DURHAM – As Wolfspeed continues to prepare to construct its $5 billion facility in Chatham County and expand the semiconductor company’s existing Durham headquarters, the firm is bolstering its talent pipeline.

The next cohort of Wolfspeed manufacturing technician classes is set to begin in January 2023.  The company is hiring for more than 250 positions according to the latest WRAL TechWire Jobs Report and more than 460 roles total.

Snce December 2021, 71 Wolfspeed employees completed a technician course provided to employees in partnership with Durham Tech, with a graduation ceremony held in person last week.

But that’s just the latest in a long-standing partnership between the two entities, as a statement details a 20-year long collaboration in developing and delivering customized workforce training.

This specific training program for Manufacturing Process Technicians or Manufacturing Equipment Technicians began in January 2020.  The goal is for Wolfspeed to increase the number of workers who would qualify for technician positions.

Topics learned and practiced during the cohort program included workplace success, safety, chemistry, electronics, sensors, robotics, Lean Six Sigma, problem solving, and statistical techniques.

Wolfspeed announces $5 billion investment in Chatham County, largest in NC history

How it works

According to a statement, existing Wolfspeed workers with operations positions are encouraged to participate in the technician training.

Following completion of the course and earning a certificate, workers can opt to interview within Wolfspeed for a promotion to a process technician or equipment technician role.

Additionally, the Durham-headquartered company provides workers tuition reimbursement and sponsorship programs.

“Wolfspeed is the kind of company Durham Tech wants to partner with – not just because they represent a dynamic industry sector and great career opportunities – but because they care about and invest in their employees’ personal and professional growth,” said JB Buxton, Durham Tech President in the statement.

In total, the partnership between Durham Tech and Wolfspeed has resulted in 162 workers completing the technician certificate program since it began in January 2020.

“With the recent announcement of a new materials factory being built in Siler City, we look forward to not only continuing to invest in the development of our current employees, but we also look forward to building our future talent pipeline in partnership with Durham Tech,” said Rex Felton, Senior Vice President of Wolfspeed Global Operations.

Wolfspeed will invest $5 billion in the new facility in Chatham County, the company announced in September.

The next cohort of Wolfspeed manufacturing technician classes is set to begin in January 2023.  The company is hiring for more than 250 positions according to the latest WRAL TechWire Jobs Report and more than 460 roles total.

VinFast, an manufacturer of electric vehicles, is also on track to open a new $4 billion facility in 2024, for which the organization is setting up training programs within the North Carolina Community College System, an executive told WRAL TechWire last week.

VinFast to build a talent pipeline for techs ahead of 2024 plant opening