Discover People at Soitec

My name is Walter Schwarzenbach, and I currently work as a Technology Manager in the Innovation department.

My background

I began my career in research, focusing on plasma surface treatment, after earning an engineering degree in physics from the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne.

I then pursued a PhD in Grenoble, centered on the physics of industrial plasmas. My work involved surface treatments and the interactions between plasmas and surfaces.

After that, I moved into the industrial sector, gaining experience at Tetra Pak, where I also worked on surface preparation.

My experience at Soitec

When I joined Soitec in November 2000, the company was still a young start-up, newly established on the Bernin site — back then, we didn’t even refer to it as Bernin 1. There were around 140 of us at the time, and I started as a development engineer.

My role then evolved toward integration, with the launch of the 300 mm line at the Bernin 2 site. I later took charge of product integration and project management for 300 mm digital products.

From 2009 to 2015, I held the position of Product Manager, with a stronger focus on customer vision. I then moved into the role of Technology Manager, which I still hold today. Since 2019, I’ve been involved in the development of SmartSiC, and since 2024, I’ve been working on both SmartSiC and SmartGaN.

For me, being a Technology Manager is a perfect link between project management, technological innovation, and listening to customer needs — it offers a 360° perspective, from R&D all the way through to the industrialization of solutions.

My voluntary commitment

Alongside my professional career, I serve as an operational reservist in the French Air and Space Force, one of the three main branches of our armed forces. It comprises around 50,000 personnel, including 5,000 reservists. The reserve plays a vital role and is set to grow in the coming years across all our missions: Protect, Intervene, Deter.

I’ve been engaged since 2004 and have had the opportunity to take on various responsibilities. My first role was as an air traffic controller — more specifically, an airspace manager — ensuring the proper coordination between civilian and military air activities.

Today, I continue my commitment at the École des pupilles de l’air et de l’espace, a school run by the Ministry of the Armed Forces, welcoming students from middle school to preparatory classes. I serve as the coordinator for the Escadrille Air Jeunesse, a program designed to introduce high school students to aviation and national defense.

Being a reservist means choosing a fulfilling double life, where values like discipline, knowledge-sharing, and team coordination are reinforced in both military and corporate environments. There’s nothing more rewarding than guiding young talent, sparking new passions, and sharing meaningful moments — like awarding distinctions or introducing students to the world of aviation.

And outside of all that?

One of my dreams is, of course, tied to my passion for aviation. If anyone ever has a spare seat in the back of a Rafale to break the sound barrier — I’m absolutely in!