QA Specialist - Data Center

Black Box•Dekalb, IL

About The Position

The QA Specialist supports quality assurance for Black Box data center projects. The role promotes safe work practices and company values, coordinates project quality expectations, and helps operational teams comply with installation specifications and the Black Box Quality Management System (QMS). The specialist conducts Gemba walks and work-in-progress inspections, coaches employees on quality, contributes to technical standards and documentation, and supports continuous improvement and Lean initiatives. The role also manages nonconformance reporting and closeout, verifies corrective actions, helps identify root causes and effective countermeasures, and shares lessons learned and best practices across sites. Supporting duties include verifying materials and as-built documentation, prioritizing responses to nonconformances, helping plan data center project work, and serving as a field resource on structured cabling and installation standards. Travel may be required.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
At least 2 years of field experience installing and testing fiber.
Structured cabling and/or data center cabling experience.
Proven work experience in infrastructure deployment.
Ability to implement and monitor a Quality Management System.
Strong communication, coaching, and collaboration skills.
Analytical, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to contribute actively as part of a team.
Professionalism and ability to build rapport with internal customers, program representatives, and others.
Ability to coach, influence, and encourage others on quality topics.
Ability to work under time pressure and adapt to changing requirements with a positive attitude.
Strong oral and written communication and organizational skills.
Disciplined, detail-oriented, organized, and self-starting approach.
Ability to plan and prioritize tasks and complete scheduled activities efficiently.
Ability to understand and comply with policies and standard operating procedures.
Proficiency with computers and Microsoft Office, including Outlook, Word, and Excel.
Ability and willingness to travel as required.

Nice To Haves

OSHA 30-Hour certification; if not held at hire, it must be obtained within six months of employment.
CommScope certifications and/or BICSI certifications, such as IN225, IN250, or TE350.
Experience training technicians and familiarity with quality standards.

Responsibilities

Follow safe work practices that comply with the Company Safety Program and client worksite policies.
Promote company Core Values and help safeguard company culture.
Coordinate with program representatives to incorporate applicable quality expectations into the Black Box QMS.
Engage operational personnel to support compliance with installation specifications documented in the Black Box QMS.
Conduct formal Gemba walks to review work in progress and completed scopes of work, involving internal customers and external parties when applicable.
Contribute to developing QA tools that promote quality awareness.
Partner with field staff to implement and execute Innovation, Lessons Learned, Right First Time, and Standards quality elements.
Coordinate and conduct timely work-in-progress quality inspections, prioritizing them according to production status and risk management in the P6 project schedule.
Train and coach internal employees to integrate quality awareness into daily work.
Partner in developing installation and technical standards, procedures, inspections, and reporting documents.
Drive continuous improvement activities and support Lean initiatives aligned with corporate strategic goals.
Issue, record, monitor, and close nonconformance reports.
Participate in GC and client quality programs as required.
Trend data to identify recurring issues.
Conduct corrective-action verification audits for nonconforming observations.
Participate in structured problem solving to determine root causes and effective countermeasures, and scale best practices as lessons learned.
Share best practices and learnings across the intra/inter-site QA organization and incorporate them into standards.
Verify that materials from CFCI and OFCI sources meet design specifications before and after installation.
Verify that site as-built design documentation is accessible and used by field staff.
Ensure rapid response to high-priority nonconformances and resolution activities through closeout.
Facilitate realization of project pipeline planning related to data center construction.
Serve as a field technical resource on Black Box structured cabling standards, installation standards, build specifications, and industry standards.
Travel as required by Black Box.