QA & Sample Manager

Socket.dev; Rock Hill (SC); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Socket.dev in Rock Hill, SC seeks a QA & Sample Manager to lead the Quality Assurance and Sample Production operations. You will unify quality standards with rapid, high-precision sample fulfillment, supervising QA personnel and the Sample Maker team to meet customer requirements and vendor metrics.

The role emphasizes ISO 9001 adherence, continuous improvement, and cross-functional leadership in a high-volume manufacturing setting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in technical/engineering or business preferred; associate's degree required.
• 5–8 years of quality control or assurance management in automated, high-volume manufacturing.
• Experience leading multi-tier teams and coordinating cross-functional activities.
• Strong knowledge of textile industry processes and sewing machinery familiarity.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership for QA and Sample departments to meet organizational benchmarks.
• Supervise Quality Supervisor and hourly QA inspectors and Sample staff.
• Oversee auditing from Receiving to Finished Goods Inspection (FGI).
• Manage CSA representative audits and act as facility authority when Director is absent.
• Maintain ISO 9001 operations with robust control metrics and continuous improvement.
• Oversee new product launches and ensure vendor compliance with client specs.
• Evaluate sample workflows from intake to dispatch and ensure paperwork/tracking.
• Document Non-Conforming Materials (NCM) and coordinate CQI with plant leadership.
• Conduct physical random evaluations and product testing inspections to prevent penalties.
• Ensure safe work environment with PPE, housekeeping, and hazard mitigation.
• Foster a collaborative, growth-oriented workplace with accountability.

Skills

Leadership

Quality management

Communication

Cross-functional problem solving

Conflict management

Documentation/reporting

Education

Bachelor's degree

Associate's degree

Tools

Textile lab equipment

Micrometers

Product sizing gauges

Inspection instrumentation

MS Office

Job description

POSITION SUMMARY

The QA & Sample Manager is responsible for the strategic oversight and daily operations of both the Quality Assurance Department and the Sample Production workflow within the manufacturing facility. This role unifies corporate quality standard execution with rapid, high-precision sample fulfillment. The manager directly oversees the Quality Supervisor, providing leadership to the hourly QA auditing staff, while simultaneously ruling over the end-to-end processing, evaluation, sewing, and shipping operations of the Sample Maker team. By combining rigorous auditing protocols (ISO 9001 based) with agile sample workflows, this position ensures that all manufactured goods meet strict customer requirements, vendor compliance metrics, and efficiency benchmarks.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Includes the following (other duties may be assigned)

• Provide comprehensive leadership and directional strategy for the facility's Quality Assurance and Sample departments to fulfill organizational benchmarks.
• Directly supervise the Quality Supervisor and oversee the delegation of daily routines for hourly QA inspectors and Sample staff.
• Oversee multi-tiered auditing infrastructure including Receiving (REC) incoming materials, Work-in-Process (WIP), and Finished Goods Inspection (FGI) procedures.
• Manage the quarterly CSA representative audit processes, collaborating as the principal facility authority in the absence of the Director.
• Maintain strict adherence to ISO 9001 quality system operations, establishing robust control metrics, continuous improvement cycles, and cost reduction models.
• Supervise new product launches, maintaining deep knowledge of internal operations, unique client specifications, and specific vendor compliance rules.
• Evaluate sample workflows from intake through dispatch, ensuring that all sample paperwork is tracked, components are packaged safely, and timelines are met.
• Isolate and resolve systemic product flaws by documenting Non-Conforming Materials (NCM) and coordinating with plant manufacturing leadership to resolve Customer Quality Issues (CQI).
• Perform physical random evaluations and product testing inspections to serve as a backstop preventing compliance penalization and vendor chargebacks.
• Provide a safe work environment by ensuring both teams strictly follow plant safety rules, maintain immaculate workspace housekeeping, use required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and immediately mitigate hazards.
• Foster a highly engaged, collaborative, and empowered workspace environment that promotes professional growth, rewards cross-functional accountability, and maintains exceptional employee relations.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Education: Bachelor's degree (BA/BS) in a technical, engineering, or business field preferred; Associate's degree (AA) required.
• Experience: Minimum of 5–8 years of quality control or assurance management experience in an automated, high-volume manufacturing environment. Prior supervisory experience overseeing a multi-tiered department is strictly required.
• Industry Background: Strong working knowledge of the home textile manufacturing sector is highly preferred. Practical familiarity with sewing machinery operations (single needle and serge systems), raw fiber/blend dynamics, and product blowing machinery is required.
• Technical Capabilities: Proficient with textile lab testing equipment, micrometers, product sizing gauges, and inspection instrumentation. Expert literacy across MS Office suites (specifically Word, advanced Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook).
• Systemic Knowledge: Firm grounding in ISO 9001 frameworks, Root Cause Analysis (RCA), lean manufacturing principles, and standardized testing parameters.
• Leadership & Soft Skills: Exceptional verbal and written communications. Proven success in team architecture, conflict management, cross-functional problem solving, and managing demanding client timelines under pressure.