Director, Manufacturing Operations

You probably don’t realize it, but what we do at Veeco touches the lives of every person, every day. It’s a bold statement, but it’s true. From the smartphones in our pockets that access the world’s collective knowledge, to the cloud-based services where all that information lives, to high-speed wireless communication and computing power needed to drive artificial intelligence, augmented and virtual reality, gaming and so much more, our technology is all around us.

We design, develop, manufacture, and service highly complex, cutting‑edge machines used by our customers to create the essential devices that drive the digital age, connect the world, and improve the human experience. Along with the world’s leading technology companies, many of which are household names, we help solve their most difficult material science challenges, enabling technologies for a more connected, sustainable, and convenient world.

We’re looking for material difference‑makers to join our growing team. Interested? Learn more at

Veeco is looking for a Manufacturing Operations Executive who is excellent in strategy, execution and leadership. In this role, you’ll lead a manufacturing organization responsible for delivering a large portion of the corporate revenue, work with product groups to develop and release new products into volume manufacturing and build and enhance an integrate‑to‑order manufacturing strategy. The Director of Manufacturing Operations reports directly to the Global Operations leadership and serves as a key member of the Somerset Operations management team.

This position requires an operations executive with extensive experience leading manufacturing operations worldwide with expertise in manufacturing, international supply chain, operations and strategic planning.

This is a demanding and highly visible role that requires foresight, superb execution in a fast‑paced, challenging, high‑tech environment, and exceptional organizational development and leadership skills.

• Direct the Sub‑assembly, Assembly, and Test teams to meet corporate strategies and business objectives in Veeco’s Somerset, NJ, factory (about 60 people)
• Focus on a culture of Safety first. Achieve/Maintain a zero incidents KPI.
• Achieve world‑class quality metrics for in‑box and out‑of‑box quality.
• Ensure customer satisfaction through On‑time‑shipments of > 95% to commit.
• Establish annual budget and resource plan for the site manufacturing operations. Deliver to/ exceed plan.
• Ensure continuing compliance to all quality and safety standards (including ISO 9001 certification), and a 6S score of > 4.0 in all areas.
• Develop a world‑class organization – training, mentoring, coaching and leading. Critically assess department staff abilities and take action to ensure long‑term health, productivity, and a high‑performance culture.
• Establish a roadmap for productivity improvements - Benchmark, Track hours‑earned/hours‑burned, and run continuous improvement/ lean programs.
• Lead the daily GEMBA to ensure all critical roadblocks are resolved.
• Lead Production related quality investigations/improvement plans via structured problem solving/ 8D analysis, and Shift‑Left activities
• Execute product transition plans within the product life cycle management phase‑gate process.
• Be a progressive thinker & role model: enable efficiency enhancing tools such as Lean manufacturing and cycle time reduction through automated test methods to easily detect/correct manufacturing issues. Support a merge‑in‑transit model.

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Operations Management and a minimum of 10 years of experience with increasing responsibility in a Manufacturing Operations leadership role managing, several aspects outlined above is required. Large scale (>$1million ASP), complex (>1000 line BOM), high mix, low volume capital equipment manufacturing experience is also required. Must also have experience with Quality Management Techniques like Lean, Value Mapping, Six Sigma, 8D.

• Knowledge of semiconductor capital equipment is strongly preferred.
• Strong financial background coupled with solid business acumen needed…