Pilot Line Operations Manager (all genders) // Job-ID: 218-1

Festanstellung, Vollzeit · VILLACH

Your future responsibilities

This position ensures the effective coordination, monitoring, and strategic oversight of pilot line activities and cross-functional projects. Acting as the operational bridge between project managers and executive leadership, the role safeguards execution/operation efficiency, risk management, and alignment with corporate strategy. With significant responsibility for organizational success, this position requires both leadership skills and strong hands-on operational excellence.

Your responsibilities include:

Strategic Oversight

• Consolidate inputs from project managers, and cleanroom operations into a reliable “single source of truth".
• Translate operational performance into strategic KPIs for leadership, funding bodies, and board-level reporting.
• Drive alignment of projects and operations with SAL’s strategic objectives.

Resource & Infrastructure Coordination

• Monitor and balance staff, budget, and infrastructure allocation across pilot lines.
• Anticipate resource bottlenecks and propose mitigation or redundancy plans.
• Align investments with funding requirements and long-term business needs.

Risk & Mitigation Management

• Identify technical, operational, and financial risks across projects.
• Proactively define and implement mitigation strategies.
• Escalate major risks to leadership with clear decision-making options.

Stakeholder Reporting & Communication

• Provide timely reports to Division Heads, CEO/CFO, and RSO (funding compliance, KPIs, financial impact).
• Serve as escalation layer for project managers and PIs, ensuring clarity on priorities.
• Act as liaison between operational execution and strategic decision-making.
• Promote cross-team alignment and transparent communication

Your profile

• Proven expertise in semiconductor operations, pilot lines, or comparable high-tech and R&D environments.
• Strong background in project portfolio management and cross-functional coordination.
• Ability to communicate effectively with both technical specialists and executive leadership.
• Experienced in annual multi million budget responsibility, funding program reporting, and compliance (EU/Chips Act a plus).
• Demonstrated leadership skills: experience at working in a matrix organization, decision-making authority, role-model behavior and accountability.
• Service-oriented mindset with a hands-on, entrepreneurial approach.
• Strong soft skills: conflict resolution, constructive feedback culture, and effective stakeholder management.
• Experienced consultant and advisor for senior leadership, contributing to strategy and visibility.

This position has a major impact on company success, ensuring both operational excellence and strategic visibility. By consolidating pilot line operations, safeguarding resources, and aligning projects with corporate objectives, the role strengthens SAL’s ability to deliver innovation, secure funding, and maintain leadership in the semiconductor ecosystem.

Important Facts about SAL

At SAL, we are proud to have a diverse international team of more than 40 different nations who come together and do excellent research to make our world a better place. 

• Diverse research activities with many technical challenges. 
• State-of-the-art laboratory facilities and equipment.  
• Location in the heart of Europe in Austria – relocation support for non-European nationalities. 
• Internal and external training opportunities for career development.  
• Family & children friendly - actively shaping the compatibility of family and career. 
• “Vital4SAL” to promote a healthy workplace (e.g. SAL coaching pool, trainings on mental health, physical activities, healthy snacks, 24/7 accident insurance) 
• € 4 per day meal allowance in restaurants or € 2 per working day in supermarkets. 
• Public transport initiative (subsidy for the “Klimaticket”)  
• Our values:  
  • Open door policy, flexibility in working hours, casual dress code, diverse teams, working with people of different nationalities, informal communication, lifelong learning,compatibility of family and career, sustainability, personal growth, and collective advancement..

This position is subject to the Collective Agreement for employees in non-university research (Research CA) starting in occupational group F (F1 salary = EUR 4.757, paid 14 times a year) based on 38,5 hours per week). For this position we offer competitive salaries and additional benefits based on your experience and qualifications, starting with a minimum gross salary of EUR 70.000 (annual, based on an All-in contract including bonus). 

About us

Silicon Austria Labs (SAL) is a top research center for Electronics and Software Based Systems (ESBS). At three locations (Graz, Villach, Linz), SAL is conducting research along the entire ESBS value chain in the areas of sensor systems, power electronics, intelligent wireless systems, microsystems and embedded systems to develop future-oriented solutions for industrial production, health, energy, mobility, safety and more. SAL brings together key players from industry, science and research and thus valuable expertise and know-how and conducts cooperative, application-oriented research along the value chain. Cooperative projects are co-financed by SAL and enable a fast and unbureaucratic project start. SAL is thus shaping the high-tech location Austria and Europe and developing the future 
 
Innovation is our top priority and so are our employees. We are a family-friendly company and support the compatibility of work and family as much as possible. That is why we have been awarded the Work and Family Certificate until 2026. But we are constantly working on new measures to offer our employees an environment where they feel good, healthy and motivated.