Manufacturing Section Manager – VPS Operations

FormFactor Inc.; Farmers Branch (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

EAP

Disability insurance

Life insurance

FSAs & Savings accounts

401(k)

ESPP

PTO

Job summary

FormFactor, Inc. is seeking a Manufacturing Section Manager to lead VPS Operations in a high-growth startup environment. You will establish foundational manufacturing systems, workforce readiness, and operational discipline to launch and scale fab operations.

The ideal leader combines strong manufacturing leadership with experience in semiconductor or precision manufacturing, building scalable systems, and developing a capable frontline workforce for 24/7 operations in Farmers Branch, TX.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent manufacturing leadership experience.
• Manufacturing leadership experience.
• Experience leading manufacturing supervisors and operators.
• Experience in semiconductor, wafer fab, cleanroom, or precision manufacturing environments.
• Strong communication, organizational, and leadership skills.
• Assembly line startup or factory ramp experience.
• Experience building manufacturing operational systems prior to production launch.
• Experience supporting MES/manufacturing systems implementation.
• Experience with workforce readiness, onboarding, and operator certification programs.
• Experience supporting 24/7 manufacturing operations.

Responsibilities

• Lead manufacturing readiness activities prior to production launches.
• Oversee startup execution, workstation readiness, and stabilization.
• Develop standardized work, escalation processes, and routines.
• Partner with Engineering, Facilities, Quality, Supply Chain, and Manufacturing Systems during startups.
• Drive factory flow optimization and layout readiness.
• Own key metrics such as OEE and cycle time.

Skills

Capacity Planning

Continuous Improvement

Cross-Functional Leadership

Cross-Functional Teamwork

Factory Startup

Leadership

Manufacturing Operations

Manufacturing Scale-Up

Semiconductor Manufacturing

Ship Operations

Staff Planning

Team Management

Workforce Planning

Work Readiness

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent manufacturing leadership experience

Tools

MES systems

Job description

Forming Our Future together

FormFactor, Inc. (NASDAQ: FORM), is a leading provider of essential test and measurement technologies along the full semiconductor product life cycle — from characterization, modeling, reliability, and design de-bug, to qualification and production test. Semiconductor companies rely upon FormFactor’s products and services to accelerate profitability by optimizing device performance and advancing yield knowledge. The company serves customers through its network of facilities in Asia, Europe, and North America. Rooted in our core values — Focus on the Customer, Ownership & Accountability, Respectfully & Effectively Communicate, and Motivate & Develop People — we foster an environment where diverse perspectives are not only welcomed but celebrated. Everyone can make an impact here. Whether it's improving products, supporting customers, or positively influencing peers and the community, the contributions of our people matter.

Shift

The regular hours for this position are day shift.

Job Description

We are seeking a Manufacturing Section Manager to lead VPS Operations within a high-growth manufacturing startup environment. This role will be responsible for establishing foundational manufacturing systems, workforce readiness, operational discipline, and startup execution capability required to successfully launch and scale fab operations. The ideal candidate combines strong manufacturing leadership with experience supporting factory startups, operational readiness activities, workforce development, and scalable manufacturing systems in semiconductor or precision manufacturing environments. This leader will play a critical role in building the operational infrastructure, manufacturing culture, and organizational capability necessary to support long-term factory success.

Key Responsibilities

Startup & Manufacturing Readiness

• Lead manufacturing operational readiness activities prior to production launch.
• Support operations startup execution, workstation readiness, and operational stabilization.
• Develop and implement standardized work, escalation processes, and operational routines.
• Partner cross-functionally with Engineering, Facilities, Quality, Supply Chain, and Manufacturing Systems teams during startup phases.
• Support factory flow optimization and manufacturing layout readiness.
• Own key critical metrics: OEE, Cycle Time.

Workforce Development & Organizational Buildout

• Lead new hire onboarding program and certification programs.
• Lead hiring, onboarding, certification, and workforce ramp activities.
• Build scalable operator training and operational readiness systems.
• Develop front-line supervisors and manufacturing teams.
• Establish shift operating structures and accountability systems.
• Foster strong operational culture centered on safety, quality, teamwork, and accountability.

Manufacturing Systems & Operational Infrastructure

• Support implementation and stabilization of MES/manufacturing applications.
• Develop KPI management systems and visual operational controls.
• Support staffing models, labor planning, and production readiness assessments.
• Establish manufacturing operating rhythms and communication structures.

Fab Operations Leadership

• Lead daily VPS manufacturing operations across multiple shifts.
• Drive performance related to safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and workforce effectiveness.
• Support escalation management and operational issue resolution.
• Reinforce contamination control, ESD, and operational compliance requirements.

Continuous Improvement

• Drive improvements in:
• Workforce readiness
• Operational execution
• Equipment and resources utilization
• Productivity
• Workflow efficiency
• Manufacturing discipline
• Utilize data-driven decision making and KPI management systems

Preferred Qualifications & Experiences

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent manufacturing leadership experience.
• Manufacturing leadership experience.
• Experience leading manufacturing supervisors and operators.
• Experience in semiconductor, wafer fab, cleanroom, or precision manufacturing environments.
• Strong communication, organizational, and leadership skills.
• Assembly line startup or factory ramp experience.
• Experience building manufacturing operational systems prior to production launch.
• Experience supporting MES/manufacturing systems implementation.
• Experience with workforce readiness, onboarding, and operator certification programs.
• Experience supporting 24/7 manufacturing operations.

Farmers Branch, TX

Benefits offered for this role include medical, dental, vision, EAP, short-term and long-term disability, life insurance, flexible spending and savings accounts, 401(k), ESPP and paid time off.

Skills

Capacity Planning, Continuous Improvement, Cross-Functional Leadership, Cross-Functional Teamwork, Factory Startup, Leadership, Manufacturing Operations, Manufacturing Scale-Up, Semiconductor Manufacturing, Ship Operations, Staff Planning, Team Management, Workforce Planning, Work Readiness

Education & Experience

Minimum of 8 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 6 years and a Master’s degree; or a PhD with 3 years experience; or equivalent experience | Required

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

FormFactor is an equal opportunity employer. FormFactor complies with all national, state, and local laws that seek to promote equal opportunities for any applicant or employee without regard to age, race, color, gender, gender identity/expression, national origin, sexual orientation, religion, disability, marital status, pregnancy or related condition, military service, or any other legally protected characteristics. These protections apply to all aspects of employment, including but not limited to, recruitment, hiring, training, promotions, and compensation. For roles that are designated as remote-eligible, employees cannot be located in:AL, AK, AR, DE, GA, HI, IL, IA, LA, ME, MD, MS, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NM, ND, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, WV, WI, WY. This list is continuously evolving and being updated, please check back with us if the state you live in is on the exclusion list. A role is remote-eligible only when it is listed as "Remote" in the job location.