Quality Manager

Tecnadyne•San Diego, CA

6d•$115,000 - $140,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Quality Manager owns Tecnadyne's Quality Management System (QMS) and leads its inspection program in a small, high-mix manufacturing environment producing subsea thrusters and related electro-mechanical systems. This hands-on leadership role will guide the company through initial ISO 9001 certification, establish practical inspection processes, and personally perform inspections when production needs require it. The role calls for applying ISO 9001 requirements with sound judgment and building documentation suited to the organization's products, processes, size, and stage of growth. The Quality Manager is responsible for QMS operation and quality metrics, inspection planning and execution, measurement equipment calibration, team leadership and development, supplier quality, contract quality review, and continuous improvement. The position works closely with Engineering, Production, Machine Shop, and Supply Chain, and requires daily on-site presence in the production environment.

Requirements

At least 5 years of quality and inspection experience in a manufacturing environment.
Experience directly supervising or leading people.
Demonstrated experience building or significantly improving inspection processes or a quality system, with specific examples of processes developed and implemented.
Working knowledge of ISO 9001 and ability to implement it pragmatically for a small business.
Strong ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, and GD&T.
Hands-on metrology skills with precision measurement tools and experience maintaining calibration systems.
Experience with nonconformance management, root cause analysis, and corrective actions.
Clear, concise written and verbal communication, including the ability to communicate with both the executive team and production-floor employees.
Strong documentation skills and ability to write usable procedures, work instructions, and forms.
Ability to perform inspections in a production environment, including standing, bending, and lifting typical parts and fixtures.
On-site presence is required.

Nice To Haves

Machining and electro-mechanical assembly experience.
Experience leading an organization through initial ISO 9001 certification.
Supplier quality experience, including supplier audits, PPAP, and first article inspection.
Experience in marine, subsea, aerospace, defense, or other high-reliability hardware environments.
Familiarity with ERP/MRP systems, quality modules, or electronic document control.

Responsibilities

Develop, roll out, maintain, and operate an ISO 9001-aligned QMS, and lead Tecnadyne through initial certification on an agreed timeline.
Keep QMS procedures practical and lean so employees adopt and follow them.
Manage document control, nonconformance handling and MRB, corrective and preventive actions, internal audits, management review, and training and competency records.
Prepare and report quality metrics, including scrap and rework, incoming defect rate, escape rate, and CAPA cycle time.
Support customer quality requirements, quality reporting, and external audits.
Design and implement a company-wide inspection program for incoming, in-process, and final inspection of machined parts, assemblies, and purchased components.
Work with Engineering to identify critical characteristics and focus inspection effort efficiently.
Create and maintain inspection plans, sampling strategies, checklists, and acceptance criteria tied to drawings and specifications.
Perform incoming and in-process inspections when needed, including dimensional verification using GD&T.
Maintain calibration and control of measurement equipment, including gage R&R and MSA where appropriate.
Build systems for inspection records, first article reporting, nonconformance documentation, and traceability.
Lead, train, and coach inspection staff, including employees cross-trained from other departments.
Work daily on the production floor with inspection and production staff to review priorities, answer questions, and clarify critical characteristics.
Hold people and departments accountable to quality commitments and follow up until issues are closed.
Develop supplier quality expectations, including supplier qualification, performance monitoring, and supplier corrective actions (SCARs).
Review customer contracts, purchase orders, and supplier terms for quality requirements, and maintain quality clauses for purchasing.
Lead productive conversations with suppliers about quality issues.
Develop, document, and implement processes where gaps exist.
Drive problem solving using tools such as 5 Whys, fishbone diagrams, Pareto analysis, and basic SPC.
Partner with Engineering, Production, Machine Shop, and Supply Chain to prevent escapes and improve yields.
Perform other related duties as assigned.