Director of Manufacturing Quality

Key Responsibilities

• Define and execute the global Manufacturing Quality strategy aligned with organization’s business objectives and growth plans.
• Serve as the primary quality partner to Manufacturing Operations leadership.
• Ensure consistent manufacturing quality standards, processes, and execution across all factories.
• Own manufacturing quality performance including defect rates, rework, scrap, escapes, DOAs, in-box quality, and out-of-box quality.
• Establish and maintain standardized workmanship requirements, inspection plans, quality gates, and control plans.
• Ensure manufacturing processes are capable, repeatable, auditable, and scalable.
• Lead root cause analysis (RCA), corrective and preventive actions (CAPA), and structured problem-solving using 8D, A3, and other methodologies.
• Drive rapid containment and permanent corrective actions for manufacturing nonconformances.
• Partner with Engineering to prevent recurrence through design, process, and documentation improvements.
• Oversee the development and continuous improvement of ISO 9001-compliant manufacturing quality systems within the Axcelis Management System (AMS).
• Ensure compliance with internal procedures, regulatory requirements, and customer expectations.
• Lead internal audits, factory readiness reviews, and manufacturing process assessments.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing Engineering, Product Engineering, Test, and Supply Chain to embed quality early in the product lifecycle.
• Partner with Supplier Quality to ensure effective incoming quality, containment, and supplier corrective actions.
• Work closely with Customer Quality to reduce manufacturing escapes and improve customer perception of factory quality.
• Establish, monitor, and report manufacturing quality KPIs and metrics.
• Champion Lean, 5s, Six Sigma, SPC, and continuous improvement initiatives across manufacturing.
• Drive accountability through data-driven decision making and regular governance.
• Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing global Manufacturing Quality team.
• Foster a culture of ownership, prevention, and continuous improvement.
• Develop talent and support succession planning to meet future business needs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related technical field; Master’s degree preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in manufacturing quality or operations quality within semiconductor capital equipment or high-tech manufacturing.
• Proven experience leading manufacturing quality teams in complex environments.
• Strong knowledge of ISO 9001, manufacturing quality systems, and process control methodologies.
• Expert in quality tools and methodologies (FMEA, SPC, 8D, RCA, CAPA, Lean, Six Sigma).
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence at all organizational levels.
• Strong communication & presentation skills with both technical & executive audiences.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally as required (30%).