Semiconductors and advanced computing executive search

Retained search for semiconductor and advanced computing leadership, from chip design and fabrication through packaging, operations and commercial growth. Vice president to C‑suite.

Key roles we place ↓

Overview

What we do in semiconductors and advanced computing

Metric places senior and executive leaders across semiconductors and advanced computing, covering chip design, fabrication and process engineering, advanced packaging, and the commercial teams selling into data centers and devices. The work spans chip designers, manufacturers, equipment suppliers and advanced computing companies. Searches are retained and run from vice president through C-suite.

Demand for compute has turned semiconductors into one of the most contested talent markets in technology. Leaders who have taken a chip from design to volume production, or brought a fab or packaging line up to yield, are few, and every company building capacity wants them.

Roles

The roles we place in semiconductors and advanced computing

VP Silicon Engineering Architecture, design and verification.
Head of Process Engineering Process development and yield.
VP Fab Operations Running manufacturing at volume.
Director of Advanced Packaging Packaging technology and integration.
VP Supply Chain Capacity, suppliers and materials.
VP Product Roadmaps and products customers build on.
Chief Commercial Officer Sales, partnerships and design wins.
Chief Operating Officer Operational leadership across design and manufacturing.
VP Service Field service and installed-base support for fab equipment.

+ many others

Within this sector

What semiconductors and advanced computing covers

Chip Design

Architecture, design and verification of new silicon.

Fabrication & Process

Process engineering, yield and fab operations.

Advanced Packaging

Integrating chips into the systems that power AI and high-performance computing.

Equipment & Materials

The tools, materials and suppliers that make manufacturing possible.

Market

Hiring in semiconductors and advanced computing right now

New fabs, new packaging lines and new chip companies are all hiring at once, and they draw on a talent pool that took decades to build. Process, yield and packaging expertise are especially scarce, and the people who have them are rarely looking. Keeping a leader matters as much as hiring one, because competitors will keep calling. Strong candidates also sit with equipment and materials suppliers, who see more fabs than almost anyone and often make excellent operational leaders.

Common questions

Semiconductors and advanced computing hiring questions

The questions clients ask most often before briefing a semiconductor or advanced computing search.

How long does a semiconductor leadership search take?

We work to seven days to a shortlist on most briefs. How long the search takes after that depends on the role and on notice periods, so we set out a realistic timeline with you at the start.

Do you work retained or contingent?

Retained. That is what lets our consultants map the market fully and approach people who are not looking, rather than working only from whoever has applied.

Do you place below vice president?

Most briefs sit at vice president and above. We also run director searches where the role is critical to capacity or yield, such as a packaging or process engineering lead.

Do candidates need direct semiconductor experience?

For design and process roles, almost always. For operations, supply chain and commercial leadership, people from equipment suppliers, materials companies and other high-precision manufacturing often transfer well.

Sector specialists

Semiconductors & advanced computing team

Zeke Arlott

Head of Frontier Tech

Meet the team →

Let's build together

Ready to brief us on a semiconductors and advanced computing search?

Tell us about the role and we'll give you a clear read on the market, the people worth speaking to and how quickly we can move.