Quality Manager, Supplier Quality

Veeco Instruments Inc.; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 132,845 - 168,270; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, and Vision

401(k) with Company Match

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

Job summary

Veeco Instruments Inc. is seeking a Supplier Quality Manager to lead supplier quality performance at our San Jose facility. In this strategic role, you will engage with executive leadership, ensuring quality and operational excellence across Veeco’s operations. Responsibilities include developing a team, managing supplier performance, and executing quality strategies to support manufacturing continuity.

The ideal candidate has over 10 years in supplier quality management, a BS in engineering, and strong leadership skills to drive effective quality improvements.

Qualifications

• At least 10 years of experience in Supplier Quality, Manufacturing, or Quality Engineering.
• Demonstrated ability in people leadership or readiness for management.
• Experience in high-technology or precision manufacturing environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop Supplier Quality Engineers.
• Serves as the face of Supplier Quality to executive leadership.
• Drive accountability and long-term capability improvement.

Skills

Leadership presence

Communication skills

Analytical capability

Problem-solving skills

Education

BS in Engineering or related technical field

Tools

PPAP/AIAG quality tools

Job description

Overview

Veeco is seeking a bold, strategic Supplier Quality Manager to lead and elevate supplier quality performance, risk management, and operational excellence at our San Jose manufacturing hub, with influence across Veeco operations nationwide. In this highly visible role, you will serve as the face of Supplier Quality to on‑site executive leadership, shaping critical business decisions through clear, data‑driven insights into supplier performance, risks, and trade‑offs. You will play a pivotal role in safeguarding manufacturing continuity and enabling customer success, building scalable supplier quality systems, and strengthening supplier capability across a complex global supply base. This is an opportunity to lead with impact‑driving measurable outcomes, influencing strategy, and building a high‑performing organization that supports Veeco's next generation of innovation.

Responsibilities

Leadership & Executive Engagement

• Lead and develop a team of Supplier Quality Engineers supporting San Jose CA, and partial‑time individual contributing support for St Paul, MN.
• Serve as the face of Supplier Quality to executive leadership, representing performance, risks, and mitigation plans.
• Deliver clear, data‑driven insights in staff meetings, business reviews, and executive forums.
• Influence decisions by translating complex quality data into actionable business recommendations.
• Build strong relationships with executive and cross‑functional stakeholders.

Supplier Quality Strategy & Execution

• Execute supplier quality strategy aligned with business objectives.
• Execute scalable frameworks, KPIs, and governance across the supply base.
• Drive continuous improvement to enhance supplier performance and reliability.

Supplier Performance & Risk Management

• Own supplier performance across quality, delivery, and reliability.
• Lead escalations, ensuring rapid containment, root cause resolution, and executive communication.
• Identify and communicate risks, including business impact and mitigation plans.
• Drive supplier accountability and long‑term capability improvement.

Cross‑Functional Leadership

• Partner with Supply Chain, Engineering, Manufacturing, and Operations leaders.
• Align stakeholders on supplier decisions, balancing quality, cost, schedule, and risk.
• Act as a trusted advisor on supplier capability and performance.

Quality Systems & Continuous Improvement

• Ensure implementation of robust Product Quality Planning (PQP): process flows, pFMEA, control plans, MSA, SPC.
• Execute standardized supplier quality processes, audits, and corrective action methods.
• Champion structured problem‑solving (8D, A3, DMAIC) and data‑driven decision‑making.
• Provide executive visibility through dashboards and performance reporting.

NPI & Change Management

• Ensure supplier readiness for NPI, qualification, and production ramp.
• Drive consistent supplier change management, including risk assessment and validation.
• Ensure compliance with configuration management, traceability, and copy‑exact requirements.

Qualifications

• BS in Engineering or related technical field.
• At least 10 years of experience in Supplier Quality, Manufacturing, or Quality Engineering.
• At least 2 years of people leadership (or demonstrated readiness for management).
• Experience in high‑technology or precision manufacturing environments.

Preferred

• ASQ Certifications (CQE, CQM/OE, CQA, CSQP).
• Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt.
• Lead Auditor certification.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong leadership presence with the ability to operate at both strategic and operational levels.
• Proven experience presenting to and influencing executive‑level stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to act as the primary representative of a function in leadership forums.
• Strong executive communication skills, including the ability to translate technical issues into business impact, clearly articulate risks, trade‑offs, and recommendations, and drive alignment and decision‑making under pressure.
• Deep expertise in supplier quality management within complex, global supply chains.
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills at all organizational levels.
• Proven ability to drive cross‑functional and cross‑site alignment.
• Data‑driven mindset with strong analytical capability.
• Ability to balance tactical execution with enterprise‑level strategy.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills with a structured, data‑driven approach with proven ability to identify root causes and implement effective corrective actions.
• Working knowledge of PPAP/AIAG quality tools (SPC, PFMEA, Control Plans, MSA, statistical analysis).
• Ability to apply skills to a high mix, low volume environment.

Travel

• ~20% (domestic and international); on‑site role when not traveling to supplier/Veeco locations.

Salary and Benefits

The expected salary range for this position is $132,845–$168,270, plus a bonus opportunity. We will consider your location, experience, and other job‑related factors when determining your pay.

Other benefits include:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision.
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP).
• 401(k) with Company Match.
• Holiday, Vacation, and Sick Time.
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA).
• Commuter Benefits.
• Life and Accident Insurance.
• Disability Insurance.
• Tuition Reimbursement.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Identity Theft Remediation.
• Emergency Travel Assistance.

Veeco is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, and other legally protected characteristics. Veeco is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities.