Director of Phosphor Materials R&D – LED, Optoelectronics & Semiconductor Materials

Level: Senior technical leader to executive, depending on experienceEmployment: Permanent, full-timeAbout the OpportunityOur client, an international semiconductor manufacturer, is seeking an experienced leader to direct phosphor materials research and development for its LED and optoelectronics business.The role covers technology strategy, research team leadership, materials evaluation, packaging process optimisation, reliability and transfer into production. You will work closely with headquarters R&D, manufacturing, quality teams, global suppliers and customers.Key ResponsibilitiesDefine the phosphor technology roadmap and prioritise development programmes.Lead the R&D team, including project delivery, budget management, researcher development and performance evaluation.Oversee the transfer of new technologies into production, working closely with manufacturing and quality teams.Act as a technical point of contact for phosphor-related matters across R&D and customer programmes.Research, evaluate and select advanced phosphor materials for high-efficiency LED packages with excellent colour rendering.Analyse excitation and emission spectra, quantum efficiency and thermal quenching to optimise light output and colour coordinates.Optimise phosphor–silicone binder formulations, dispensing and coating processes.Control phosphor sedimentation and distribution to improve colour uniformity across viewing angles.Lead long-term reliability assessments under high-temperature, high-humidity and high-current operating conditions, including HTOL and WHTOL testing.Investigate phosphor degradation, encapsulant discolouration and wavelength shifts, driving root-cause analysis and corrective actions.Manage technical collaboration and materials sourcing with global phosphor suppliers and research institutions.Monitor relevant patent developments and support freedom-to-operate assessments.Essential RequirementsBachelor’s degree or higher.At least 10 years of experience in LED phosphor R&D or applications engineering for senior management appointments.For executive appointments, at least 15 years of relevant experience and a track record of managing a research team or organisation.Deep expertise in at least one phosphor family: nitrides, oxides or fluorides.Strong theoretical and practical understanding of rare-earth-doped phosphors, crystal structures and luminescence mechanisms.Proficiency with optical simulation tools and analytical techniques such as PL, PL-QE, SEM, XRD and FT-IR.Preferred Experience and SkillsMaster’s degree or PhD in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Solid-State Physics or a related discipline.Phosphor development experience within a leading international LED manufacturer.Experience with narrow-band phosphors such as KSF/PFS, quantum-dot LEDs or micro-LED colour-conversion layers.A track record of bringing LED products incorporating advanced phosphor technologies into mass production.Experience filing key patents or supporting international patent disputes and cross-licensing matters.