Chief Operating Officer

IR Search BV; Nijmegen; On-site; EUR 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

IR Search BV is seeking an experienced Operations leader to build, professionalize, and scale our supply chain from the ground up in a fast-paced semiconductor startup.

You will own supplier relationships with foundries and OSAT, drive transition to high-volume production, and implement lean processes, ERP/MRP, and global logistics to deliver chips and evaluation kits to customers.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in fabless semiconductor supply chain or operations leadership
• Experience managing Foundry and OSAT relationships
• Track record scaling hardware products in startups
• Strong negotiation and global-sourcing skills
• Excellent English communication

Responsibilities

• Create and scale supply chain for a fabless semiconductor startup
• Manage foundry and OSAT partnerships to secure capacity and quality
• Transition from pilot runs to high-volume mass production
• Set up lean global logistics and fulfillment for chips and evaluation kits
• Negotiate wafer, packaging costs and lead times to optimize COGS
• Implement ERP/MRP and S&OP processes with minimal bureaucracy
• Coordinate with IC Design for DFM and smooth handoffs

Skills

Semiconductor supply chain leadership

Vendor management

Global logistics

Negotiation

NPI coordination

DFM experience

ERP/MRP implementation

Team leadership

Education

Electrical Engineering / Microelectronics degree

Tools

ERP/MRP software

SAP

Job description

Our client is a Dutch semiconductor scale-up at the forefront of wearable biosensor technology. With all relevant medical certifications already in place and proven technology, the company is now entering the commercial scaling phase.

We are looking for an Operations leader with deep roots in the semiconductor industry to build, professionalize, and scale our supply chain from the ground up. This is not a "maintenance" job; this is a "builder" role in a high-paced startup environment.

Key Responsibilities

Supply Chain Creation & Scaling

• Foundry & OSAT Management: You are the primary interface with our manufacturing partners (Foundries and Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test providers). You will manage these relationships to ensure capacity, quality, and timely delivery.
• Production Setup: Transition our SNCE800 from low volume runs to high-volume mass production.
• Logistics & Fulfillment: Set up a lean, global logistics flow to get our chips and evaluation kits to customers efficiently.
• Sourcing & Cost Management: Negotiate wafer prices, packaging costs, and lead times to optimizing our COGS as we scale.

Operational Excellence (The Startup Way)

• Process Implementation: Implement "just enough" process. We need structure (ERP/MRP selection, inventory tracking, S&OP) without the red tape of a corporate giant.
• NPI (New Product Introduction): Work closely with the IC Design team to ensure "Design for Manufacturing" (DFM) and smooth handovers from R&D to production.
• Yield & Test Optimization: Monitor and improve production yields. Coordinate with external test houses to optimize test programs for our mixed-signal ICs.

Strategic Leadership

• Resource Planning: Build and lead a compact, high-performance operations team as the company grows.
• Risk Management: Develop a resilient supply chain strategy to navigate the cyclical nature of the semiconductor market.

The Profile: Who are we looking for?

• Semiconductor "Veteran": You have 10+ years of experience in the fabless semiconductor industry. You know the lifecycle of a chip—from tape-out to customer delivery—inside out.
• Startup Native: you thrive in a small, fast-moving team. You are comfortable with ambiguity and enjoy the hands-on work required to build a department from scratch.
• Mixed-Signal Knowledge: You understand the specific challenges of Analog/Mixed-Signal ICs (testing, packaging, and signal integrity).
• Execution over Ego: You can pivot from a board-level strategic meeting to resolving a practical bottleneck in the supply chain without hesitation.

Requirements

• A degree in Electrical Engineering, Microelectronics, or a related technical field.
• Proven experience in managing Foundry (e.g., SSMC, TSMC, X-Fab, Tower) and OSAT relationships.
• Track record of successfully scaling a hardware product in a startup or scale-up environment.
• Strong negotiation skills and a global mindset.
• Excellent command of the English language.

The offer

• Cutting-Edge Tech: Lead the operations for a chip that is setting new benchmarks in low-power biosensing.
• Ownership: High level of autonomy and a key role in the leadership team of one of the most promising semiconductor startups in the Netherlands.
• No Corporate Red Tape: We move fast. Your decisions have a direct impact on the company’s success today.