Director of Contract Manufacturing

About the Role

Owns the manufacturing relationship between our organization and our precision machining supplier base. This role sits at the intersection of mechanical engineering, quality, and supply chain — and is critical to ensuring our machined components (chambers, housings, brackets, shafts, plates, and assemblies) are delivered on time, to print, and at cost.

The ideal candidate has spent meaningful time on machine shop floors, understands what drives variation in CNC machining operations, and can translate that knowledge into supplier accountability and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

Supplier Relationship & Factory Engagement

• Serve as the primary point of contact and escalation for an assigned portfolio of precision machining suppliers (CNC turning, milling, grinding, EDM, lapping, and related processes)
• Conduct regular on-site factory visits to assess shop floor operations, capacity utilization, tooling strategies, fixturing, and quality systems
• Build and maintain trusted working relationships with supplier ownership, operations managers, and lead machinists to enable proactive issue identification and resolution
• Lead Monthly and Quarterly Business Reviews covering OTD, DPPM, capacity, and continuous improvement commitments Manufacturing Execution & Escalation Management
• Drive rapid resolution of non-conformances, dimensional escapes, surface finish rejections, and material certification discrepancies using structured problem-solving (8D, RCCA, CAPA)
• Manage containment actions and disposition of nonconforming parts in coordination with Supplier Quality and incoming inspection teams
• Coordinate supplier response to engineering change orders (ECOs), drawing revisions, tolerance updates, and first article inspection (FAI) requirements
• Monitor and hold suppliers accountable to key performance metrics: on-time delivery, dimensional yield, surface finish acceptance rate, and cost of poor quality (COPQ) Cross-Functional Leadership
• Partner with Mechanical Engineering to provide Design for Manufacturability (DFM) feedback, flagging features that drive scrap, cycle time, or supplier risk (tight tolerances, deep bores, thin walls, exotic materials)
• Collaborate with Commodity Management and Procurement on RFQ strategy, should cost modeling, and make-vs.-buy assessments for machined components
• Represent the supplier perspective in NPI design reviews, ensuring machinability is considered early in the product development cycle
• Interface with Supply Chain and Planning teams to align supplier capacity to demand signals and manage lead time risk Quality & Process Oversight
• Support First Article Inspection (FAI) and Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) activities for new programs and significant design changes
• Review and approve supplier control plans, inspection plans, and process capability studies (Cpk/Ppk) for critical-to-function features
• Drive GD&T literacy and proper metrology practices at supplier sites; validate that suppliers are measuring what matters with calibrated, appropriate tooling (CMM, surface profilometers, bore gauges, etc.)
• Champion use of SPC and in-process inspection at machining suppliers to shift quality left, reducing reliance on final inspection Technology & Continuous Improvement
• Identify opportunities to reduce unit cost, improve lead time, or increase process robustness through tooling improvements, fixturing investments, process parameter optimization, or supplier consolidation
• Facilitate value engineering workshops with suppliers and internal engineering to target cost reduction without compromising form, fit, or function
• Stay current on machining technology trends — advanced cutting tool materials, high speed machining, 5-axis capabilities, automation/lights-out machining — and identify opportunities to leverage them across the supply base Program & Risk Management
• Maintain supplier risk assessments covering single-source exposure, capacity constraints, equipment age, workforce stability, and financial health
• Develop and execute supplier development plans for underperforming machining partners, including on-site improvement sprints and milestone-based recovery tracking
• Lead sourcing qualification for new machining suppliers, including capability audits, process trials, and FAI sign-off Required Qualifications
• 10+ years of experience in precision machining, mechanical manufacturing, or supplier/factory engineering, with at least 3–5 years in a direct factory liaison, supplier quality, or commodity management role focused on machined components
• Deep hands-on knowledge of CNC machining processes — turning, milling, grinding, honing, EDM — and the variables that drive dimensional variation, surface finish issues, and scrap
• Ability to read and interpret complex engineering drawings, including GD&T per ASME Y14.5, and communicate drawing requirements clearly to supplier engineering and shop floor personnel
• Familiarity with common metrology tools and methods: CMM programming/interpretation, surface roughness measurement, bore gauges, optical comparators
• Experience managing suppliers of tight-tolerance, high-mix/low-volume machined components — preferably in semiconductor equipment, aerospace, defense, or medical device industries
• Strong track record driving escalation resolution and supplier accountability without direct organizational authority
• Comfortable operating at both the executive level (QBR presentations, risk reviews) and the shop floor level (walking a cell, reviewing toolpaths, discussing fixturing with a machinist)
• Willingness and ability to travel to supplier sites 30–50% Preferred Qualifications
• Background in semiconductor capital equipment manufacturing (etch, CVD, PVD, lithography, CMP, or similar) and familiarity with the demanding cleanliness, surface finish, and material purity requirements of that industry
• Experience with machining of challenging materials: aluminum alloys, stainless steel, titanium, Inconel, ceramics (Al₂O₃, SiC), or PTFE/PEEK plastics
• Familiarity with anodizing, electropolishing, passivation, and other surface treatment processes common in semiconductor equipment components
• Six Sigma Green or Black Belt certification, or equivalent structured problem-solving background
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems and supplier portal tools for tracking open orders, NCRs, and corrective actions
• Knowledge of industry quality standards: ISO 9001, AS9100 (aerospace), or SEMI standards What Success Looks Like Within 90 days, you will have completed shop floor assessments of your assigned supplier portfolio, identified the top 3–5 quality and delivery risk areas, and established cadence reviews with each key supplier. Within 6–12 months, you will have driven measurable improvement in OTD and incoming acceptance rate across your portfolio and will have led at least one supplier through a structured development or recovery program.