Zürich, Switzerland
Dr.-Ing. Frederic Demmerle
Bridging semiconductor physics, high-power electronics, and R&D leadership — from quantum cascade lasers in Munich to electrification and industrial power in Zürich.
I am an electrical engineer (Dr.-Ing.) and IPMA-certified project leader living in Zürich. Over the past decade, my work has centered on turning complex semiconductor and power-electronic technologies into reliable, large-scale industrial and e-mobility products — leading cross-site engineering teams and international R&D programs at ABB and Infineon Technologies.
Before moving into industry, I spent six years at the Walter Schottky Institut at TU Munich researching nonlinear quantum cascade lasers and terahertz photonics, where I enjoyed the craft of device physics, cleanroom fabrication, and mentoring students.
Outside of engineering leadership, I enjoy life in Switzerland, staying curious at the intersection of hardware and software, and occasionally tinkering with Python and quantitative side projects.
Professional Path
Industry & ResearchProject Manager
Leading complex engineering and technology projects in power electronics and electrification.
Senior Manager — Automotive Division
Built and led a Product Engineering (PRE) group across two sites developing high-power SiC and IGBT semiconductors (bare die and discrete) for e-mobility applications.
- Established a new organizational unit, hiring and leading a team of 8 engineers across two locations.
- Directed the PRE roadmap and project portfolio for Silicon Carbide (SiC) screening, reliability, and bare-die quality strategies.
- Served as task-force problem-solving lead across R&D and production interfaces.
Project & Program Manager — Green Industrial Power
Program and project lead for power semiconductor technologies targeting industrial drives, solar and wind inverters, and power supplies.
- Program Manager for the 1200V TRENCHSTOP™ IGBT7 portfolio (bare die and discrete) across technology, product, and assembly development.
- Led commercial release of 1200V TRENCHSTOP™ IGBT7 H7 technology, including an on-site production assignment.
Scientific Researcher (Dr.-Ing.)
Doctoral research at the Chair of Prof. Dr. M.-C. Amann on design, simulation, cleanroom fabrication, and characterization of semiconductor laser devices.
- Published over 30 articles in leading journals (including Nature, Nature Photonics, Nature Communications, and Advanced Optical Materials) with >1,400 citations.
- Presented at more than 20 international conferences, supervised 8 academic theses, and taught courses for up to 450 students.
Education
Academic FoundationDr.-Ing. in Electrical Engineering
2012 – 2018Technische Universität München (Walter Schottky Institut) · Munich, Germany
Thesis: Terahertz Emission by Difference Frequency Generation in Nonlinear Quantum Cascade Lasers
Diplom-Ingenieur in Electrical Engineering
2006 – 2011Universität Ulm · Ulm, Germany
Graduated with distinction (1.4). Thesis on optically pumped semiconductor disk lasers.
Visiting Exchange Scholar (Baden-Württemberg Stipendium)
2009 – 2010University of Connecticut (UConn) · Storrs, CT, USA
Focus on Power Electronic Design and Semiconductor Devices & Models.
Contact
If you would like to get in touch or say hello, feel free to send a note below or connect via LinkedIn .