Matthias Maasch

Senior Project Manager | Scaling Execution in Complex Engineering Organizations | MKS Inc.

Berlin, Berlin, Germany

About

With a background in naval architecture, ship hydrodynamics, and CFD research, I spent several years in academic research, including time in Glasgow and Shanghai, before moving into industry. What drew me to program management was the same thing that drove me to engineering: access to complex systems and the chance to make them work better. In a multi-site, cross-functional environment, that means every function, every workflow, every bottleneck is within reach. I do my best work where the problem isn’t capability but how the organization around the teams is structured. I work from data and first principles, and I find that most execution problems have a rational solution. It usually takes the right visibility and the willingness to redesign how things work rather than add another layer on top. Currently leading a portfolio of ~20 programs at MKS Inc across Germany, Italy, and the US, from early R&D through to mature product lines in semiconductor equipment. The goal behind all of it: engineers focused on engineering, leadership with the visibility to decide.

Experience

  • MKS Inc. ()
    • Senior Project Manager
      Apr 2026 - Present · 4 mos

      I lead multi-site engineering programs across three countries and do my best work in complex, distributed environments or where execution needs restructuring. Based in Berlin, I manage a portfolio of ~20 programs across Germany, Italy, and the US - spanning early R&D, advanced development, and mature product lines in semiconductor gas, plasma, and microwave technologies. The multi-site setup introduces significant complexity: different working cultures, time zone gaps, and a cross-functional scope across engineering, operations, quality, and supply chain. I work across these dimensions to keep execution consistent and delivery predictable. In parallel, I work with GMs and VPs on portfolio priorities, trade-offs, and execution direction. A core focus is improving how execution scales - simplifying reporting structures, reducing coordination overhead, and introducing systems that make progress and risk visible without adding work for engineering teams.

    • Project Manager
      Jan 2023 - Present · 3 yrs 7 mos

      Management of projects for the MKS business units Berlin (Germany) and Reggio Emilia (Italy)

    • Sustaining Manager
      Jan 2022 - Jan 2023 · 1 yr 1 mo

  • Project Engineer at Defabe Denkfabrik Berlin UG
    Aug 2019 - Dec 2021 · 2 yrs 5 mos

    Project management & CAE engineering

  • CAE Simulation Engineer at CAE Consulting (Self-employed)
    Apr 2018 - Aug 2019 · 1 yr 5 mos

  • CAE Engineer at FRIENDSHIP SYSTEMS AG
    Jan 2013 - Mar 2018 · 5 yrs 3 mos

    FRIENDSHIP SYSTEMS develops and provides software solutions for efficient design and performance optimization. It is part of a worldwide operating network of technical consulting, assurance and classification in various industry branches. www.caeses.com As a CAE Engineer I was engaged in software testing, project automation, professional software training and customer support as well as R&D projects.