Senior Continuous Improvement & Transformation Manager (all genders)

The group you’ll be a part of

This position is in the Global Products Group, we are dedicated to excellence in the design and engineering of Lam's etch and deposition products. We drive innovation to ensure our cutting-edge solutions are helping to solve the biggest challenges in the semiconductor industry.

The impact you’ll make

As the Senior Manager of CIP (Continuous Improvement Process), you will serve as a senior individual contributor responsible for driving continuous improvement strategy, process excellence, and operational transformation across the Salzburg site. In this role, you will partner closely with manufacturing engineering, project management, supply chain, quality, and design engineering to identify improvement opportunities, standardize critical processes, and implement scalable solutions that enhance quality, efficiency, and cost performance. Your leadership through influence, technical depth, and structured problem-solving will be essential as we strengthen operational readiness and support significant business growth.

What you’ll do

• Lead the development, documentation, and continuous improvement of standardized operational processes, policies, work instructions, and control methods across key business functions


• Identify, prioritize, and execute high-impact continuous improvement initiatives using Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, DMAIC, and value stream mapping methodologies


• Champion a culture of continuous improvement across the Salzburg site by driving measurable gains in quality, cycle time, productivity, and cost


• Partner with engineering and operations teams to embed Design for Quality (DFQ), Design for Manufacturability and Assembly (DFMA), and process discipline into product development and new product introduction (NPI) activities


• Drive the development and standardization of engineering and operational review practices, including stage-gate rigor, process controls, tolerance analysis, and verification approaches where applicable


• Lead cross-functional problem-solving efforts to address systemic process issues, eliminate waste, and improve overall business performance


• Establish and strengthen structured change management practices to ensure process and design changes are evaluated, communicated, and implemented effectively


• Define and track KPIs for process performance, operational efficiency, and improvement outcomes aligned with factory and site priorities


• Use data analysis to identify trends, performance gaps, and improvement opportunities across manufacturing and business processes.


• Facilitate structured root cause analysis and corrective action activities with cross-functional stakeholders to resolve recurring operational and process issues.


• Lead initiatives to improve process stability, reduce variation, and prevent recurrence of non-conformances, inefficiencies, and operational disruptions.


• Implement closed-loop improvement mechanisms with metrics to monitor effectiveness, sustain gains, and drive accountability.


• Act as a subject matter expert in continuous improvement methodologies and coach cross-functional teams on practical application of Lean, Six Sigma, and structured problem-solving tools.


• Influence stakeholders across functions to align on priorities, remove barriers, and sustain process improvements.


• Develop training materials, playbooks, and standard approaches that build organizational capability in continuous improvement.


• Foster a culture rooted in accountability, data-driven decision-making, and continuous learning through hands-on leadership and collaboration.


• Collaborate closely with manufacturing engineering, test engineering, design engineering, project management, logistics, and quality to align improvement priorities with operational goals.


• Support business and customer-facing process requirements by ensuring robust documentation, standardization, and readiness for audits, reviews, and operational milestones.

Who we’re looking for

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, or related field). An advanced degree is preferred


• Minimum 10 years of experience leading continuous improvement, operational excellence, manufacturing engineering, or process improvement initiatives within a manufacturing environment, preferably in semiconductor capital equipment, high-tech, or precision manufacturing


• Demonstrated success as a senior individual contributor driving cross-functional initiatives through influence, collaboration, and structured execution in a matrixed environment


• Strong knowledge of continuous improvement frameworks, process management disciplines, and operational excellence systems, including Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and structured problem-solving methodologies


• Demonstrated expertise in process standardization, KPI development, performance management, and implementation of sustainable improvement mechanisms across cross-functional operations


• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with proven experience in root cause analysis, value stream mapping, waste elimination, and data-driven performance improvement


• Proven track record of leading process improvement initiatives with measurable business impact


• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and negotiation skills


• Fluency in English required; German language skills are a strong plus

Preferred qualifications

• Six Sigma Black Belt certification


• Lean Manufacturing certification or equivalent demonstrated expertise

What we're offering

This position is subject to the Austrian Collective Bargaining Agreement for Employees in the Metal Technology Industry in occupation group H depending on educational background. A higher payment is negotiable depending on education, expertise and skills. The monthly salary is paid 14 times per year. 

Our commitment

We believe it is important for every person to feel valued, included, and empowered to achieve their full potential. By bringing unique individuals and viewpoints together, we achieve extraordinary results.

Lam Research ("Lam" or the "Company") is an equal opportunity employer. Lam is committed to and reaffirms support of equal opportunity in employment and non-discrimination in employment policies, practices and procedures on the basis of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions), gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, or military and veteran status or any other category protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. It is the Company's intention to comply with all applicable laws and regulations. Company policy prohibits unlawful discrimination against applicants or employees.

Lam offers a variety of work location models based on the needs of each role. Our hybrid roles combine the benefits of on-site collaboration with colleagues and the flexibility to work remotely and fall into two categories – On-site Flex and Virtual Flex. ‘On-site Flex’ you’ll work 3+ days per week on-site at a Lam or customer/supplier location, with the opportunity to work remotely for the balance of the week. ‘Virtual Flex’ you’ll work 1-2 days per week on-site at a Lam or customer/supplier location, and remotely the rest of the time.