Chelmsford-based Hittite designs and manufactures integrated circuits, modules, subsystems, and instrumentation for digital, RF, microwave, and millimeterwave applications.

Previously, Hess, 59,was a vice president at American Superconductor Corp. and before that, president and chief executive of Konarka Technologies Inc. He has been a member of Hittite’s board since 2005.

Hittite’s board also said that Franklin Weigold had been named chairman.

Outgoing chief executive Daly joined Hittite in 1996. In 2004, he was promoted to president and chief executive and took the company public in 2005.

In a statement, Daly said, “The decision to step down was initiated by me, as I am ready to set new goals for myself outside of Hittite.”