Felix Kaess

Managing Director & Semiconductor Expert

Germany

About

Dr. Felix Kaess is a technical manager, a specialist for wide-bandgap semiconductors, and a science enthusiast with a versatile STEM-background. | Applied Physicist | Technical Executive | Passionate Learner and Teacher | Materials Engineer |

Experience

  • Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, PTB (Braunschweig & Berlin · On-site)
    • Managing Director
      Apr 2025 - Present · 1 yr 4 mos

      Head of the Health Innovation Cluster (IC-G). Presidential Staff (PSt)

    • Presidential Staff (PSt)
      Sep 2024 - Apr 2025 · 8 mos

      External Audits Semiconductors & Battery Energy Storage Systems International Funding

  • Director of Product Engineering at R+F FilterElements GmbH
    Jun 2024 - Present · 2 yrs 2 mos

    Development of new electromagnetic filter products based on different emerging wide-bandgap material technologies.

  • Senior Manager, Tech Applications at Diamond Foundry
    Dec 2023 - Aug 2024 · 9 mos

    Widening the thermal bottleneck of the AI and compound semiconductor tech industry. RnD and Product Management of SCD (Single Crystal Diamond) thermal applications, mainly for data center, power electronics, and wireless applications (in conjunction with Si, SiC, or GaN chips).

  • IQE (4 yrs 8 mos)
    • Customer Engineering Manager
      Jan 2022 - Mar 2023 · 1 yr 3 mos

      Responsible for organizing between internal and external teams, including technology, engineering, administrative and business Communication of semi technology to internal and external partners (covering all GaN and SiC sectors) Leading collaborations with diverse international teams in NA, EMEA, APAC, ranging from academic, government, up to Fortune 500 organizations

    • Product Manager (WBG)
      Mar 2020 - Jan 2022 · 1 yr 11 mos

      Technical executive within the Wireless Business Unit (WBU) of IQE. Responsible for account support, product management (all GaN sectors), market analysis, product development, and product promotion.

    • GaN Technology Manager
      Aug 2018 - Mar 2020 · 1 yr 8 mos

      1) Technical Point of Contact (TPOC) for various technologies – technical face of IQE to assigned customers 2) Technical leader for GaN development programs – close interaction with local site engineering and program management teams as well as collaboration with other sites and institutions 3) Responsible for setting R&D budgets (time and financial) and driving to stay on budget while achieving technical objectives. 4) Technical leader in identifying and investigating next generation technologies and advisor regarding generic product and process improvements required to maintain competitiveness in relevant markets 5) Support the IQE Group as required for customer queries, technical and opportunity reviews, continuous improvement, etc.

  • R&D Manager at Adroit Materials
    Jun 2017 - Aug 2018 · 1 yr 3 mos

    Work on different DoE, DoD and NSF projects developing UV laser diodes and vertical GaN power devices. Project management on both processing and epitaxial growth of low-defect GaN & AlGaN devices by MOCVD.