The role
We're looking for a hands-on Quality & Manufacturing Ramp-Up Manager to lead the transition from pilot line to full production at our manufacturing partner(s) in China. You will be the critical link between our Amsterdam design/engineering team and the factory floor, translating product specifications into a manufacturable, quality-controlled process, and owning the ramp-up plan end to end.
This role sits at the intersection of quality control and project management: part of the job is building and enforcing the quality systems that ensure what comes off the line matches what was designed in Amsterdam; the other part is planning, sequencing, and driving the dozens of workstreams (tooling, supplier qualification, staffing, pilot builds, capacity ramp) needed to hit our manufacturing readiness dates. Exact title is flexible, we care about the person and the outcomes.
What you'll do
This role is based in China with regular travel to Amsterdam, the Neterhlands to stay aligned with design and leadership.
Prototypes and New Product Introduction phase
- On-site technical representative at the contract manufacturer, run prototype and pilot builds, produce first-article inspections, and document the build.
- Own project management for prototype building, maintain timeline, coordinate with multiple suppliers, highlight risks and propose mitigations.
- Act as the day-to-day bridge between Amsterdam design/engineering and our manufacturing partners, translating design intent and specifications into manufacturable processes and resolving design-for-manufacture (DFM/DFA) issues as they arise.
- Manage the transition of documentation: BOMs, drawings, work instructions, test procedures — from engineering release to shop-floor execution.
- Qualify and manage relationships with contract manufacturers and component suppliers, with particular attention to supply chain risk management and long lead time items.
Industrialization & Ramp-up phase
- Own the manufacturing ramp-up plan: define milestones, sequence workstreams, and track progress from pilot runs through to full-volume production.
- Build and implement the quality management system for production — incoming, in-process, and outgoing inspection plans, control plans, PPAP/APQP-style qualification, and first-article inspection.
- Set up root-cause and corrective-action (CAPA) processes and drive continuous improvement of yield, defect rates, and process capability.
- Track and report ramp-up status, risks, and quality metrics to leadership in Amsterdam, flagging issues early and proposing mitigation plans.