Operations Leader

Advantest; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 170,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance-based bonuses

401(k) Plan

Medical, Dental & Vision

Income Protection

Flexible Spending Accounts

Employee Assistance Program

Flexible Time Off

Paid Holidays

Job summary

Advantest is seeking an Operations Leader for Mechanical Assembly and Service Center Operations in the United States. The role drives operations, quality, and customer delivery performance across assembly, repair, and logistics functions, partnering with Engineering, Supply Chain, and Sales to meet business objectives.

The leader will establish a high-performance culture focused on continuous improvement, accountability, and safety while scaling operations to support Advantest Interface products

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, or related technical discipline.
• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in manufacturing, operations, service, or industrial environments.
• 5+ years leading managers, supervisors, and cross-functional teams.
• Experience with electromechanical assembly, manufacturing operations, or service depot operations.
• Strong understanding of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Experience managing operational metrics, budgets, and departmental performance.
• Demonstrated success improving quality, productivity, and delivery performance.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily operations of Mechanical Assembly and Service Center functions, ensuring achievement of production, quality, and delivery targets.
• Develop and execute operational strategies aligned with company growth objectives and customer requirements.
• Establish operational metrics and management systems to monitor performance and drive accountability.
• Manage staffing, workforce planning, training, and succession planning to support business needs.
• Foster a culture of safety, quality, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
• Direct mechanical assembly activities for Advantest Interface products and related subsystems.
• Ensure production schedules are achieved while maintaining product quality and cost objectives.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing Engineering to optimize workflows, tooling, and assembly processes.
• Drive Lean Manufacturing initiatives to improve productivity, reduce waste, and increase operational efficiency.
• Support New Product Introduction (NPI) and engineering change implementations.
• Oversee repair, refurbishment, calibration coordination, and service activities for customer-returned equipment.
• Drive turnaround time improvements and maximize asset utilization.
• Establish service center processes that deliver predictable and high-quality outcomes.
• Ensure customer commitments and service level agreements are consistently achieved.
• Support root cause investigations and corrective actions for recurring field issues.
• Champion quality systems and ensure compliance with company and industry standards.
• Lead corrective and preventive action (CAPA) initiatives.
• Analyze operational performance data and implement improvement plans.
• Drive Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and other continuous improvement methodologies.
• Partner with Quality and Engineering teams to improve product reliability and manufacturability.
• Work closely with Supply Chain and Procurement to ensure material availability.
• Optimize inventory levels while maintaining customer delivery commitments.
• Manage service inventory, spare parts availability, and repair asset tracking.
• Support forecasting and capacity planning activities.
• Act as a key operational partner to Customer Engineering and customer-facing teams.
• Ensure rapid response to customer escalations and critical delivery requirements.
• Monitor operational performance impacting customer satisfaction and implement corrective actions.
• Participate in customer reviews, audits, and business discussions as required.
• Develop and manage departmental budgets and operating plans.
• Drive cost reduction initiatives while maintaining quality and service levels.
• Monitor operational KPIs and ensure achievement of business objectives.
• Support strategic planning and growth initiatives for the Interface business.

Skills

Leadership

Problem-solving

Communication

Continuous improvement

Team development

Data-driven decision making

Cross-functional collaboration

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, or related technical discipline

Job description

Operations Leader, Mechanical Assembly & Service Center Operations:

Position Summary

The Operations Leader is responsible for leading Mechanical Assembly and Service Center Operations supporting Advantest Interface products. This role oversees manufacturing execution, depot repair, refurbishment, logistics coordination, quality, and customer delivery performance while driving operational excellence across the organization.

The leader will ensure safe, efficient, and scalable operations that meet business objectives for quality, cost, delivery, inventory management, and customer satisfaction. Working closely with Engineering, Supply Chain, Customer Engineering, Product Management, and Sales teams, this individual will establish a high-performance culture focused on continuous improvement, accountability, and operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities

Operations Leadership

• Lead daily operations of Mechanical Assembly and Service Center functions, ensuring achievement of production, quality, and delivery targets.
• Develop and execute operational strategies aligned with company growth objectives and customer requirements.
• Establish operational metrics and management systems to monitor performance and drive accountability.
• Manage staffing, workforce planning, training, and succession planning to support business needs.
• Foster a culture of safety, quality, teamwork, and continuous improvement.

Mechanical Assembly Operations

• Direct mechanical assembly activities for Advantest Interface products and related subsystems.
• Ensure production schedules are achieved while maintaining product quality and cost objectives.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing Engineering to optimize workflows, tooling, and assembly processes.
• Drive Lean Manufacturing initiatives to improve productivity, reduce waste, and increase operational efficiency.
• Support New Product Introduction (NPI) and engineering change implementations.

Service Center Operations

• Oversee repair, refurbishment, calibration coordination, and service activities for customer-returned equipment.
• Drive turnaround time improvements and maximize asset utilization.
• Establish service center processes that deliver predictable and high-quality outcomes.
• Ensure customer commitments and service level agreements are consistently achieved.
• Support root cause investigations and corrective actions for recurring field issues.

Quality & Continuous Improvement

• Champion quality systems and ensure compliance with company and industry standards.
• Lead corrective and preventive action (CAPA) initiatives.
• Analyze operational performance data and implement improvement plans.
• Drive Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and other continuous improvement methodologies.
• Partner with Quality and Engineering teams to improve product reliability and manufacturability.

Supply Chain & Inventory Management

• Work closely with Supply Chain and Procurement to ensure material availability.
• Optimize inventory levels while maintaining customer delivery commitments.
• Manage service inventory, spare parts availability, and repair asset tracking.
• Support forecasting and capacity planning activities.

Customer Focus

• Act as a key operational partner to Customer Engineering and customer-facing teams.
• Ensure rapid response to customer escalations and critical delivery requirements.
• Monitor operational performance impacting customer satisfaction and implement corrective actions.
• Participate in customer reviews, audits, and business discussions as required.

Financial & Business Management

• Develop and manage departmental budgets and operating plans.
• Drive cost reduction initiatives while maintaining quality and service levels.
• Monitor operational KPIs and ensure achievement of business objectives.
• Support strategic planning and growth initiatives for the Interface business.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, or related technical discipline.
• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in manufacturing, operations, service, or industrial environments.
• 5+ years leading managers, supervisors, and cross-functional teams.
• Experience with electromechanical assembly, manufacturing operations, or service depot operations.
• Strong understanding of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Experience managing operational metrics, budgets, and departmental performance.
• Demonstrated success improving quality, productivity, and delivery performance.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in semiconductor test, automated test equipment (ATE), interface products, or related high-technology industries.
• Six Sigma Green Belt, Black Belt, or Lean certification.
• Experience supporting global customers and field service organizations.
• Familiarity with ISO quality systems and regulated manufacturing environments.
• MBA or advanced technical degree.

Key Competencies

• Operational Excellence
• Manufacturing Leadership
• Service Operations Management
• Strategic Planning
• Lean & Continuous Improvement
• Quality Systems
• Team Development
• Customer Focus
• Financial Acumen
• Change Management
• Cross-Functional Leadership
• Data-Driven Decision Making

Success Metrics

The Operations Leader will be measured on:

• On-time delivery (OTD)
• Service turnaround time (TAT)
• Manufacturing productivity
• First-pass yield (FPY)
• Inventory turns
• Cost reduction achievements
• Customer satisfaction metrics
• Employee engagement and retention
• Safety performance
• Quality and reliability improvements

This position is critical to ensuring Advantest Interface products are manufactured, serviced, and delivered with world-class quality, responsiveness, and operational efficiency while supporting the company's growth and customer success objectives.

About Advantest

Advantest America Inc. is part of Advantest Corporation, the world’s largest provider of automated test equipment (ATE) for the semiconductor industry. The company designs and manufactures cutting-edge testing solutions that help semiconductor manufacturers ensure the quality and performance of their products. Advantest is known for innovation, reliability, and a strong commitment to supporting its customers and employees.

Our Purpose & Values:

Mission: Improve lives through advanced technologies and customer-focused innovation.
Vision: Be the most trusted and valued test solution provider in the semiconductor value chain.
Core Values:
I- Innovation is our Lifeblood
N- Number One is Our Aspiration
T- Trust is our Foundation
E- Empowerment is Our Motivation
G- Global is our Reach
R- Respect is our Heart
I - Inclusion and Diversity is Our Commitment
T- Teamwork is our Approach
Y- Yes is Our Attitude

Why Join Us

At Advantest, innovation starts with people. We’re looking for curious, capable, and collaborative individuals ready to shape the future of semiconductor technology. You’ll join a global team where your ideas are valued, your growth is supported, and your work makes a real impact.

We foster an integrity-centered culture, where honesty, inclusion, and respect are the foundation of everything we do.

Benefits Overview

• Global Bonus Program: Performance-based bonuses paid twice yearly.
• 401(k) Plan: Pre-tax retirement savings with company match.
• Medical, Dental & Vision: Multiple plan options including HMO, PPO, and HSA.
• Income Protection: Life, disability, and accident insurance at no cost.
• Flexible Spending Accounts: Healthcare and dependent care options.
• Employee Assistance Program: Free support for personal and work-related issues.
• Flexible Time Off: Accrual starts at hire, increases with service.
• Paid Holidays: 13 company holidays annually.

State of California Development (EDD):

• https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-41/subtitle-B/chapter-60/part-60-300#p-60-300.5(a)
• § 60-300.5(a)(2)(3)(4) Equal opportunity clause. Details the job posting requirements.
• § 60-300.5(a)(6) Equal opportunity clause. All employment openings includes all positions except executive and senior management, those positions that will be filled from within the contractor's organization, and positions lasting three days or less. This term includes full-time employment, temporary employment of more than three days' duration, and part-time employment.

CCPA Notice for California Residents:

Notice for California Residents: We collect personal information (PI) from you in connection with your application for employment with Advantest America, Inc., including some or all of the following categories of PI: identifiers and personal records (e.g., name, phone number, email address, employment history); commercial information (e.g., if we reimburse you for travel or other expenses during the application process); sensory information (e.g., recorded virtual interviews); professional or employment information (e.g., information provided in your resume and application, such as employment history); non-public education records (e.g., educational institution transcripts and records); and inferences drawn from the above categories of PI. We collect your PI for our purposes, including performing operations related to your potential employment. To view the Advantest Privacy Policy, visit https://www.advantest.com/privacy-policy.html. For additional details or if you have questions, contact us at [e-mail].

EEO Statement

Advantest is an Equal Opportunity Employer and embraces diversity in our employee population.

It is the policy of Advantest to provide equal opportunity to all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status or special disabled veteran, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, or any other legally protected status.

The Advantest Way - Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging

At Advantest, diversity, equity and inclusion are at the core of who we are.

We are continuing to build a culture where everyone feels a sense of belonging through our DE&I programs & initiatives.

We strive to have a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace to enable us to attract and retain candidates that feel a sense of purpose and empowerment.

Our commitment to DE&I is unwavering and we are steadfast in our mission to continuously foster an environment of respect, trust and transparency.

We value diversity and inclusion and believe employees of all backgrounds contribute to our ongoing success.

At Advantest, we celebrate and support the needs of our employees regardless of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, age, disability, gender (including gender expression and gender identity), sex and sexual orientation.

DE&I at Advantest is more than words to us, they are the Advantest Way.