Robert Gallegos

About Robert Gallegos

I am an engineering and operations executive with over 20 years of experience leading technology, manufacturing, and quality organizations in aerospace, defense, semiconductors, and advanced manufacturing. My career has been built on taking new technologies from concept through R&D and into full-scale production, while shaping the strategy, systems, and teams required to deliver results.I bring a strong balance of engineering depth and operational leadership. On the manufacturing side, I’ve scaled production from prototypes to global high-volume manufacturing, led complex technology transfers, and built multi-site operations that drive both growth and efficiency. On the quality side, I oversaw organizations that achieved ISO and AS9100 certifications, guided companies through numerous audits, and embedded QA/QC discipline into daily operations to strengthen compliance and customer trust.Career highlights:Scaled AR hardware manufacturing at Snap Inc. from prototype to high-volume production, increasing fab capacity by 180% and assembly throughput by 500%.Standardized processes across 9 acquired companies at Align Precision, improving on-time delivery from 40% to 93% while integrating enterprise systems.Transitioned next-gen photonics and space technologies from R&D into high-volume manufacturing at Rocketlab across multiple global sites.Built global manufacturing programs at Intel and ASM, managing multimillion-dollar fab expansions and complex technology transfers.I focus on the intersection of engineering, operations, and strategy—ensuring new technologies scale reliably, efficiently, and profitably. I’m also committed to developing future leaders and supporting the broader engineering community through advisory work in education and workforce development.Core Expertise: Engineering & Manufacturing Strategy | Technology Scale-Up | Aerospace & Defense Programs | Semiconductor Operations | R&D to Production Transitions | Quality Systems (ISO/AS9100)| Multi-Site Leadership | Lean & Digital Transformation | M&A Integration | Program & Quality Management

Experience

1. Director, Quality and Engineering

   ALIGN PRECISION

   Nov 2025 — Present · Tempe, AZ, US

Education

• The University of New Mexico

  Bachelor of Science, Physics

Skills

• Characterization
• Optics
• Reliability
• Electronics
• Semiconductors
• Pvd
• Six Sigma
• Microelectronics
• Process Simulation
• Failure Analysis
• Semiconductor Industry
• Engineering Management
• Photovoltaics
• Mems
• R&D
• Metrology
• Engineering
• Process Engineering
• Photolithography
• Solar Cells
• Design of Experiments
• Manufacturing
• Thin Films
• Cross-Functional Team Leadership
• Cvd
• Optoelectronics
• Aerospace Engineering
• Mocvd
• Spc
• Testing
• Product Engineering
• Solar Energy