Coherent

Supply Chain & Commodity Manager

Coherent • $120K — $150K *
Santa Clara, CA 95051In-Person
Manufacturing & Automotive
8 - 10 years of experience
Today
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Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Minimum 9 years in supplier quality engineering or related roles.
  • Master's degree preferred, Bachelor's may suffice with relevant experience.
  • Experience with PCBA suppliers and US-based supplier development.
  • Demonstrated capacity assessments and onsite supplier audits experience.
  • Proven process development and problem-solving capabilities.

Responsibilities

  • Serve as primary contact for supplier quality and assurance across critical categories.
  • Monitor supplier performance and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
  • Conduct onsite assessments of supplier production and logistics readiness.
  • Evaluate suppliers' delivery capabilities using various analytical models.
  • Collaborate with Procurement to assess commodity and supplier risks.

Benefits

  • Flexible working hours to accommodate global suppliers.
  • Opportunity for occasional international travel for supplier development.
  • Support a diverse and cross-cultural working environment.
  • Onsite or hybrid working arrangements with required supplier visits.
Full Job Description
Job Description

Primary Duties & Responsibilities
  • Serve as the primary supplier quality, technical, and supply assurance contact for PCBA, semiconductor, electronic component, electromechanical, and other critical US supplier categories.
  • Monitor supplier quality, delivery, capacity, responsiveness, and technology performance on a regular basis; drive continuous improvement with clear scorecards, action owners, and closure dates.
  • Conduct onsite supplier assessments to verify production output, shipment readiness, delivery commitments, inventory availability, work-in-process, yield performance, capacity, constraints, and recovery plans.
  • Evaluate suppliers' future ability to deliver using capacity models, production cycle times, tool and line utilization, labor and material availability, order coverage, backlog, forecast commits, and sub-tier supplier commitments.
  • Partner with Procurement and Planning to assess commodity risk, supplier readiness, lead-time trends, allocation exposure, dual-source opportunities, safety stock, and demand/supply gaps across current and future requirements.
  • Validate supplier order coverage with their own suppliers and sub-tier partners, including component availability, wafer/foundry/OSAT capacity, EMS capacity, distribution coverage, constrained materials, and long-lead-time items.
  • Develop and maintain supplier performance dashboards covering on-time delivery, quality escapes, yield, nonconformances, capacity, PO/forecast coverage, shortage exposure, escalations, and corrective action status.
  • Collaborate with Procurement to identify, develop, qualify, and scale new US and global suppliers across PCBA, semiconductors, electronic components, mechanical/electromechanical parts, and manufacturing services.
  • Lead failure analysis (FA), root cause, corrective and preventive action (CAPA), and 8D activities for supplier quality issues, delivery misses, process excursions, and repeated performance gaps.
  • Conduct Design for Manufacturability (DFM), Design for Reliability (DFR), process readiness, and supplier technology reviews with R&D, manufacturing, and supplier engineering teams.
  • Perform supplier audits and process assessments covering quality systems, manufacturing controls, test capability, traceability, incoming material controls, configuration management, and change control.
  • Oversee supplier-driven changes, including PCN/ECN activity, product/process changes, last-time-buy risk, end-of-life exposure, tooling or site transfers, and qualification requirements.
  • Provide technical and operational support to suppliers to resolve process, quality, throughput, capacity, material availability, and delivery issues.
  • Lead supplier escalation and recovery plans when quality, delivery, capacity, or material risks threaten business continuity; communicate risks, mitigations, and executive-level updates.
  • Support commodity strategy by providing technical, capacity, quality, and supply risk input into supplier selection, sourcing decisions, negotiation priorities, and long-term supplier development plans.

Education & Experience
  • Minimum 9 years of experience in supplier quality engineering, supply line engineering, electronics manufacturing, semiconductor/component supply chain, commodity management, or related supplier development roles.
  • Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Supply Chain, Materials Science, or an equivalent technical discipline preferred; Bachelor's degree with relevant experience may be considered.
  • Experience supporting PCBA suppliers, EMS/contract manufacturers, semiconductor suppliers, electronic component suppliers, and US-based supplier development or localization programs.
  • Demonstrated experience conducting onsite supplier audits, capacity assessments, process readiness reviews, delivery verification, order coverage reviews, and supplier recovery actions.
  • Extensive experience in process development, improvement, monitoring, and problem solving at supplier sites.
  • Experience working with Procurement, Planning, Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, and supplier executives to resolve supply continuity, quality, delivery, and capacity constraints.

Skills
  • Strong knowledge of industry standards such as IPC-A-610, IPC-A-600, JEDEC, and PCBA-related reliability testing; familiarity with semiconductor packaging, assembly, test, reliability, PCN, EOL, and qualification processes.
  • Strong understanding of semiconductor and electronic component supply chains, including foundry, wafer fabrication, OSAT, component distribution, allocation management, long lead times, and constrained-material planning.
  • Proficient in quality tools and methodologies including 8D, MSA, SPC, DOE, FMEA, control plans, root cause analysis, and corrective/preventive action; Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification is a plus.
  • Skilled in supplier capacity analysis, line and tool utilization reviews, forecast/order coverage analysis, inventory and WIP validation, supplier risk assessment, and delivery recovery planning.
  • Able to translate demand forecasts, purchase order coverage, supplier commits, production constraints, and sub-tier risks into actionable supply plans and management updates.
  • Well-versed in quality management systems such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and IATF 16949.
  • Experienced with data analysis and reporting tools such as Excel, Power BI, Tableau, Minitab, JMP, ERP/MRP systems, and supplier scorecard platforms.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; skilled in delivering clear presentations, executive updates, supplier audit reports, and comprehensive risk assessments.
  • Demonstrated ability to work independently with minimal supervision, manage complex supplier issues, and prioritize competing quality, delivery, and capacity risks.
  • Strong team player in cross-functional, cross-cultural, and global team environments, with the ability to influence suppliers and internal stakeholders without direct authority.
  • Flexible and able to support variable work hours to coordinate with domestic and international teams and suppliers.
  • Expert in quality analysis, root cause problem-solving, project management, supplier development, and escalation management.
  • Knowledge of materials analytical tools for failure analysis to identify root causes and assess corrective actions.
  • Well-versed in the latest advances in PCB, PCBA attachment, semiconductor packaging, electronic component, process, and reliability technologies to assess lifecycle and supply risks.

Working Conditions
  • Standard office and manufacturing environment with frequent visits to supplier facilities for onsite verification, audits, capacity reviews, and delivery readiness assessments.
  • Regular domestic travel to US supplier sites is expected; occasional international travel may be required to support supplier development, escalation, audits, or sub-tier supply chain reviews.
  • Flexible working hours required to coordinate with global teams, suppliers, foundries, OSATs, EMS partners, and component distributors across different time zones.
  • Must be able to manage workload independently in a dynamic and fast-paced environment with changing supplier priorities and delivery risks.
  • Work onsite or hybrid, with availability for supplier site visits and urgent supplier escalations as business needs require.

Physical Requirements
  • Ability to sit or stand for extended periods while working at a computer or during supplier site visits.
  • Capable of walking through manufacturing facilities, warehouses, labs, cleanroom-adjacent areas, and production lines, including navigating stairs and uneven surfaces.
  • Occasional lifting of up to 25 pounds may be required, such as samples, equipment, fixtures, documents, or supplier materials.
  • Visual acuity to inspect PCBA components, semiconductor and electronic components, labels, packaging, process documentation, and supplier technical records.
  • Ability to travel as needed, including long-distance flights and extended onsite supplier assessments.


Quality and Environmental Responsibilities

Depending on location, this position may be responsible for the execution and maintenance of the ISO 9000, 9001, 14001 and/or other applicable standards that may apply to the relevant roles and responsibilities within the Quality Management System and Environmental Management System.

About Coherent

Coherent, Inc. is a global leader in providing laser-based solutions to a broad range of commercial and scientific research customers. The company designs, manufactures, and markets lasers, laser-based systems, precision optics, and related accessories for a diverse group of customers. Coherent's markets include scientific research, OEM components and instrumentation, microelectronics, materials processing, and life sciences. The company's products are used in a wide range of applications. Coherent was founded in 1966 and is headquartered in Santa Clara, California.
Learn more about Coherent
Size
5,085 employees
Market Cap
$4.6 billion
Industry
Manufacturing & Automotive
Net Income
-$419.7 million
Founded
1966
5 Year Trend
+27.8%
Revenue
$1.2 billion
NASDAQ
COHR
* Ladders Estimates

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