ExecutiveFull TimeEN
About Etched
Etched is building the world’s first AI inference system purpose-built for transformers - delivering over 10x higher performance and dramatically lower cost and latency than a B200. With Etched ASICs, you can build products that would be impossible with GPUs, like real-time video generation models and extremely deep & parallel chain-of-thought reasoning agents. Backed by hundreds of millions from top-tier investors and staffed by leading engineers, Etched is redefining the infrastructure layer for the fastest growing industry in history.
Job Summary
Etched is looking for a Head of Contract Manufacturing to lead our global contract manufacturing strategy as we scale production of advanced AI hardware systems.
You will own the selection, management, and performance of Etched’s CM, ODM, JDM, and EMS partners across NPI, pilot builds, production ramps, and sustaining operations. This role is highly cross-functional, working closely with hardware engineering, manufacturing, quality, test, supply chain, finance, legal, and executive leadership.
Key Responsibilities
Develop and execute Etched’s contract manufacturing strategy across L6, L10, and L11
Identify, evaluate, select, and onboard global CM, ODM, JDM, and EMS partners
Own executive-level supplier relationships, business reviews, escalations, and long-term partnership planning
Lead contract manufacturing capacity planning
Negotiate product costing, manufacturing value add, NRE, CapEx, tooling, payment terms, warranty, and capacity commitments
Lead contract manufacturing (CM/JDM) engagement process, which includes RFQ/RFP processes, contracting (MSA/SOW/SLA/etc.), and cost negotiations
Drive supplier performance across cost, quality, delivery, flexibility, yield, capacity, and responsiveness
Partner with engineering, manufacturing, test, and quality teams to ensure factory readiness for NPI and production ramps
Build cost models, lead should-cost analysis, and drive cost reduction programs
Identify and mitigate manufacturing risks related to capacity, quality, tooling, regional concentration, and supply continuity
Present supplier strategy, cost tradeoffs, capacity plans, and risks to executive leadership
You may be a good fit if you have (Must-have qualifications)
Bachelor’s degree in engineering, supply chain, operations, business, or a related technical field
10+ years of experience in supply chain, manufacturing operations, sourcing, or contract manufacturing
Significant experience managing contract manufacturers for complex hardware products
Experience with PCBAs, systems, servers, networking, compute, datacenter infrastructure, or similar hardware platforms
Proven ability to negotiate complex supplier agreements and scale global manufacturing partnerships
Strong understanding of NPI, pilot builds, production ramps, sustaining operations, factory readiness, and supplier quality
Experience building cost models, managing supplier scorecards, and driving operational improvement
Strong cross-functional leadership and executive communication skills
Experience managing suppliers across Asia and working across global time zones
Ability to operate with urgency, ownership, and sound judgment in fast-moving environments
Strong candidates may also have experience with
AI infrastructure, datacenter hardware, rack-level integration, or high-performance compute systems
Experience at a hyperscaler, OEM, semiconductor company, contract manufacturer, or high-growth hardware startup
Deep familiarity with EMS cost structures, factory operations, labor models, yield, test, and line utilization
MBA or master’s degree in engineering, operations, supply chain, or a related field
Benefits
Medical, dental, and vision packages with generous premium coverage
$500 per month credit for waiving medical benefits
Housing subsidy of $2k per month for those living within walking distance of the office
Relocation support for those moving to San Jose (Santana Row)
Various wellness benefits covering fitness, mental health, and more
Daily lunch and dinner in our office
How we’re different
Etched believes in the Bitter Lesson. We think most of the progress in the AI field has come from using more FLOPs to train and run models, and the best way to get more FLOPs is to build model-specific hardware. Larger and larger training runs encourage companies to consolidate around fewer model architectures, which creates a market for single-model ASICs.
We are a fully in-person team in San Jose and Taipei, and greatly value engineering skills. We do not have boundaries between engineering and research, and we expect all of our technical staff to contribute to both as needed.
