Director of Compliance and Quality

GelSight; Waltham (MA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

GelSight seeks an experienced Quality leader to own and advance the company-wide Quality Management System, ensuring compliance with defense standards across products and services. The role drives governance, audits, CAPA, and continuous improvement while coordinating with executives and cross-functional teams in a fast-paced environment.

The position requires regular presence in Waltham, MA, reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, and leading initiatives in product development, manufacturing,

Qualifications

• Proven track record leading quality teams in manufacturing or defense environments.
• Experience implementing and maintaining a robust Quality Management System (QMS).
• Strong knowledge of FAR/DFAR, ISO 9001, EH&S and related regulations.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Quality Team and drive end-to-end QMS across product development, manufacturing, and fulfillment.
• Coordinate enterprise integrations (Document Management, CRM, ERP, PLM, MES) to support QMS.
• Oversee internal and external audits, CAPAs, and corrective actions with timely closure.
• Present KPIs and health metrics to executive leadership and drive continuous improvement.
• Ensure supplier quality alignment with internal QMS expectations.

Skills

Leadership

QMS ownership

Regulatory compliance

Audit management

Cross-functional collaboration

Continuous improvement

Education

BA/BS in Engineering or Business

Job description

Gelsight seeks an experienced and versatile Quality professional to lead compliance efforts. This key position will provide company-level leadership of Quality and Defense standard compliance across all products and services through oversight of a robust and integrated Quality Management System (QMS). Lead a Quality Team and guide the organization to ensure the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of quality system supports effective product development, manufacturing, and fulfilment across the product lifecycle. This position requires regular presence in Waltham, Massachusetts, and reports to the Chief Operating Officer.

Leadership

• Be the subject matter expert for applicable standards to serve existing and developing program and customer requirements.
• Lead system definition and implementation to meet the rigor of internal and external compliance assessments.
• Lead programs/projects using standard project management tools and techniques for team coordination, tracking, and reporting.
• Monitor and present product and system performance, trends, and risks to executive leadership, including KPIs and health metrics, to ensure stability and actionable plans to improve overall compliance.

Cross-Functional & Enterprise Integration

• Partner with all functions of the business to ensure QMS integration with organization structure, company policies, and processes.
• Lead and support implementation of enterprise solutions (e.g. Document Management, CRM, ERP, PLM, MES, etc.) necessary to support a robust QMS.
• Ensure alignment between supplier quality systems and internal QMS expectations.

Quality Management System

Own and lead the end-to-end QMS, ensuring it is compliant, scalable, and aligned with regulatory expectations (e.g. FAR, DFAR, ISO 9001, EH&S standards, trade compliance, etc.).

• Establish and maintain governance of core QMS elements in conjunction with department heads, including:
• Management Reviews and KPI Reporting
• Audits – Internal & External
• CAPA, Change Control, Deviations & Waivers
• Document Control and Records Management
• Training and Learning Management Systems
• Complaint handling and product quality assessments
• Lead and oversee writing/revising SOPs to meet relevant standards and key QMS elements.
• Spearhead the Compliance Team to ensure adequate assessment and management of gaps, internal and external audit findings, customer complaints, etc.
• Review and complete customer surveys, compliance questionnaires, and requests for information related to Gelsight's products, QMS, and regulatory status.
• Lead and provide oversight into QMS risk areas including facilitating risk assessments, post-mortems, and review of audit findings.
• Facilitate that audit reports and corrective actions are developed and completed within timelines mandated in internal procedures; utilize industry standard techniques (e.g. Six Sigma, 8D, etc.).
• Ensure audit and inspection findings are systematically trended within the QMS to drive systemic improvements.
• Escalate critical compliance risks to executive leadership.
• Educate and train company employees on key elements and responsibilities during system development, implementation, and maintenance.

Product Quality

• Ensure generation and maintenance of product and part specific Quality Plans to support Defense Programs and commercial products.
• Lead investigations into significant quality issues related to product and material including partnering with Product Management for MRB (Material Review Board) reviews and dispositions, identification of root causes, and development of appropriate corrective and preventive actions.
• Work with Engineering to develop and implement requirements for incoming, in-process, and final inspection and test of products within the materials management and production processes.
• Own and facilitate the end-to-end process for customer returns from characterization closure including CAPA and ongoing analysis of data and trends.
• Integrate with Supplier Quality Engineering for a robust Purchasing and Supplier Oversight Program.

Requirements

• 10+ years in Quality Management with emphasis on Defense industry requirements within manufacturing.
• Minimum: BA/BS degree in Engineering or Business; Advanced degree is strongly preferred.
• Experience leading a company through an ISO certification process (Gap Analysis through Certification).
• In-depth knowledge of regulations and guidelines related to Defense industry and manufacturing companies.
• Proven experience designing, implementing, or transforming enterprise QMS frameworks.
• Experience in managing, hosting, and supporting customer audits and Defense agency inspections.
• Excellent understanding of the deliverable and stages of the New Product Introduction process.
• Demonstrated leadership skills and experience in managing Quality Teams.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, capable of effectively collaborating with cross-functional teams and external stakeholders.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities, with a continuous improvement mindset.