Zurich Instruments is a technology leader in advanced test and measurement instruments and in control electronics for quantum computing. Our products are used in many challenging research fields by scientists all over the world and by leading high-tech companies worldwide. We help advance science and build the next generation of quantum computers.
As Senior Supply & Production Planner, you own the link between demand and the availability of material and capacity. You translate forecast and order-driven demand into procurement plans with our suppliers, convert confirmed demand into an executable production plan, and anticipate capacity gaps on a rolling 6-month horizon. You work at the interface between Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Business Fulfillment, R&D and our suppliers, and are the single point of reference for the question "when can we build and ship this?"
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Your responsibilities
- Translate the rolling demand forecast for series-production line into a 3–6 month procurement plan with suppliers, and maintain planning parameters (lead times, safety stocks, reorder points, lot sizes) in the ERP.
- Build procurement plan for our project-based business, identify long-lead components for preventive purchase before order intake, and quantify each commitment for approval.
- Run the MRP cycle, convert requirements into purchase orders, and track material readiness by project, escalating delivery risks early.
- Issue the weekly production plan, create and drive manufacturing orders, and coordinate internal logistics so material is picked and staged on time.
- Keep planning master data (BOMs, routings, work centre capacities) accurate with Manufacturing Engineering and R&D, and confirm feasible dates to Business Fulfillment and Sales.
- Evaluate production capacity on a rolling 6‑month horizon, flag bottlenecks early, and propose measures such as load leveling, build‑ahead, or outsourcing.
- Own planning processes in the ERP and report key KPIs: on-time delivery, material shortages, inventory coverage, forecast accuracy, and capacity load.
Your profile
- Technical or commercial education (HF, FH or BSc) in supply chain, industrial engineering or a comparable field; a planning certification (e.g. APICS CPIM) is an advantage.
- 5-10 years' planning experience in a high-mix / low-volume electronics or precision instrumentation environment.
- Solid ERP planning skills: MRP (Material Requirements Planning) and MPS (Master Production Scheduling), manufacturing orders and capacity planning; experience with Odoo is an advantage.
- Comfortable working with both forecast-driven and order-driven project planning logic in parallel.
- Strong analytical skills, confident with data and Excel.
- Able to take decisions under uncertainty, and to substantiate a "no" with facts.
- Clear communicator across manufacturing, supply chain, sales and suppliers.
- Fluent English; German is a big advantage.
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We offer a diverse work environment with an open and transparent company culture where personal development forms the basis of our success. We thrive on cooperation and support distributed decision-making that allows everyone to take responsibility and generate substantial impact from the start and on many levels.
Now is a great time to join the team.
We look forward to receiving your resume and motivation letter.
TECHNICAL & MARKET ANALYSIS | Appended by Quantum.Jobs
As quantum technologies transition from academic laboratories to commercial manufacturing, the supply and production planning function serves as a critical structural bridge in the high-precision instrumentation hardware sector. The ongoing escalation of quantum computing scale requires a corresponding industrialization of enabling infrastructure, particularly control electronics and signal processing systems. This role type exists to mitigate severe lead-time volatility and structural supply chain bottlenecks inherent to high-mix, low-volume deep-tech manufacturing environments. By synchronizing specialized component procurement with production capacity, the function protects downstream hardware delivery timelines and stabilizes commercial scaling trajectories. Sector-wide observations indicate that operational continuity in quantum control hardware depends directly on rigorous master production scheduling and material requirement mapping. Ultimately, effective planning stabilizes the enablement layer of the broader quantum computing architecture.
The commercialization of quantum hardware relies on an intricate tier-two and tier-three supplier network specialized in precision electronics, microwave engineering, and cryogenic interfaces. Within this value chain, companies like Zurich Instruments provide the essential control systems required to manipulate and readout qubit states. However, the sector faces significant macro constraints, including extreme supplier concentration for specialized components, extended lead times for high-frequency electronics, and unpredictable procurement cycles. These vulnerabilities are compounded by fluctuating demand profiles that mix standard series production with customized, project-based research configurations.
To navigate these challenges, current industry focus lies on bridging classical and quantum capabilities at scale through resilient operations. Supply chain fragmentation and technology readiness level mismatches frequently jeopardize assembly schedules, making advanced inventory management and capacity forecasting vital mechanisms for risk reduction. Furthermore, as national quantum initiatives and enterprise R&D units expand orders, equipment manufacturers must transition from custom shop-floor builds to predictable, scalable manufacturing paradigms without compromising precision standards.
Operational success in this domain requires an integrated mastery of enterprise resource planning architecture, master production scheduling, and multi-tier material requirements planning. The capability to balance long-lead preventive procurement against short-term order realization is fundamental to maintaining throughput in specialized hardware manufacturing. This technical framework relies on precise synchronization between research and development, manufacturing engineering, and external vendor capacity. Alignment across these interfaces prevents capacity allocation errors and ensures structural readiness for emerging hardware deployments across the global quantum ecosystem. - Accelerates the transition of quantum control hardware from customized builds to scalable series production
- Mitigates multi-tier supply chain risks associated with specialized, high-frequency electronic components
- Stabilizes delivery horizons for research institutions and commercial quantum developers globally
- Enhances manufacturing operational efficiency through optimized master production scheduling execution
- Reduces capital lockup by refining safety stock parameters and reorder thresholds across the enterprise
- Optimizes production capacity utilization across high-mix, low-volume precision instrument lines
- Improves cost predictability for critical hardware components amidst global trade and material fluctuations
- Secures hardware integration timelines for large-scale quantum computing infrastructure projects
- Prevents component delivery bottlenecks through proactive long-lead material identification and staging
- Strengthens organizational resilience against volatile demand cycles in deep-tech hardware markets
- Facilitates seamless engineering change management between R\&D iterations and active manufacturing lines
- Supports the broader industrialization of quantum computing enabling technologies across national ecosystemsIndustry Tags: Quantum Computing Hardware, Control Electronics, Supply Chain Management, Master Production Scheduling, Precision Instrumentation, Electronics Manufacturing, MRP Systems, Deep Tech Operations
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