Head of Product

About Nearfield Instruments

Nearfield Instruments (NFI) is a fast-growing high-tech scale-up. We design, develop, integrate, market and service advanced metrology systems that help the world’s leading chipmakers improve production yields and enable smaller, more powerful microchips.

Founded in 2016, we bring together experts in science and technology to develop a unique, high-throughput Scanning Probe Microscopy system.

This role involves approximately 35% international travel.

Nearfield Instruments is scaling rapidly in one of the world’s most demanding industries: semiconductor manufacturing.

As Head of Product, you will lead the product management process, translating customer problems, market developments and technology opportunities into clear product definitions, portfolio choices and development priorities.

Your focus is on the why and the what : identifying the right problems to solve, defining product outcomes and requirements, and making evidence-based decisions about where Nearfield should invest.

Combining deep customer understanding, systems thinking and technical judgement, you will guide teams from problem discovery through product definition and roadmap decisions, creating clarity before development commitments are made.

This role reports to the Director of Product and Program Management.

What you will do

• Own and evolve Nearfield’s product strategy, portfolio and integrated product roadmap , translating company strategy, market developments and technology opportunities into clear priorities. • Lead customer and market discovery to understand the workflows, constraints and unmet needs of leading semiconductor manufacturers and identify the problems worth solving. • Translate complex customer needs into clear product outcomes, system-level requirements and acceptance criteria . • Lead early product definition with System Engineering and Development & Engineering, evaluating solution options, technical feasibility, risk and trade-offs before development commitments are made. • Drive portfolio and roadmap decisions based on customer value, strategic fit, development effort, lifecycle impact, risk and time-to-impact. • Partner with Product Marketing to combine customer evidence, market and competitive insights, installed-base learning and product data into well-founded product opportunities. • Connect customers, Sales, System Engineering, Development & Engineering and Operations, creating alignment on what we build, why we build it and what takes priority . • Lead strategic customer discussions on future use cases, performance requirements and technology readiness. • Further professionalize Nearfield’s product management organization , establishing clear ownership, decision rights and effective product governance. • Build and develop a high-performing product management capability with strong technical depth, customer focus, accountability and fact-based decision-making.