Leslie joined Silicon Box when the team was barely 20 people strong, with no physical product and the factory still under construction, stepping into a bold vision rather than an established operation. Our factory was, in fact, being built next to his previous company, and he watched the barren land gradually transform. When he learned that Silicon Box was building a state-of-the-art factory, he felt it was time for a new challenge after several years in the same company.
While he did not have direct semiconductor experience, he had experience in backend processing and navigated the shift toward smart manufacturing, AI-driven automation, and Industry 4.0. However, when he started at Silicon Box, the factory was only 60% complete. Instead of working on engineering projects, he was either “firefighting” or collaborating with leadership on workspace design, from layout to interiors. It was beyond his technical role, but it was an experience he recalls fondly. The moment that gave him the chance to showcase his expertise finally arrived when he was tasked with designing systems that support other teams.
Leslie's journey shows how perseverance and a growth mindset in a startup environment, with big-company advantages like Silicon Box, provide many opportunities to identify areas for improvement and build new things.
When you talk about Silicon Box to friends or family, what excites you most?
What excites me most about Silicon Box is how we’re rethinking advanced semiconductor packaging at scale—turning cutting-edge technologies like chiplets into something manufacturable, reliable, and impactful in the real world. We are using large-sized panels unique to Silicon Box to process chips instead of traditional round wafers. I’m also proud to work alongside incredibly talented, mission-driven people who tackle challenges across an extremely complex process flow using smart, scalable systems.
What keeps you engaged and motivated in your role with Silicon Box today?
I believe it’s my passion for the work and the challenge of building from scratch, with no playbook to follow. The problems are real, complex, and impactful, and I stay motivated by solving them alongside a committed, open-minded team that pushes through challenges together. Knowing that our work directly shapes Silicon Box’s vision is what makes me show up every day.
“Leslie is always open to new ideas and challenges, and I’m especially grateful for his support of my creative (and sometimes “bold,” but we made it happen) projects — from design to the development of our in-house system. His open-mindedness and embrace of new technologies like AI and machine learning have been a driving force behind our success, particularly in the semiconductor field.” - Team Manager
What does passion mean to you?
Passion is about giving 100% to the work I’m doing and leading with that energy. I believe that this level of commitment can drive the team and lift overall morale. Even when I don’t have all the answers, I stay focused on a clear direction and keep moving forward. It’s also about balancing a hard and soft approach—driving results while creating the right environment for the team to stay motivated and perform at their best.
Describe a moment when you felt most connected to our company's mission. What were you working on, and what made it meaningful?
I felt most connected to Silicon Box’s mission when I was tasked to help design and build one of our robotic systems from scratch. Working on the project made me feel aligned with the company’s goals of becoming a state-of-the-art advanced packaging fab—bringing complex, first‑of‑its‑kind process flows together to enable a true “lights off” manufacturing environment. Knowing that this work contributes to the future of advanced packaging on a scale that no one else is doing is incredibly motivating.
Can you share a moment that really captures your team's culture?
One moment that really stuck with me was during the setup phase, when we were still a lean team. I was working solo on a project with a broad scope and shifting timelines, so I had to ask for help—and other engineers on the team joined me without hesitation, even though they already had their own responsibilities. We worked through intense periods in the fab, staying back night after night and on weekends to solve problems side by side. Success was no longer about individual ownership but about teamwork, shared responsibility, and mutual support, which became the foundation of our team’s culture!
#RealTalk: What is a common challenge you face, how you approach it, and what did you learn?
When delivering complex systems in the fab, requirements and constraints are constantly changing. Instead of focusing on what went wrong, my approach is to stay open‑minded, listen to the team's suggestions, and focus on practical solutions that move things forward. It's important to create an environment where everyone feels comfortable contributing ideas; this way, we can adapt quickly and make the priority clear and simple—get things done together without finger-pointing. From this experience, I learned that openness, collaboration, and focusing on solutions rather than blame are key to navigating fast-changing environments.
#Heart2Heart: Have you thought about quitting? And what made you stay?
Yes. I’ve thought about quitting because there are moments when I feel like I can’t do anything. It also made me really reflect on myself and my role as a leader. I stayed because I feel responsible for what happens next and for the people who genuinely want to keep building the company. I saw challenges as opportunities that needed to be addressed, and I felt a strong responsibility to help move things forward, especially because I know our team is capable and has a lot to offer.
A principle of mine is that when I accept a challenge, I see it as a promise, and I intend to keep it. I will do my best and stay positive, and at the same time, I choose to lead with transparency, so the team understands what I’m facing and feels part of the journey. When things are tough, walking away is not an option. As a leader, I feel the need to take care of my subordinates.
When someone considering joining Silicon Box asks, ‘What’s it really like to work there?’, what would you tell them?
Working at Silicon Box is fast-paced, challenging, and deeply rewarding. You’ll be pushing boundaries—solving new and complex problems in advanced semiconductor packaging—within a dynamic environment with ambitious timelines. If you enjoy hands-on problem-solving, taking ownership, and being part of a close-knit team that supports one another to build something truly first of its kind, Silicon Box is a great place to be.
Passion leads to opportunities for growth
After a successful set-up phase, he is on to his next challenge: Growing our engineering teams and developing their capabilities to expand our production capacity—his biggest mission yet! “You can predict a machine, but you can’t predict a person,” he jokes, about the challenge.
#FunFact: When asked to describe Leslie, one of his team members said:
“We often compare him to Nick Fury—always ten steps ahead. He leads with passion and energy. When things get hard, he doesn’t shy away from raising the heat when standards aren’t met, but that fire comes from a genuine drive to get things right. Behind the tough edge is someone who shows up every time it matters. When problems arise, he steps in decisively, cuts through the noise, and gets things back on track. His high expectations push the team to perform better, and his presence ensures no challenge is faced alone. In short, a leader with fire, focus, and a strong instinct to protect and guide his team forward.” - Engineer
With Silicon Box's ongoing expansion of production capacity, Leslie is looking for engineers who thrive in a dynamic startup environment, take initiative in problem-solving, and want to help shape the future of advanced semiconductor packaging.
If you’re up for a working environment where engineers mentor associates and teams troubleshoot side by side, you could be a great fit! We believe learning should be a shared experience that strengthens both technical skills and team cohesion, and that persistence is not just about pushing through problems but growing through them.
View available positions on LinkedIn or on MyCareersFuture!
