Director, Manufacturing Operations
Veeco Instruments
San Jose, CA · Posted October 14, 2026
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Rankings about operations jobs
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- Best cities for operations pay after cost of living #1 Reston ($177k)
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- AI tools named most often in operations jobs #1 Claude (0.28%)
- Employers with the most operations jobs #1 Amazon (1,480 roles)
How AI is used in this kind of work
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Share of this job’s tasks that AI is already used for at work, from real usage. It is not a forecast of job loss, and a low number means no use seen yet. Source: Anthropic Economic Index.
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About the job
About Veeco You probably don’t realize it, but what we do at Veeco touches the lives of every person, every day. It’s a bold statement, but it’s true. From the smartphones in our pockets that access the world’s collective knowledge, to the cloud-based services where all that information lives, to high-speed wireless communication and computing power needed to drive artificial intelligence, augmented and virtual reality, gaming and so much more, our technology is all around us.
We design, develop, manufacture, and service highly complex, cutting-edge machines used by our customers to create the essential devices that drive the digital age, connect the world, and improve the human experience. Along with the world’s leading technology companies, many of which are household names, we help solve their most difficult material science challenges, enabling technologies for a more connected, sustainable, and convenient world.
We’re looking for material difference-makers to join our growing team. Interested? Learn more at www.veeco.com/careers .
Overview:
Veeco is hiring a Director, Manufacturing Operations, who is excellent in execution, accountability, and leadership development. In this role, you’ll lead a manufacturing organization responsible for delivering Veeco's laser annealing and lithography products. The Director of Manufacturing Operations reports directly to the VP of Global Operations and serves as a key member of the San Jose Operations leadership team. This onsite position requires an operations executive with extensive experience leading manufacturing operations with expertise in manufacturing, international supply chain, operations and strategic planning.
This is a demanding and highly visible role that requires foresight, superb execution in a fast-paced, challenging, high-tech environment, with exceptional organizational development and leadership skills.
Responsibilities:
Direct the Sub-assembly, Assembly, and Test teams to meet corporate strategies and business objectives in Veeco’s San Jose factory.
Foster a world-class safety culture with strong focus on proactive safety.
Achieve world-class quality metrics for in-box and out-of-box quality.
Take direct accountability for on-time-shipments and meeting customer commitments.
Establish budget and resource plan for site manufacturing operations.
Ensure continuing compliance to all quality and safety standards including ISO certifications.
Develop a world-class organization – training, mentoring, coaching and leading. Critically assess department staff abilities and take action to ensure long-term health, productivity, and a high-performance culture.
Establish a roadmap for productivity improvements and run continuous improvement/ lean programs.
Lead Production related quality investigations/improvement plans via structured problem solving/ 8D analysis, and Shift-Left activities.
Execute product transition plans for both existing and new products including insourcing/outsourcing efforts at both factory and supplier worldwide locations.
Be a progressive thinker and role model: enable efficiency enhancing tools such as Lean Manufacturing and cycle time reduction through automated test methods to easily detect/correct manufacturing issues.
Implement and improve Modular Final Test strategy to enable parallel work and cycle time reduction.
Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in engineering or operations management and a minimum of 12 years of experience with increasing responsibility in an operations leadership role managing a large organization (>30 people) is required. Experience with Quality Management techniques like Lean, Value Stream Mapping, Six Sigma, 8D with proficiency using data analytics and statistical process control is also required.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Experience with complex capital equipment manufacturing—particularly within semiconductor or related high‑tech industries—is strongly preferred
Demonstrate situational leadership and understand when to lead or delegate
Strong financial background coupled with solid business acumen
Practical mindset relative to manufacturability operations and business processes
Leverage process discipline and data‑driven insights to ensure high product quality, whether manufacturing is performed internally or through contract manufacturing and supplier partnerships
Act as a dynamic leader who brings a strong sense of ownership, integrity, and collaboration, with the drive and creativity to deliver results in a fast‑paced environment
Capable of inspiring others by creating, articulating and implementing a vision for manufacturing
Proven ability to build, lead, and develop high‑performing teams through thoughtful assessment, recruiting, coaching, mentoring, and ongoing talent development
Design for Manufacturability (DfM) training/experience a plus
Experience with SAP and world-class MES systems is a plus
This position may have occasional domestic and international travel
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Salary and Benefits The expected salary range for this position is $182,000-$230,000, plus a bonus opportunity. We will consider your location, experience, and other job-related factors when determining your pay. If your salary requirements exceed the advertised range and you remain interested in Veeco, we encourage you to apply or email your resume to recruiting@veeco.com .
Other benefits include:
Medical, Dental, and Vision
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.
Notice to Applicants: All communication about open positions and hiring will come from someone with a @veeco.com email address. You will always have multiple interviews and meet several team members (in-person or virtually) before we present an offer. We may also check references or conduct a background investigation as part of the offer process. We will never ask you for money for any reason, especially to send equipment or for pre-employment training. If you have any questions or concerns, or if someone has reached out to you and you think it might be a scam, please get in touch with us at recruiting@veeco.com .