Job Title: Quality, Test, & Compliance Engineer - Specialist

As a leader in life safety equipment and an employee-owned company, we combine purpose-driven innovation with a culture of ownership. Every team member has a voice, a stake, and a meaningful impact on the products we build and the customers we serve.

We are seeking a proactive, mechanically inclined Quality, Test & Compliance Engineer/Specialist to support our global operations and drive continuous improvement across our products, systems, and manufacturing processes. This is a highly hands-on role ideal for someone who enjoys solving complex problems and is comfortable working at a computer, in a test lab, and on the production floor.

In this position, you will partner closely with Production, Quality, and Engineering teams to diagnose, test, and resolve a wide range of product and process challenges. You will evaluate components firsthand, perform functional and validation testing, assess tolerances and fit, and investigate failures at their source. A strong mechanical aptitude and confidence in disassembling, inspecting, and reassembling products and equipment are essential.

Success in this role requires practical problem-solving ability, attention to detail, and an analytical mindset. You will lead thorough root cause investigations, develop effective corrective and preventive actions (CAPA), and translate production insights and data into sustainable engineering and quality improvements.

About Us:

CMC is an employee-owned company based in Goleta, California, with a mission to help save lives by equipping professionals with the tools and training they need to perform their jobs with the highest levels of safety and efficiency. We are a passionate and purpose-driven team, proud to serve the rescue and rope access communities with the world’s most trusted life safety equipment for over 40 years. At CMC, our commitment to innovation, quality, and service is rooted in a shared dedication to those who risk their lives to protect and save others.

About the Job:

Job Summary

The Quality, Compliance and Test Engineer / Specialist is a hands-on technical role responsible for supporting quality, test, and compliance activities throughout the product lifecycle. This position focuses on product inspection, process verification, failure analysis, and production support to ensure products meet internal specifications, regulatory requirements, and customer expectations. The role partners closely with engineering, supply chain and production teams to identify issues, implement technical solutions, and drive continuous product and process improvement.

Key Responsibilities

Manufacturing Quality Support

• Support operations by verifying product conformance to drawings, specifications, and workmanship standards.
• Identify nonconforming materials and products and document findings in quality systems.
• Support containment, rework, and disposition activities for nonconforming product.

• Review manufacturing processes for repeatability, capability, and risk to quality.
• Support New Product Introduction (NPI) activities, including Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP).

Product Testing & Verification

• Execute product testing to internal requirements, industry standards, and applicable regulatory safety standards.
• Develop test setups, methods, and acceptance criteria to support production readiness and product release.
• Perform validation and verification testing on new and existing products.
• Analyze test results, identify failure modes, and provide data-driven technical recommendations.

Process Improvement & Risk Reduction

• Support continuous improvement initiatives by identifying process gaps, variation, and quality risks.
• Assist with development and refinement of inspection methods, test procedures, and work instructions.
• Participate in risk assessments such as PFMEA, control plans, and process reviews.
• Update, maintain and/or develop Quality, Test and Compliance processes and documentation.

Fixtures, Tooling & Equipment

• Design, fabricate, and maintain inspection fixtures, gauges, and test equipment.
• Support automation and semi-automated inspection or test solutions to improve efficiency and repeatability.
• Evaluate and support procurement of manufacturing and inspection equipment.
• Ensure measurement systems are appropriate for intended use and maintained in working condition.
• Support sensor integration, data acquisition, and measurement systems for quality verification.

Documentation & Compliance

• Generate and maintain accurate inspection records, test reports, and technical documentation.
• Verify compliance with internal quality system requirements and applicable industry standards.
• Support internal and external audits by providing objective evidence and technical explanations.
• Manage ongoing 3rd party recertification and compliance activities.
• Ensure traceability of test results, inspection data, and corrective actions.

Required Skills & Qualifications

• 5–7-years of experience in manufacturing, inspection, or quality assurance environments.
• Extensive hands-on capability in working with tools, machines, and equipment.
• Strong understanding of dimensional inspection, functional testing, and defect identification.
• Experience with nonconformance reporting, root cause analysis, and corrective actions.
• Proficiency in machining, fabrication, welding, and fixture design.
• Knowledge of regulatory safety standards and manufacturing quality requirements.
• Ability to read and interpret drawings, specifications, and quality requirements.
• Experience with data collection, analysis, and technical reporting.
• Proficiency with MS Office tools for documentation and reporting.

Preferred Experience

• Engineering Degree or equivalent experience.
• Background in consumer products, mechanical assemblies, or performance-critical manufacturing.
• Experience supporting suppliers, contract manufacturers, or global sourcing operations.
• Familiarity with ISO 9001–based quality systems and audit processes.
• Familiarity with APQP processes and implementation.

Work Environment

• Manufacturing floor, quality lab, and inspection environments.
• Regular use of machine tools, test equipment, and measurement devices.

Interaction with production schedules, quality holds, and product release timelines.

CMC’s budgeted salary range for this role is $86,511 to $129,767 annually. Final offers are based on candidate qualifications, experience, budget, and CMC’s commitment to fair and consistent compensation practices.