Quality Engineer

Terabase Energy, Inc.; Davis (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Terabase Energy, Inc. is seeking a Quality Engineer to ensure quality is built in across the full lifecycle of mechanical, electrical, and electromechanical products—from design through field performance.

You will implement and sustain quality controls, ensure traceability, and maintain ISO 9001 compliance within the Terabase Quality Management System. Quality coordinates with Engineering, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain to drive containment, CAPA, and continuous improvement; perform

Qualifications

• Experience implementing quality controls across NPI and manufacturing.
• Knowledge of ISO 9001 and QMS compliance.
• Ability to lead root cause analysis and CAPA.
• Experience with FPY, NCRs, and process improvement.

Responsibilities

• Develop inspection plans and acceptance criteria per CTQs.
• Coordinate FAT/SAT and handover to production.
• Inspect supplier materials against drawings and certificates.
• Lead NCRs, CAPA, and root-cause analysis.
• Support field quality issues and customer audits.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Analytical thinking

Data-driven

Attention to detail

Process orientation

Communication

Customer-focused

Supplier-facing

Team collaboration

Mechanical & electrical aptitude

Tools

QMS

ERP

PLM

CAPA tools

Job description

What we do At Terabase Energy, we believe digitalization and automation will drive the next wave of innovation and cost reduction in utility-scale solar. Terabase is developing an interconnected software and construction automation platform supporting the design, optimization, construction, and operation of large solar projects around the world. Our team includes solar-industry veterans and newcomers, engineers, software developers, product managers, project managers, and commercial professionals. We are headquartered in Northern California, with offices and employees across the United States and around the world.

About The Role

The Quality Engineer ensures quality is built in-not inspected out-across the full lifecycle of mechanical, electrical, and electromechanical products, from new product introduction and incoming material through build, release, and field performance. The Quality Engineer implements and sustains quality engineering controls that ensure Terabase products meet specifications, customer requirements, traceability standards, and ISO 9001 compliance. The Quality Engineer implements and sustains the quality controls, inspection criteria, and procedures defined in the Terabase Quality Management System. Quality coordinates and provides oversight; Engineering, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain own execution of design, process, and supplier actions.

Accountability & Authorities

Quality Planning & NPI Provide quality input in design and process reviews (manufacturability, inspectability, CTQs, lessons learned). Develop and maintain inspection plans, control plans, checklists, and acceptance criteria; execute First Article Inspections (FAI). Assess quality impact of engineering changes (ECOs in PLM) and verify effective implementation.

Incoming & Supplier Quality

Inspect supplier-delivered materials against drawings, specifications, COCs, MTRs, and test certificates; verify part ID, serial, and lot traceability. Quarantine nonconforming material (physical and ERP hold) and raise NCRs in the QMS. Partner with the Supplier Quality Engineer on recurring supplier issues, SCARs, and supplier FAI submissions.

In-Process & Build Quality

Conduct staged inspections at key assembly points (fit-up, torque, alignment, wiring and terminations, cable routing and labeling). mechanical and electrical build quality through dimensional, continuity, insulation resistance, and functional checks per approved test procedures. Monitor First Pass Yield (FPY), track defects through visual factory and daily walkdowns, and elevate repeat workmanship errors to CAPA. Confirm latest approved SOPs, drawings, and checklists are in use, and build records are fully traceable.

Release Gates & Final Dispatch

Support FAT and SAT for assemblies and integrated systems. Authorize handover to FAT only when assembly is complete, no NCRs or inspections are open, BOM/revision and hardware/software versions are verified, and build records are uploaded. Release products for dispatch after verifying labeling, packaging, customer requirements, FAT approvals, and NCR closure; maintain the dispatch record in the QMS.

Field & Customer Quality

Support investigation of field failures, installation issues, customer complaints, and warranty returns; feed findings back into design, process, and supplier controls. Support customer and owner's engineer audits and site inspections.

NCR, CAPA & Risk Management Log

NCRs with full evidence and traceability, coordinate MRB dispositions, and track quarantines. Lead root cause analysis (5-Why, Ishikawa, 8D) and verify CAPA effectiveness before closure. Maintain PFMEAs and process risk assessments; recommend preventive actions from data trends without owning full preventive strategy. Support cost of quality reporting (scrap, rework, warranty).

QMS Compliance & Continuous Improvement

Keep quality records current in the QMS, ERP, and PLM (inspections, NCRs, CAPAs, FAT documentation, approvals) and maintain QMS dashboards for FPY, NCR trends, and CAPA aging. Conduct internal process and product audits and support ISO 9001, customer, and supplier audits; maintain calibration control of inspection equipment. Drive Lean/Kaizen activities (5S, poka-yoke, standardization) and capture lessons learned for future builds and designs.

Performance measurements:

Product Quality Performance (FPY, defect rates, escaped defects) NCR & CAPA Effectiveness (cycle time, recurrence, on-time closure) Build Control, Release Gate & Process Discipline Field & Customer Quality (complaints, warranty returns) Audit Performance & QMS Compliance Continuous Improvement Performance QMS / ERP / PLM Data Integrity

Competencies & Skills

Strong in leadership, influence without authority, and conflict management. Analytical, data-driven, detail- and process-oriented, with rigor. Strong written and verbal communication, including customer- and supplier-facing; collaborative team player. Mechanically and electrically inclined, strong technical unders