# Head of Probes at Nearfield Instruments > Onsite · Netherlands · Director+ · Other · open. Source: https://alderhq.app/jobs/recruitee%3Anearfieldinstruments1%3A2588362 (read 2026-11-09). ## Facts (observed) - Company: [Nearfield Instruments](https://alderhq.app/companies/nearfield-instruments) - Location text: Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands - Where it can be done from (inferred): Onsite · Netherlands (evidence: "Location: Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands") - Posted: 2026-05-01 (192 days ago) - First seen by alder: 2026-11-07 · last verified: 2026-11-07 - Reposted: 0 times · edited: 0 times - Apply on the employer's site: https://careers.nearfieldinstruments.com/o/head-of-probes ## Pay and sponsorship - Posted pay: not posted - Market band for similar posted roles (Netherlands, n 6): p25 €89k, median €99k, p75 €110k - Recognised sponsor (NL): registered as "Nearfield Instruments B.V." (checked 2026-11-09, [register](https://ind.nl/en/public-register-recognised-sponsors/public-register-regular-labour-and-highly-skilled-migrants)) ## Description (the employer's text) As Head of Probes, you operate with a founder’s mindset: full ownership, high velocity, and relentless focus on impact. You are responsible for building, scaling, and continuously evolving the probes business, from early concept to high-volume production. You combine deep technical judgment with pragmatic execution, driving both product excellence and operational scalability. You don’t just manage a business unit, you shape it, challenge assumptions, and build the systems, teams, and partnerships needed to win. You act as the integrator across Development & Engineering, System Engineering, Operations, and external partners, while maintaining a strong bias for action, simplicity, and results. You will lead a complex, multidisciplinary business unit, at the intersection of innovative probe manufacturing technologies and operational execution. You will be responsible for driving the development, industrialization, and delivery of AFM probe solutions that are critical to the performance of our semiconductor metrology systems at our clients. You ensure that newly developed probe technologies are successfully brought from concept to scalable manufacturing and delivered to customers in line with the highest quality standards required in semiconductor high-volume manufacturing environments. ### Key Responsibilities ### Business Unit Ownership Own the probes business end-to-end with full accountability for performance across cost, quality, delivery, and roadmap Act as a “mini-CEO” for the domain, making fast, high-quality decisions with incomplete information Define and continuously refine the strategy based on technical realities, market needs, and scaling constraints Build and shape the organization, ensuring the right talent, structure, and capabilities are in place Drive alignment across Development, Manufacturing, Sourcing, and System Engineering ### Program & Lifecycle Execution Drive the full probes portfolio from concept to volume production with a strong focus on speed and predictability Cut through complexity, prioritize what matters and remove blockers quickly Ensure structured execution with clear milestones and deliverables Balance long-term decisions with short-term delivery pressure Take ownership of trade-offs across time, cost, and quality without hiding behind process ### Manufacturing & Industrialization Own the transition from development of our probe products to robust high-volume manufacturing Push for simplicity and manufacturability early in design, avoid overengineering Drive yield, cycle time, and cost improvements with a hands-on, data-driven approach Ensure the production system can scale rapidly without compromising quality Build lean, scalable processes rather than heavy frameworks Leverage automation, data, and digitalization to improve reliability and throughput Focus on first-time-right and reducing variability instead of adding control layers Continuously challenge existing processes and eliminate inefficiencies ### Supplier & Ecosystem Strategy Build strong, trust-based partnerships with key suppliers, and drive for performance on quality, delivery and cost Treat suppliers as extensions of the team while holding a high performance bar Actively shape the ecosystem to enable innovation, robustness, speed, and scalability Intervene directly when critical supplier issues arise, no escalation layers ### Technology & Product Direction Define and co-own the probes technology roadmap with System Engineering and Product Management Translate ambiguity into clear technical direction and priorities Drive innovation pragmatically, focus on what delivers value, not just what is interesting Ensure early integration of manufacturability, reliability, and cost in design decisions ### Cross-Functional Leadership Operate as the central decision-maker across engineering, operations, and program management Drive alignment through clarity and ownership, not hierarchy Create a culture of accountability, speed, and direct communication Be deeply involved where it matters most, especially in critical technical or execution challenges ### Requirements ### Your Profile MSc or PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or related field 10+ years of experience in high-tech product development and manufacturing (e.g., semiconductors, precision engineering, mechatronics) Proven ability to lead in ambiguity and build structure Strong track record in scaling complex products from development into production Hands-on mindset with the ability to go from strategy to execution quickly Experience managing suppliers and external ecosystems in high-performance environments Solid understanding of quality management principles Sharp prioritization skills and a bias for action Entrepreneurial, resilient, and comfortable taking ownership under pressure What we offer A high-impact leadership role with full ownership of a critical business domain The opportunity to build and scale next-generation probe technologies A fast-paced, execution-driven environment with minimal bureaucracy Direct influence and impact on product, technology, and operational strategy Collaboration with leading experts in semiconductors and precision engineering --- Data: alder (https://alderhq.app). Cite https://alderhq.app/jobs/recruitee%3Anearfieldinstruments1%3A2588362 and the date you read it. Observed facts come from the employer's own listing; location reach, level, family and skills are inferences.