Senior Project Manager R&D

At Nearfield Instruments we're looking for a Senior Project Manager R&D to join our team.

About the job:

As Senior Project Manager – R&D, you will lead the execution of our innovative and challenging R&D projects that enables the next-generation metrology solutions for advanced semiconductor manufacturing. You will work closely with our R&D team and will enable the multi-disciplinary team working on hardware, software, and algorithm development to push the boundaries of nanoscale measurements. Your role is pivotal in ensuring that the technologies and AFM-based metrology systems being developed by the R&D team, to meet customer performance requirements and delivery timelines. You will support the R&D Manager who drives the R&D technology roadmap.

What will you be doing?

• Lead end-to-end R&D projects for AFM-based metrology tools, from concept through prototype and validation, making it ready for productization.

• Develop and maintain detailed project plans including timelines, resource allocation, deliverables, and risk management.

• Coordinate the cross-functional team in applied physics, optics, mechanics, controls and electronics.

• Drive alignment between technical development and customer/market requirements in collaboration with product marketing.

• Drive deliverables needed for productization in collaboration with the product development programs, design & engineering and the system engineering team.

• Monitor progress against technical milestones and budget; escalate issues and drive resolution to keep projects on track.

• Ensure compliance with quality and regulatory requirements (e.g., SEMI standards).

• Facilitate cross-site and cross-functional communication; act as a key liaison between R&D, Product Marketing, Systems Engineering and D&E.

• Support continuous improvement of program execution processes, particularly within highly technical and precision-focused environments.

What do we require from you?

• Technical Acumen – Metrology & AFM Understanding of AFM technologies, precision mechanics, nanoscale measurement, and semiconductor metrology applications. Project & Program Management.

• Expertise in managing complex, cross-functional R&D projects using structured methodologies (e.g., Agile, Stage-Gate).

• Systems Thinking Ability to manage interdependencies across software, hardware, algorithms, and customer requirements in complex tool development.

• Risk & Issue Management Skilled in identifying, analyzing, and mitigating technical and schedule risks throughout the development lifecycle.

• Stakeholder Management Effectively communicates with technical teams, senior leadership, suppliers, and customers; builds alignment across functions.

• Data-Driven Decision Making Uses analytical thinking and quantitative data to support trade-off decisions and performance tracking.

• Quality and Compliance Knowledge of SEMI standards, design validation processes, and quality control within semiconductor tool development.

• Strategic Execution Focus on business goals and customer needs and translating them into actionable R&D plans; aligns project scope with organizational priorities.

• Influence Without Authority Builds trust and motivates diverse technical teams, even when reporting lines do not exist.

• Collaboration & Cross-Functional Leadership Brings together experts from design, software, mechanical engineering, applications, and marketing to drive results.

• Change Agility Comfortable navigating ambiguity, adjusting plans in dynamic settings, and leading others through change.

• Results Orientation Holds self and others accountable for delivering milestones, quality, and outcomes under pressure.

• Innovation Enablement Fosters a culture of experimentation, learning, and continuous technical improvement within the team.

• Communication & Transparency Communicates program goals, progress, and risks clearly to both technical teams and executive leadership

Recruitment, consultancy and/or other agency?

We appreciate the interest, but we source all our candidates directly. We understand that you as an intermediary want to present candidates to our interesting positions. This is not how we have structured our recruitment.

This means that all profiles offered to Nearfield Instruments will be treated as direct applications. Unless we have explicitly agreed otherwise.