Quality Manager in San Diego, California at Tecnova Advanced Systems, Inc.

• Leads the development, rollout, and maintenance of an ISO 9001-aligned QMS, and drives Tecnadyne through initial certification on an agreed timeline.
• Keeps procedures practical and lean, so they are adopted and followed by the people doing the work.
• Owns day-to-day QMS operation, including document control, nonconformance handling and MRB, corrective and preventive actions, internal audits, management review, and training and competency records.
• Prepares and reports quality metrics such as scrap and rework, incoming defect rate, escape rate, and CAPA cycle time.
• Supports customer quality requirements, quality reporting, and external audits.

• Designs and implements a company-wide inspection program covering incoming, in-process, and final inspection for machined parts, assemblies, and purchased components.
• Works with Engineering to identify critical characteristics and focuses inspection effort on what matters most, so inspection is efficient and does not create bottlenecks.
• Creates and maintains inspection plans, sampling strategies, checklists, and acceptance criteria tied to drawings and specifications.
• Personally performs incoming and in-process inspections when workload requires, including dimensional verification using GD&T.
• Maintains calibration and control of measurement equipment, including gage R&R and MSA where appropriate.
• Builds systems for inspection records, first article reporting, nonconformance documentation, and traceability.

• Leads, trains, and coaches inspection staff, including employees cross-trained from other departments to perform in-process inspections.
• Spends time on the floor daily with inspection and production to review priorities, answer questions, and clarify which characteristics are critical.
• Holds people and departments accountable to quality commitments, and follows up until issues are closed.

• Develops supplier quality expectations, including supplier qualification, performance monitoring, and supplier corrective actions (SCARs).
• Reviews customer contracts, purchase orders, and supplier terms for quality requirements, and maintains quality clauses for purchasing.
• Leads direct, productive conversations with suppliers on quality issues.

• Develops, documents, and implements new processes where gaps exist.
• Drives problem solving using structured tools such as 5 Whys, fishbone diagrams, Pareto analysis, and basic SPC.
• Partners with Engineering, Production, Machine Shop, and Supply Chain to prevent escapes and improve yields.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

• 5+ years of quality and inspection experience in a manufacturing environment; machining and electro-mechanical assembly experience strongly preferred.
• 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 the 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, with the ability to communicate up to the executive team and down to the production floor.
• Strong documentation skills, with the ability to write procedures, work instructions, and forms people will actually use.

• 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.

• Ability to perform inspections in a production environment, including standing, bending, and lifting typical parts and fixtures. Reasonable accommodation is available.
• On-site presence is required.

• $115,000-$140,000 DOE

Benefits

• Medical and dental coverage, with base plan premiums paid by Tecnadyne
• A zero-deductible medical plan option
• Employer contributions to your Health Savings Account (HSA)
• A 401(k) with eligibility and full vesting from your first day
• Paid time off and paid sick leave available from day one
• Tuition reimbursement to support your growth

Tecnadyne is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to any characteristic protected by law, including protected veteran status and disability. We consider qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records in accordance with the California Fair Chance Act.