Director of Contract Manufacturing

Job Description
About the Role
Owns the manufacturing relationship between our organization and our precision machining supplier base. This role sits at the intersection of mechanical engineering, quality, and supply chain — and is critical to ensuring our machined components (chambers, housings, brackets, shafts, plates, and assemblies) are delivered on time, to print, and at cost. The ideal candidate has spent meaningful time on machine shop floors, understands what drives variation in CNC machining operations, and can translate that knowledge into supplier accountability and
continuous improvement.
Key Responsibilities
Supplier Relationship & Factory Engagement
Serve as the primary point of contact and escalation for an assigned portfolio of precision machining suppliers (CNC turning, milling, grinding, EDM, lapping, and related processes)
Conduct regular on-site factory visits to assess shop floor operations, capacity utilization, tooling strategies, fixturing, and quality systems
Build and maintain trusted working relationships with supplier ownership, operations managers, and lead machinists to enable proactive issue identification and resolution
Lead Monthly and Quarterly Business Reviews covering OTD, DPPM, capacity, and continuous improvement commitments
Manufacturing Execution & Escalation Management
Drive rapid resolution of non-conformances, dimensional escapes, surface finish rejections, and material certification discrepancies using structured problem-solving (8D, RCCA, CAPA)
Manage containment actions and disposition of nonconforming parts in coordination with Supplier Quality and incoming inspection teams
Coordinate supplier response to engineering change orders (ECOs), drawing revisions, tolerance updates, and first article inspection (FAI) requirements
Monitor and hold suppliers accountable to key performance metrics: on-time delivery, dimensional yield, surface finish acceptance rate, and cost of poor quality (COPQ)
Cross-Functional Leadership
Partner with Mechanical Engineering to provide Design for Manufacturability (DFM) feedback, flagging features that drive scrap, cycle time, or supplier risk (tight tolerances, deep bores, thin walls, exotic materials)
Collaborate with Commodity Management and Procurement on RFQ strategy, should cost modeling, and make-vs.-buy assessments for machined components
Represent the supplier perspective in NPI design reviews, ensuring machinability is considered early in the product development cycle
Interface with Supply Chain and Planning teams to align supplier capacity to demand signals and manage lead time risk
Quality & Process Oversight
Support First Article Inspection (FAI) and Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) activities for new programs and significant design changes
Review and approve supplier control plans, inspection plans, and process capability studies (Cpk/Ppk) for critical-to-function features
Drive GD&T literacy and proper metrology practices at supplier sites; validate that suppliers are measuring what matters with calibrated, appropriate tooling (CMM, surface profilometers, bore gauges, etc.)
Champion use of SPC and in-process inspection at machining suppliers to shift quality left, reducing reliance on final inspection
Technology & Continuous Improvement
Identify opportunities to reduce unit cost, improve lead time, or increase process robustness through tooling improvements, fixturing investments, process parameter optimization, or supplier consolidation
Facilitate value engineering workshops with suppliers and internal engineering to target cost reduction without compromising form, fit, or function
Stay current on machining technology trends — advanced cutting tool materials, high speed machining, 5-axis capabilities, automation/lights-out machining — and identify opportunities to leverage them across the supply base
Program & Risk Management
Maintain supplier risk assessments covering single-source exposure, capacity constraints, equipment age, workforce stability, and financial health
Develop and execute supplier development plans for underperforming machining partners, including on-site improvement sprints and milestone-based recovery tracking
Lead sourcing qualification for new machining suppliers, including capability audits, process trials, and FAI sign-off
Required Qualifications
10+ years of experience in precision machining, mechanical manufacturing, or supplier/factory engineering, with at least 3–5 years in a direct factory liaison, supplier quality, or commodity management role focused on machined components
Deep hands-on knowledge of CNC machining processes — turning, milling, grinding, honing, EDM — and the variables that drive dimensional variation, surface finish issues, and scrap
Ability to read and interpret complex engineering drawings, including GD&T per ASME Y14.5, and communicate drawing requirements clearly to supplier engineering and shop floor personnel
Familiarity with common metrology tools and methods: CMM programming/interpretation, surface roughness measurement, bore gauges, optical comparators
Experience managing suppliers of tight-tolerance, high-mix/low-volume machined components — preferably in semiconductor equipment, aerospace, defense, or medical device industries
Strong track record driving escalation resolution and supplier accountability without direct organizational authority
Comfortable operating at both the executive level (QBR presentations, risk reviews) and the shop floor level (walking a cell, reviewing toolpaths, discussing fixturing with a machinist)
Willingness and ability to travel to supplier sites 30–50% Preferred Qualifications
Background in semiconductor capital equipment manufacturing (etch, CVD, PVD, lithography, CMP, or similar) and familiarity with the demanding cleanliness, surface finish, and material purity requirements of that industry
Experience with machining of challenging materials: aluminum alloys, stainless steel, titanium, Inconel, ceramics (Al₂O₃, SiC), or PTFE/PEEK plastics
Familiarity with anodizing, electropolishing, passivation, and other surface treatment processes common in semiconductor equipment components
Six Sigma Green or Black Belt certification, or equivalent structured problem-solving background
Experience with ERP/MRP systems and supplier portal tools for tracking open orders, NCRs, and corrective actions
Knowledge of industry quality standards: ISO 9001, AS9100 (aerospace), or SEMI standards
What Success Looks Like
Within 90 days, you will have completed shop floor assessments of your assigned supplier
portfolio, identified the top 3–5 quality and delivery risk areas, and established cadence reviews
with each key supplier. Within 6–12 months, you will have driven measurable improvement in
OTD and incoming acceptance rate across your portfolio and will have led at least one supplier
through a structured development or recovery program.
About Us
Ichor is an experienced leader in the critical subsystems and turnkey process equipment marketplace. Our capabilities enable the design and creation of a complete outsourced solution ranging from product concept to turnkey manufacturing to legacy service.
Ichor offers world-class process engineering, value added manufacturing, materials management and testing capabilities. Our 1500+ employees are strategically located to provide our customers with the highest level of customer service and support from our program management, sales, engineering, and executive management teams.
Our continued expansion of capabilities in South East Asia better aligns our production facilities with our customers' supply chain strategies. This further enables our expansion into new products and markets.
Ichor is headquartered in Fremont, California with manufacturing locations in Oregon, Texas, Singapore, Malaysia and the UK. Our sales and engineering office is strategically located in Silicon Valley, California.

Work arrangement
Yes