Global Supplier Quality Manager

Shape the quality and reliability of critical components used in revolutionary semiconductor metrology systems.

About Nearfield Instruments
Nearfield Instruments (NFI) is a fast-growing scale-up high-tech company. We design, develop, integrate, market and service advanced metrology machines. Our machines enable our customers - the world’s leading chipmakers – to increase the production yields, and thus, functionality of their microchips, which in turn leads to smaller, more powerful consumer electronics.

Founded in 2016, we bring together the most creative minds (approx. 420 employees) in science and technology and develop a one-of-a-kind, revolutionary high throughput Scanning Probe Microscopy system.

What will you be doing?

The Supply Chain Quality Manager drives supplier quality, component reliability, and manufacturing readiness across a highly complex semiconductor equipment supply chain. This role ensures that critical modules, precision parts, vacuum components, motion systems, electronics, and cleanroom‑sensitive assemblies meet stringent quality, safety, and regulatory requirements.

You will manage supplier qualification, conduct advanced problem solving lead technical audits, and collaborate with engineering, NPI, and global sourcing teams to ensure stable, predictable supply for high‑mix, high‑precision semiconductor tools.

Key Responsibilities

1. Supplier Quality & Performance Management

• Own end‑to‑end supplier quality for mechanical, electrical, optical, and precision manufacturing suppliers.

• Qualify new suppliers aligned with stringent semicon standards and technical specifications.

• Plan and execute Process Audits, QMS Audits, and Manufacturing Readiness Reviews.

• Lead PPAP/FAI activities for new components and engineering changes.

• Track supplier KPIs: defect rates, DPPM, NCR closures, OTD, and escape incidents.

• Drive structured 8D / RCCA investigations with suppliers and ensure sustainable corrective actions.

2. Quality Assurance for System Modules

• Ensure quality of complex build‑to-print and build‑to-spec modules.

• Review engineering drawings, tolerances, BOMs, and specifications to ensure manufacturability.

• Support NPI ramp‑up by aligning suppliers on capability, process stability, and capacity.

• Maintain strict cleanliness and contamination‑control requirements.

3. Risk, Compliance & Reliability

• Ensure suppliers comply with relevant standards.

• Support reliability and field quality teams in failure analysis (FA) and component validation.

• Manage quality incidents, SCARs, and potential supply disruptions.

4. Continuous Improvement & Operational Excellence

• Lead Lean / Six Sigma initiatives to reduce DPPM and improve uptime and yield.

• Improve incoming inspection, sampling plans, and quality gate controls.

• Partner with engineering and procurement to redesign components or processes for better quality, cost, and delivery performance.

• Drive adoption of digital quality tools (SPC dashboards, supplier portals, predictive analytics).

5. Cross‑Functional & Global Collaboration

• Work closely with global sourcing, R&D/NPI engineering, manufacturing operations, field services, and logistics teams.

• Align with global HQ and regional counterparts on supplier strategy, qualification, and escalations.

• Provide quality training internally and externally (suppliers, internal stakeholders).

Why is the position interesting for you?

·         Impact on cutting-edge technology: work directly with the world’s leading semiconductor companies and help improve the performance of next-generation microchips that power smaller, faster, and more powerful electronics.

·         High-tech, complex challenges: manage supplier quality across advanced technologies such as precision mechanics, vacuum systems, motion control, and electronics in a fast-growing deep-tech scale-up environment.

·         Cross-functional influence in a growing company: collaborate closely with engineering, NPI, sourcing, and manufacturing teams while shaping supplier strategy and quality standards in a rapidly expanding high-tech organization

What are we looking for?

A scale up can provide phenomenal learning and development opportunities but can also be a hectic environment at times. You must fit in such a climate and don’t mind to constantly implementing changes and process improvements, and to go the extra mile on a regular basis and feel comfortable with some uncertainty.

Furthermore, you need to recognize yourself in the profile as described below.

Education

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering, Materials Science, or equivalent.

• Six Sigma certification (Green/Black Belt) preferred.

Experience

• 8+ years in supply chain quality, supplier engineering, or manufacturing engineering.

• Strong experience in the semiconductor equipment, precision engineering, optics, robotics, vacuum technology, or high‑tech capital equipment industries.

• Proven ability to manage complex suppliers (precision machining, sheet metal, PCBAs, mechatronics, optics).

• Hands‑on experience with PPAP, 8D, FMEA, APQP, SPC, metrology techniques, and statistical analysis.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong engineering fundamentals in mechanical and/or electrical domains.

• Excellent analytical and problem‑solving skills.

• Ability to read complex engineering drawings

• Strong communication skills and ability to influence suppliers and internal teams.

• Experience in cleanroom or contamination‑controlled manufacturing is a plus.

Apply for this job

If the above challenges excite you, we encourage you to send us your details using the Apply now button on our career site.

Our recruitment process:

·         Call with Recruiter

·         Interviews with our Head of Supply Chain, Director of Operations, Director D&E and our HR Business Partner

·         Conditional offer and reference check

·         Meeting our CEO

·         Onboarding and welcome at Nearfield Instruments!