Full-Time

Technical Program Manager

Substrate

Substrate

11-50 employees

Develops advanced X-ray lithography chipmaking system

Compensation Overview

$150k - $275k/yr

No H1B Sponsorship

San Francisco, CA, USA

In Person

Category
Business & Strategy (1)
Required Skills
Risk Management
Requirements
  • 6+ years technical program management experience, 3+ years at hardware or hardtech companies
  • Managed programs with 20+ person project contributors including engineers, scientists, and technical specialists
  • Experience coordinating parallel workstreams in flat, project or research based organizations
  • Direct experience with hardware product development lifecycle and scientific research translation
  • Supply chain management experience including component sourcing and manufacturing coordination
  • Experience coordinating autonomous technical contributors across multiple scientific and engineering domains
  • Managed program budgets and resource allocation across parallel project workstreams
  • Communication and organizational skills sufficient to collaborate with Substrate staff to understand requirements and deliver solutions that match advanced process needs
Responsibilities
  • Lead technical programs involving hardware components and scientific validation across multiple parallel workstreams
  • Manage program schedules, budgets, and resource allocation across multiple evolving projects
  • Track critical dependencies between R&D, hardware development, scientific validation, and manufacturing readiness
  • Work closely with scientists across disciplines to translate research into technical requirements
  • Partner with hardware engineering on component selection, design validation, and manufacturing readiness
  • Work with security experts to ensure teams and projects meets privacy and security requirements
  • Manage vendor relationships with component suppliers, manufacturers, and testing facilities
  • Execute risk assessment and mitigation strategies for technical and supply chain risks
  • Facilitate technical reviews and integration decisions across autonomous project contributors
  • Present program status, risks, and recommendations to executive leadership
  • Create and maintain technical program documentation while respecting contributor autonomy
Desired Qualifications
  • B.S. or higher degree in Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or a related discipline in the physical or engineering sciences

Substrate is developing a new chipmaking system that uses X-ray lithography powered by a proprietary particle accelerator to pattern circuits on silicon wafers. The technology aims to lower lithography costs by about half and is demonstrated at U.S. National Laboratories and in its own facilities. It differentiates itself by pursuing a more vertically integrated U.S. foundry to reduce reliance on overseas fabrication and strengthen supply-chain resilience. The goal is to produce its first chips by 2028 and help bring advanced AI and robotics chips manufacturing back to the United States.

Company Size

11-50

Company Stage

Late Stage VC

Total Funding

$100M

Headquarters

San Francisco, California

Founded

2022

Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Secured $100M funding at $1B valuation from Founders Fund, General Catalyst.
  • Plans $10K wafers by 2030, halving costs versus EUV systems.
  • Met VP JD Vance in March 2025 to cut U.S. semiconductor costs.

What critics are saying

  • ASML's High-NA EUV scales to 2nm by 2028, outpacing Substrate.
  • Particle accelerators fail high-volume due to G-force instability.
  • CEO Proud's non-expertise repeats Intel's 1990s X-ray failures.

What makes Substrate unique

  • Substrate develops particle accelerator-based X-ray lithography rivaling ASML.
  • Vertically integrated U.S. foundry targets AI and robotics chip production.
  • Completed 300mm wafer tool operating at production G-forces in-house.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

Health Savings Account/Flexible Spending Account

Unlimited Paid Time Off

Flexible Work Hours

Remote Work Options

Paid Vacation

Paid Sick Leave

Paid Holidays

Hybrid Work Options

Stock Options

401(k) Retirement Plan

Wellness Program

Mental Health Support

Gym Membership

Phone/Internet Stipend

Home Office Stipend

Corporate Social Events

Company News

Financial Times
Oct 28th, 2025
Silicon Valley chip start-up raises $100mn to take on TSMC and ASML

Substrate plans to use particle accelerators to lower cost of chip manufacturing