Quality Lead

xLight Inc.; Newport News (VA); Hybrid; USD 155,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Life insurance

401k contribution

Paid time off

Winter break

Flexible hybrid work model

Office breakfast

Job summary

xLight Inc. in Newport News, VA is seeking a Quality Lead to establish and drive our company-wide quality strategy.

You will develop and maintain the QMS, ensuring product and process quality across engineering, manufacturing, suppliers, installation, and commissioning, and aimed at customer satisfaction. The ideal candidate combines hands-on quality expertise with the ability to build scalable systems in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or a related field.
• 10+ years in QA/QC/Quality mgmt in high-precision environments.
• Experience building or managing QMS in regulated settings.
• Strong root cause analysis, corrective actions, FMEA, SPC.
• Supplier quality management and cross-functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Develop and continuously improve the QMS.
• Define quality metrics and KPIs and report them.
• Embed quality throughout product lifecycle with Engineering and Manufacturing.
• Establish inspection, validation, and acceptance criteria.
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective action activities.
• Support design reviews and promote quality practices.
• Oversee supplier quality requirements and audits.
• Lead quality planning for major programs.
• Develop quality training and foster continuous improvement.
• Advise leadership on quality risks and compliance.

Skills

Quality leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Root cause analysis

FMEA

SPC

Risk management

Communication

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Physics, or related field

Tools

QMS software

Inspection planning

Document control

Job description

xLight is building the world's most powerful laser to revolutionize semiconductor lithography, metrology, and for other critical applications. Our approach harnesses the power of free-electron lasers, building on accelerator technology in use globally at scientific user facilities. Extending this technology, we are developing industrial-grade light sources, engineered for continuous operation, to meet the sophisticated demands of next-generation patterning, metrology, and inspection applications. Join us in this new revolution.

At xLight, we hire exceptional talent - and exceptional means more than a strong résumé. How we achieve results is just as important as the results themselves, which is why attitude and character matter as much as technical skill. We believe great talent is widely distributed, not confined to a particular school or background. We seek individuals who demonstrate ownership, a spirit of collaboration, technical curiosity, and a genuine willingness to learn and grow - guided by our core values of Respect, Integrity, Creativity, and Engineering Excellence. We don't just hire for what someone can do today. We hire for who they are and who they are becoming.

What We Need - and Why It Matters

As we scale from early development into manufacturing, integration, and deployment with a customer focus, we are seeking a Quality Lead to establish and drive our company-wide quality strategy.

This role will be responsible for developing and maintaining xLight's Quality Management System (QMS), ensuring product and process quality across engineering, manufacturing, suppliers, installation, and commissioning activities, and customer satisfaction. The ideal candidate combines hands-on quality expertise with the ability to build scalable systems and processes in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary environment.

Where You'll Belong

You’ll work for the Head of Product Delivery and integrate into the teams that are designing, procuring, assembling and testing complex systems to ensure both verification and validation activities are conducted.

What You'll Do

Quality Management System (QMS)

• Develop and continuously improve xLight's QMS, including the selection and implementation of software systems that cover
• Advise senior leaders on QMS for best practices, including any appropriate consensus standards that may be.
• Define and track quality metrics and KPIs and manage reporting.

Quality Assurance (QA)

• Partner with Engineering and Manufacturing to embed quality throughout the product lifecycle.
• Establish inspection, validation, and acceptance criteria for products and assemblies.
• Develop processes and lead root cause analysis, nonconformance management, and corrective action activities.
• Support design reviews and promote quality best practices across the organization.

Quality Control (QC)

• Oversee incoming, in-process, and final inspection programs.
• Ensure inspection plans, acceptance criteria, and quality documentation requirements are met.
• Support Functional Acceptance Test, Site Acceptance Test, and commissioning activities.
• Partner with Engineering and Procurement to develop supplier quality requirements, qualification processes, and performance evaluations.
• Conduct supplier audits and drive corrective actions.
• Lead quality planning for major programs and deliveries.
• Develop quality training and promote a culture of continuous improvement.
• Select and implement appropriate improvement methodologies such Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, 5S, or Kaizen.
• Advise leadership on quality risks, compliance, and operational excellence.

What We Are Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Physics, or a related technical field.
• 10+ years of experience in Quality Assurance, Quality Control, Quality Engineering, or Quality Management.
• Experience developing or managing Quality Management Systems in highly regulated or precision engineering environments.
• Strong understanding of quality tools and methodologies, including root cause analysis, corrective action, FMEA, SPC, and risk management.
• Experience with supplier quality management and manufacturing quality systems.
• Demonstrated ability to work cross-functionally with engineering, operations, and supply chain teams.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and organizational skills.

And If You Bring This - Even Better

• Experience supporting ISO 9001, AS9100, ISO 13485, or equivalent quality systems.
• Experience in aerospace, semiconductors, particle accelerators, lasers, optics, cryogenics, vacuum systems, defense, or advanced manufacturing.
• Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), Certified Quality Auditor (CQA), Six Sigma Black Belt, or equivalent certification.
• Experience with precision mechanical assemblies, electromechanical systems, or scientific instrumentation.
• Experience with a startup or high-growth company where quality systems were built from the ground up.

What You Can Expect from Us

• 100% Company-funded health insurance for employee
• Company funded Life Insurance and disability insurance
• 401k contribution. 100% up to 3% of compensation, plus 50% match between 3% and 5%. Immediately vested.
• Flexible Paid Time-Off, Sick leave and Company Holidays
• Company Paid Two-weeks Winter Break
• Flexible Hybrid Work Model
• Monthly breakfast, complimentary snacks and beverages at Newport News office

Pay transparency

The pay range for this position reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries at commencement of employment and is expected to be between USD 155,000/year-190,000/year. However, base pay offered may vary depending on multiple factors, including role, job-related knowledge, skills, relevant education and experience. The total compensation package for this position may also include other elements, including equity, and a full range of benefits. Details of all benefits will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment.

EEO Statement

xLight Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our policy is clear: there shall be no discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, race, religion or belief, gender reassignment, marriage/civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity, or sexual orientation. We are an inclusive organization and actively promote equality of opportunity for all with the right mix of talent, skills and potential. We welcome all applications from a wide range of candidates. Selection for roles will be based on individual merit alone.