Quality Engineer

Persona AI Inc; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance bonus

Medical benefits

Equity

PTO

Winter break

Job summary

Persona AI Inc. is seeking a Quality Engineer to build the quality function for a robotics manufacturing team. You will define incoming inspection, supplier quality standards, and drive ISO 9001 certification, shaping how robots are built and deployed at scale.

You will own the full quality chain across field, factory, and supplier partners, including metrology setup, non-conformance documentation, and continuous improvement, with significant cross-functional collaboration and travel.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in quality engineering or manufacturing quality in a hardware environment.
• Hands-on experience building quality infrastructure from scratch.
• Deep familiarity with ISO 9001 and certification processes.
• Strong PPAP and 8D root cause analysis experience.
• Proficiency with metrology equipment (calipers, micrometers, CMM).
• Ability to read drawings, GD&T specifications.
• Supplier quality management and proactive issue ownership.

Responsibilities

• Incoming Inspection: define and set up inspection equipment and supplier validation procedures.
• Supplier Quality Management: lead PPAP, drive supplier quality standards, perform 8D analysis.
• Field/Factory/Supplier Quality Chain: investigate field failures and implement poka-yoke.
• ISO 9001 Certification: drive documentation, control, and annual recertification process.
• Metrology & Measurement: specify, procure, and maintain precision inspection tools and calibration traceability.
• Quality Documentation: maintain inspection reports, non-conformance records, supplier scorecards.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: coordinate with Supply Chain, Assembly, and field ops; travel ~40%.
• Factory Floor Standards: set metrics and visual management with process engineering as the team scales.

Skills

Quality leadership

PPAP experience

8D analysis

Statistical methods

Education

ISO 9001 certification

Tools

Calipers

Micrometers

CMM machines

Job description

Persona AI is developing and commercializing rugged, multi-purpose humanoid robots that perform real work. Persona’s founding team has a decades-long history in humanoid robotics, bionics, and product development delivering robust hardware that has touched the stars, worked miles below the surface of the ocean, roamed Disney Parks, and has even been featured on a US postage stamp. Our mission is focused squarely on shipping beautiful, reliable products at massive scale, while building a customer-focused team to achieve these aims.

Role Overview:

We’re looking for a Quality Engineer to join our manufacturing team and build the quality function at Persona AI from the ground up. You will report directly into the Head of Manufacturing and be responsible for defining what great looks like: stand up incoming inspection, establish supplier quality standards, drive ISO 9001 certification, and own the full field-to-factory-to-supplier quality chain. You’ll work closely with our Head of Manufacturing and Supply Chain Lead, and your decisions will shape how Persona’s robots get built and into production!

Responsibilities:

• Incoming Inspection: Define, procure, and set up all inspection equipment. Establish processes to validate that every supplier is building to spec and create documentation systems to track compliance over time.

• Supplier Quality Management: Partner with the Supply Chain Lead to hold suppliers accountable. Own PPAP (Pre-Production Approval Process) to ensure consistent standards before any part enters full production. Lead root cause analysis (8D) when parts fail to meet spec and drive resolution back to the source.

• Field, Factory & Supplier Quality Chain: Investigate field failures using a field -> factory -> supplier framework — was it used wrong, built wrong, or sourced wrong? Collaborate with assembly to implement poka-yoke (mistake-proofing) so the right build is the only possible build.

• ISO 9001 Certification: Drive Persona toward ISO 9001 certification — document processes, manage document control and revision history, and prepare for independent audit. Own the annual re-certification process once established.

• Metrology & Measurement: Specify, procure, and maintain precision inspection equipment including calipers, micrometers, CMM machines, and other measurement tools. Ensure calibration accuracy and traceability across all equipment.

• Quality Documentation: Create and maintain detailed inspection reports, non-conformance documentation, supplier scorecards, and quality records that support audit readiness and continuous improvement.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with Supply Chain, Assembly, and field operations teams across Houston and Pensacola. Expect meaningful travel (~40% initially) to supplier sites and field locations as the function matures.

• Factory Floor Standards: Establish metrics and visual management so anyone walking the floor understands build status at a glance. Partner with the process engineering function on factory layout and process design as the team scales.

Qualifications:

• 10 + years in quality engineering or manufacturing quality in a hardware environment. Automotive (OEM or Tier 2/3 supplier), medical device, consumer electronics, robotics, or aerospace preferred.

• Hands-on experience or a strong interest in building quality infrastructure from scratch, not just maintaining or monitoring an inherited system.

• Deep familiarity with ISO 9001. You’ve been through a certification process as a key contributor or lead

• Strong PPAP and 8D root cause analysis experience

• Proficiency with metrology equipment: calipers, micrometers, height gauges, CMM machines

• Ability to read and interpret technical drawings, blueprints, and GD&T specifications

• Supplier quality management experience. You will need to be comfortable owning the relationship when things go wrong.

• Knowledge of statistical process control (SPC) and quality control methodologies

• Houston-based or willing to relocate; comfortable with ~40% travel, reducing as the function matures

• We offer competitive compensation, a performance-based bonus, 99% employer covered medical benefits, early-stage equity, competitive PTO, and a company-wide paid winter break between December 24th and January 2nd.

• You’ll shape technology that’s redefining the possibilities of robotics and human interaction.

• Work alongside passionate teammates who value creativity, collaboration, and continuous learning.

• Enjoy full access to advanced tools, hardware labs, and the freedom to push the boundaries of what robots can do.