Nearfield Instruments brings together the most creative minds in science and technology to develop, produce and market revolutionary high throughput scanning probe microscopy systems, enabling atom-scale resolution 3D metrology at industry-level throughput.
We design, develop, integrate, market and service these advanced metrology machines, which enable our customers – the world’s leading chipmakers – to increase the production yields, and thus, functionality of their microchips. In this way Nearfield Instruments contributes to the development of smaller, more powerful consumer electronics.
Nearfield Instruments brings together the most creative minds in science and technology to develop, produce and market revolutionary high throughput scanning probe microscopy systems, enabling atom-scale resolution 3D metrology at industry-level throughput.
We design, develop, integrate, market and service these advanced metrology machines, which enable our customers – the world’s leading chipmakers – to increase the production yields, and thus, functionality of their microchips. In this way Nearfield Instruments contributes to the development of smaller, more powerful consumer electronics.
Founded: January 2016 as a TNO spin-off (Delft, Netherlands)
Flagship product: QUADRA — in-line, high-throughput 3D scanning-probe/AFM metrology at atomic-scale resolution
Latest major funding: €135 million Series C closed 2024-07-18 (led by Walden Catalyst and Temasek)
Investor base: Backed by strategic and institutional investors including Temasek, Walden Catalyst, M&G Investments, Invest-NL, Innovation Industries, ING, Samsung Venture, Eugene, and TNO
Market focus: Semiconductor process-control metrology for advanced chipmakers
Company Overview
Problem Domain
Semiconductor process-control metrology; in-line atomic-scale 3D metrology for advanced semiconductor manufacturing.
Founded
2016
Industry
Semiconductor Manufacturing
Tech Stack
Scanning probe microscopy (AFM)
High-throughput automation
In-line process-control metrology
3D atomic-scale metrology
Funding Track Record
Series C- 2024-07-18
€135 million
Co-investor M&G Investments (Catalyst strategy); participation from Innovation Industries, Invest-NL, and ING.
- 2023-09-19
€27 million
Existing investors Invest-NL, Innovation Industries and TNO participated.
Series B- 2021-06-03
€17.5 million
Announced as part of Series B financing.
Series B- 2021-07-29
€12 million
Additional equity investment that brought the Series B round total to €48.5 million.
- 2017-10-13
€10 million
Early investment; TNO remained a shareholder.
Bank financing (debt facility)- 2025-12-16
Flexible bank financing facility to accelerate global expansion and scale production capacity.
Investor Signal
“Backed by a mix of strategic, institutional and deep-tech investors, including Temasek, Walden Catalyst, M&G Investments, Invest-NL, Innovation Industries, ING, Samsung Venture Investment Corporation, Eugene Investment & Securities, and TNO.”
Administrative ServicesData and AnalyticsDeepTechHR and RecruitingMediaProfessional ServicesSoftware
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Fluidic Sciences
🇬🇧GB
Health
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Join the Team
FAT Engineer
On-SiteRotterdam, NL
On-Site • Rotterdam, NL
Job description
Do you want full ownership over the last and most critical phase of a complex, high-tech machine? As FAT Engineer, you ensure that advanced metrology systems perform exactly as intended before they reach the customer. You don’t just test, you take ownership of quality, performance, and delivery readiness.
About Nearfield Instruments
Nearfield Instruments (NFI) is a fast-growing scale-up high-tech company. We design, develop, integrate, market and service advanced metrology machines. Our machines enables our customers - the world’s leading chipmakers – to increase the production yields, and thus, functionality of their microchips, which in turn leads to smaller, more powerful consumer electronics.
Founded in 2016, we bring together the most creative minds (approx. 380 employees) in science and technology and develop a one-of-a-kind, revolutionary high throughput Scanning Probe Microscopy system.
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What you will be doing?
As a Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) Engineer, you will join a fast growing semiconductor equipment scale-up. In this role, you will be responsible for validating tool performance after production is completed, ensuring compliance with the strict requirements our customers have to manufacture state of the art devices. You will be the final user of the tool, learning how to use all its functionalities. You will troubleshoot issues through in-depth data analysis, isolate root causes, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to implement solutions before shipment.
The role also involves driving continuous improvement of the FAT process through automation and collaboration with D&E department. You’ll work closely with marketing to align tool performance with customer-specific needs and contribute to enhancing overall tool capabilities.
Key Responsibilities
Run the tool and analyse tool performance to identify and resolve issues before delivery to customer.
Drive process and automation improvements on the FAT sequence, and contribute to the development of next-generation tool capabilities.
Align testing priorities with customer expectations by collaborating closely with the marketing team.
Demonstrate that the tool performance is aligned with what is committed to customer.
Why is the position interesting for you?
Run the tool and analyse tool performance to identify and resolve issues before delivery to customer.
Drive process and automation improvements on the FAT sequence, and contribute to the development of next-generation tool capabilities.
Align testing priorities with customer expectations by collaborating closely with the marketing team.
Demonstrate that the tool performance is aligned with what is committed to customer.
Job requirements
What are we looking for?
Scale-ups can provide phenomenal learning and development opportunities but can also be a hectic environment at times. You must fit in such a climate and don’t mind to constantly implement changes and process improvements, and to go the extra mile on a regular basis and feel comfortable with some uncertainty.
BSc (University or Dutch HBO) and/or MSc in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Aviation Engineering, Automotive Engineering, Physics, Nano Technology or other related backgrounds;
2+ years of experience in activities on highly complex systems, like semiconductor equipment, satellites, astronomy equipment or similar technology;
Proficiency with Python is highly beneficial
Pro-active, problem-solving and hands-on attitude
You are comfortable with working onsite for 5 days a week, with flexibility arrangements possible
What can you expect from us?
Getting on board now is a great opportunity to grow with the company from a technical, personal, and financial perspective. Nearfield's momentum is energetic and promising!
Our starting point is of course to pay someone a fair and competitive salary and besides this we offer you:
Valuation of your work-life balance;
Time for some relaxation: 30 holidays per calendar year (based on 40 hours);
8% holiday allowance;
Commuting allowance;
Discount on your health insurance;
We are here to support one another, and colleagues are there to help you. TEAM is very important, Together Everyone Achieves More!
Besides a challenging role where you can utilize the full extent of your professional knowledge.
If the above challenges excites you, we encourage you to send us your details using the now button on our career site.
Our recruitment process:
Screening by Recruiter
1st Interview with Team Lead FAT
On-site Cleanroom Test and Interview with Director of Operations
Offer and reference check
Onboarding and welcome at Nearfield Instruments!
If you have any questions? Feel free to contact me via:
We appreciate the interest, but we source all our candidates directly. We understand that you as an intermediary want to present candidates to our interesting positions. This is not how we have structured our recruitment.
This means that all profiles offered to Nearfield Instruments will be treated as direct applications. Unless we have explicitly agreed otherwise.
