee, or for equipment. Further, KLA does not work with any recruiters or third parties who charge such fees either directly or on behalf of KLA. Please ensure that you have searched for legitimate job postings. KLA follows a recruiting process that involves multiple interviews in person or on video conferencing with our hiring managers. If you are concerned that a communication, an interview, an offer of employment, or that an employee is not legitimate, please send an email to to confirm the person you are communicating with is an employee. We take your privacy very seriously and confidentially handle your information.

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