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Senior Technical Program Manager R&D

Open 55d

Nearfield Instruments develops and builds revolutionary high-throughput Scanning Probe Microscopy systems that empower the world's leading chipmakers to push the boundaries of semiconductor performance. As our technology and product roadmap grows more ambitious, so does the complexity of getting it from concept to customer. As Program Manager R&D, you will take ownership of one of our most critical, multi-disciplinary R&D programs — orchestrating the people, dependencies, and decisions that turn breakthrough technology into delivered systems.

What you're going to do

You will lead the full lifecycle of a high-impact R&D program, from early concept through to customer delivery. Working closely with the R&D Manager, you align and guide cross-functional teams of project managers and technical experts, and you are the one who keeps scope, timelines, budget, and risk under control when the program gets complex; which it will.

Your main responsibilities include:

  • Leading the end-to-end execution of a complex, multi-disciplinary R&D program central to Nearfield's technology and product roadmap.

  • Aligning and guiding cross-functional teams of project managers and technical experts together with the R&D Manager.

  • Owning program scope, timelines, budgets, risks, and escalations.

  • Collaborating with supply chain and external partners to ensure program readiness.

  • Reporting program status and progress clearly to leadership and stakeholders.

  • Ensuring continuous alignment with Nearfield's technology roadmap and customer expectations.

Who you'll be working with

You will work at the intersection of R&D, engineering, supply chain, and customer delivery, reporting into Andre Verweij and collaborating daily with project managers, system architects, and technical leads across disciplines. Your decisions directly shape how fast, and how well our next-generation metrology systems reach the world's leading chipmakers.

You'll be part of a passionate, collaborative team in a dynamic scale-up environment, where the program you run is treated as business-critical, not just another project on a list.

Who you are

You are a strategic thinker with a hands-on mindset; someone who thrives in complexity and uncertainty, and who leads with clarity and confidence even when the path forward isn't fully defined yet.

You have:

  • Proven experience (5 years+) as a Program Manager in high-tech system development, preferably in semiconductor metrology.

  • Strong leadership and stakeholder management skills.

  • Experience delivering complex systems to customers.

  • A track record of taking research projects and technology development through to successful completion and delivery into end products.

  • Technical affinity and the ability to translate engineering challenges into actionable plans.

  • Excellent problem-solving and communication skills.

  • Comfort working in a fast-paced, evolving environment.

What this application asks

recruitee

Full name, Email, CV, Cover letter, Phone

  • Would you (now or in the future) require visa sponsorship? yes / no
  • Are you willing to work fully on-site at the office? yes / no
  • Due to the high amount of applications we receive, we encourage candidates to apply for the role that best matches their experience and interests. If you feel there is a strong fit with a second, closely related position, you’re welcome to mention this as well. Limiting applications helps us review each candidate thoughtfully and efficiently. We always try to find fit throughout our company with all candidates applying. yes / no
  • Have you managed multidisciplinary engineering teams (mechanical, electronics, software, systems, physics, etc.)? yes / no · optional
  • Have you worked in a high-tech product development environment (semiconductor, medical devices, aerospace, photonics, robotics, precision equipment, etc.)? yes / no · optional
  • Can you briefly describe the most complex technical program you've led from concept to customer delivery? written answer
  • How many years have you worked as a Program Manager or Technical Program Manager in a high-tech R&D environment? written answer
  • Have you delivered capital equipment or complex technical systems to external customers? written answer

See also

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