Full-Time
People & Culture Specialist
Updated on 9/3/2026
Black Semiconductor
51-200 employees
Graphene photonics enable optical chip interconnects
No salary listed
Aachen, Germany
Hybrid
 People & HR (1) |
|---|
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- At least 5-8 years of hands-on experience in People Operations within an international company, ideally in a scaling technology, engineering, or deep-tech environment.
- Practical experience applying German labour law in an HR environment, with the ability to make informed day-to-day decisions.
- Strong knowledge of HRIS systems, including Personio, payroll and benefits administration systems, and reporting analytics.
- Experience building processes, Standard Operating Procedures, and HR infrastructure.
- Skilled in decision-making, collaboration, and stakeholder management, with the ability to balance operational needs with employee experience.
- A strong hands-on mindset, high attention to detail, and the ability to execute in a fast-paced environment.
- Ability to build trust and act with professionalism and integrity.
- Fluency in German at minimum C1 level and English.
- Advanced Microsoft 365 skills.
- Previous experience in a fast-growing startup environment, ideally in deep tech.
- Scale People Operations and Global Mobility to support rapid company growth.
- Own payroll for the Netherlands and Germany while supporting cases involving international payroll.
- Manage contract management, employee lifecycle processes, compliance, and employee administration within the HRIS.
- Build reliable, scalable systems and reduce dependency on manual workflows for daily People Operations.
- Stabilize and document core People Operations and Global Mobility processes, including developing Standard Operating Procedures.
- Deliver reporting and analytics that inform decision-making, translate People data into meaningful insights, and shape company policies.
- Partner with external legal, insurance, accounting, relocation, visa, and payroll experts to ensure smooth operations as the company scales.
- Build strong collaboration with Talent Acquisition, People Experience, and People Development.
- Provide business support to the leadership team and act as a sparring partner on People Operations and business partnering topics.
- Contribute to writing and rolling out policies that support compliance, clarity, and culture.
- Experience managing immigration, visas, relocation, and international mobility programs.
- Experience in a scaling technology, engineering, or deep-tech environment.
Black Semiconductor develops chips that combine graphene-based photonics with traditional electronics to enable optical chip-to-chip communication. Its process embeds optical components into the outer layers of CMOS-like chips, allowing electrons to be converted to photons and back via graphene acting as a translator. This integration aims to overcome interconnect bottlenecks, enabling multiple chips to act as a single faster, more energy-efficient system for AI hardware, data centers, HPC, and autonomous driving. The company plans wafer-scale fabrication with a 300mm FabONE in Aachen, targeting pilot production by 2027 and mass production by 2031, supported by European funding and equity investors.
Company Size
51-200
Company Stage
Series A
Total Funding
$287.4M
Headquarters
Aachen, Germany
Founded
2020
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Critical Manufacturing started FabONE MES work in December 2025, signaling real construction progress.
- RWTH Aachen honored Black Semiconductor on 5 September 2026, boosting local talent and partner credibility.
- LinkedIn showed 141 employees in July 2026, indicating hiring momentum across process, packaging, and facilities.
What critics are saying
- FabONE still lacks proven pilot production; one process failure delays 2027 output and 2031 volume.
- €228.7 million public support ties survival to German and NRW budget discipline and IPCEI milestones.
- Intel, Broadcom, and silicon-photonics incumbents can outspend Black Semiconductor before first revenues.
What makes Black Semiconductor unique
- Black Semiconductor integrates graphene photonics and CMOS electronics on one wafer, not separate packages.
- FabONE in Aachen targets the world’s first 300mm graphene photonic pilot fab.
- Applied Nanolayers brought in-house graphene production, shortening its scaling path versus pure fabless rivals.
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Benefits
Health Insurance
Flexible Work Hours
Stock Options
Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
↑ 3%1 year growth
↓ -1%2 year growth
↑ 4%Black Semiconductor partners with Critical Manufacturing for FabONE automation. FabONE facility leverages advanced MES and ai-enabled automation for next-generation graphene-based semiconductor production. Critical Manufacturing, a leading provider of Manufacturing Operations Platforms (MOP), has been chosen by Black Semiconductor GmbH to deliver the Manufacturing Execution System (MES) and automation backbone for the company's new 300mm semiconductor wafer facility, FabONE, in Aachen. The state-of-the-art facility will scale Black Semiconductor's graphene-based chip interconnect technology into a mass-production environment, representing one of Europe's most ambitious semiconductor innovation projects. FabONE: A next-generation greenfield semiconductor fab. FabONE is a fully automated greenfield frontend fab, designed from the ground up for high-efficiency semiconductor production. Black Semiconductor conducted a competitive Request for Proposal (RfP) to select a partner capable of managing the complexities of a next-generation fab. Critical Manufacturing's proven expertise in automated frontend semiconductor facilities was a key factor in its selection. "FabONE represents a significant step for our technology enablement and for the European semiconductor ecosystem," said Samivel Krishnamoorthy, Senior Director of Fab Automation & Integration at Black Semiconductor. "Critical Manufacturing's complete MOM capabilities give us the foundation to achieve production maturity quickly, reliably, and at scale." Comprehensive MES and automation capabilities. Critical Manufacturing will provide a full suite of MES modules for FabONE, integrated with: * Equipment Integration (EI) via Connect IoT modules * Automated Material Handling System (AMHS) connectivity * ERP system integration * AI-enabled data platform for advanced analytics and decision-making Once operational, FabONE is designed to run with minimal operator intervention, enabling Black Semiconductor to validate process stability, demonstrate manufacturability, and progress toward volume production. Advancing European semiconductor innovation. For Critical Manufacturing, the FabONE project represents a major milestone in Europe. The company has extensive experience in automation frameworks for compound semiconductors and microelectronics, and FabONE showcases its readiness to support advanced 300mm frontend semiconductor manufacturing. "Graphene-based chip interconnects are a bold step for the industry," said Tom Bednarz, Managing Director at Critical Manufacturing Germany. "Turning that vision into a production-capable reality requires an MES that can keep pace with constant innovation. We are proud to support Black Semiconductor with a highly automated and adaptable platform." Driving data-driven, industry 4.0 manufacturing. The partnership highlights the growing importance of digital infrastructure in semiconductor competitiveness. By combining Critical Manufacturing's MES expertise with Black Semiconductor's cutting-edge technology, FabONE is positioned to become a cornerstone of next-generation semiconductor manufacturing in Europe, setting new standards for automation, efficiency, and scalability.
Black Semiconductor has raised €254 million to develop graphene-based chips, providing a significant boost to the European semiconductor sector. The funding aims to support new hardware and software innovations, potentially creating new industries and niches. The European Space Agency (ESA) is also exploring new battery technologies for space missions, seeking alternatives to Russian plutonium. This development could enhance opportunities for European startups, particularly in markets like Dubai.
Black Semiconductor has raised €254 million for its graphene-based chips, providing a significant boost to the European semiconductor sector. The investment aims to enhance infrastructure, particularly in low-income urban and rural areas, and improve supply chains for clean industries. The initiative aligns with broader goals of promoting economic security, clean water, and environmental justice.
Black Semiconductor acquires material specialist Applied Nanolayers to accelerate technology development of energy-efficient, high-performance chip technology.
Black Semiconductor, a chip connectivity pioneer integrating photonics and electronics on the same wafer, has announced the acquisition of Applied Nanolayers (ANL).