Senior Director, New Product Introduction (NPI)

SBT; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 190,000 - 270,000; Full time

Job summary

SBT is seeking a senior leader to build and scale the NPI organization for advanced semiconductor equipment. You will own the transition from R&D to production, establish the manufacturing ecosystem, and drive partnerships with contract manufacturers and specialty suppliers to enable high-volume, globally scalable production.

The role requires leading cross-functional teams across R&D, manufacturing engineering, supply chain, and operations, with a strong technical foundation in precision

Qualifications

• Experience taking complex semiconductor capital equipment from R&D into production.
• Experience establishing or significantly scaling an NPI or manufacturing engineering organization.
• Proven ability to identify, qualify, and develop strategic contract manufacturers and suppliers.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams spanning R&D, manufacturing engineering, supply chain, sourcing, and operations.

Responsibilities

• Establish and lead the NPI function, including manufacturing engineering, supply chain, sourcing, equipment build, integration, and test.
• Own the transition of complex equipment from engineering prototypes through pilot builds, qualification, and volume manufacturing.
• Define and execute a manufacturing strategy built around strategic contract manufacturers and specialized suppliers.
• Create the systems that enable scale with manufacturing processes, documentation, quality systems, and performance metrics.

Skills

NPI leadership

Manufacturing engineering

Cross-functional leadership

Supplier development

Contract manufacturers

Job description

SBT is the exclusive executive recruiting firm for this confidential position.

Advanced Semiconductor Equipment | Manufacturing Strategy & Scale-Up

Taking a breakthrough technology from the lab into production is one challenge. Building the manufacturing organization capable of scaling it globally is another. Our partner is an innovative, well-funded semiconductor technology company entering a pivotal stage of commercialization. After years of R&D and technology development, the company has established its first advanced equipment platform, with additional systems in development. The next challenge is building the manufacturing strategy, partnerships, and organization required to transition these complex precision tools into repeatable, high-volume production.

Build the NPI Organization

• Establish and lead the NPI function, including manufacturing engineering, supply chain, sourcing, equipment build, integration, and test.

Take Advanced Equipment from R&D to Production

• Own the transition of complex equipment from engineering prototypes through pilot builds, qualification, and volume manufacturing.

Develop the Manufacturing Ecosystem

• Define and execute a manufacturing strategy built around strategic contract manufacturers and specialized suppliers.

Create the Systems That Enable Scale

• Introduce the manufacturing processes, documentation, quality systems, and performance metrics necessary to support a growing equipment portfolio.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated success taking complex semiconductor capital equipment or similarly sophisticated precision systems from R&D into production.
• Experience establishing or significantly scaling an NPI or manufacturing engineering organization.
• Proven ability to identify, qualify, and develop strategic contract manufacturers and suppliers.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams spanning R&D, manufacturing engineering, supply chain, sourcing, and operations.
• Bonus: Strong technical foundation in complex electromechanical systems, ideally including precision motion, optical systems, laser equipment, or high-accuracy mechanical integration.