Quality Manager

Tecnova Advanced Systems, Inc.; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 115,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical and dental coverage

401(k) with employer contributions

Paid time off

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Tecnadyne is seeking a Quality Manager to own the Quality Management System (QMS) and to lead our inspection program in a small, high‑mix manufacturing environment that builds subsea thrusters and related electro‑mechanical systems.

The role drives ISO 9001 certification, creates practical inspection processes, and may personally perform inspections when production demands it, while mentoring staff and collaborating with Engineering, Production, and Supply Chain to prevent escapes and improve

Qualifications

• 5+ years of quality and inspection experience in manufacturing.
• Experience supervising or leading people.
• Experience building or improving inspection processes or quality systems.
• Knowledge of ISO 9001 and pragmatic implementation.
• Ability to interpret drawings and GD&T.

Responsibilities

• Owns development, rollout, and maintenance of ISO 9001-aligned QMS and certification.
• Leads company-wide inspection program across incoming, in-process, and final inspection.
• Mentors inspection staff and reviews priorities on the production floor.
• Manages supplier quality, contracts, and supplier audits; drives CAPA, PFMEA, and PPAP where applicable.
• Maintains calibration and control of measurement equipment; ensures traceability.

Skills

Quality management

ISO 9001

Leadership

GD&T

Metrology

CAPA

Nonconformance

Documentation

Root Cause

Audits

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

Job description

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Quality Manager

200 - Admin Full Time San Diego, CA, US

Salary Range: $115,000.00 To $140,000.00 Annually

Quality Manager

Reports to:VP of Operations

Summary

The Quality Manager owns Tecnadyne's Quality Management System (QMS) and leads our inspection program. This is a hands-on leadership role in a small, high-mix manufacturing environment building subsea thrusters and related electro-mechanical systems. The Quality Manager will lead Tecnadyne through ISO 9001 certification, build practical inspection processes, and step in personally to perform inspections when production needs it.

We are looking for a leader who turns quality requirements into practical processes and builds a quality system that fits Tecnadyne’s products, processes, and stage of growth. The ideal candidate applies ISO 9001 requirements with sound judgment, creates and implements documentation suited to the size and complexity of our organization, and communicates clearly and concisely at every level of the company.

Key Responsibilities

QMS ownership and ISO 9001 certification

• Leads the development, rollout, and maintenance of an ISO 9001-aligned QMS, and drives Tecnadyne through initial certification on an agreed timeline.
• Keeps procedures practical and lean, so they are adopted and followed by the people doing the work.
• Owns day-to-day QMS operation, including document control, nonconformance handling and MRB, corrective and preventive actions, internal audits, management review, and training and competency records.
• Prepares and reports quality metrics such as scrap and rework, incoming defect rate, escape rate, and CAPA cycle time.
• Supports customer quality requirements, quality reporting, and external audits.

Inspection program leadership

• Designs and implements a company-wide inspection program covering incoming, in-process, and final inspection for machined parts, assemblies, and purchased components.
• Works with Engineering to identify critical characteristics and focuses inspection effort on what matters most, so inspection is efficient and does not create bottlenecks.
• Creates and maintains inspection plans, sampling strategies, checklists, and acceptance criteria tied to drawings and specifications.
• Personally performs incoming and in-process inspections when workload requires, including dimensional verification using GD&T.
• Maintains calibration and control of measurement equipment, including gage R&R and MSA where appropriate.
• Builds systems for inspection records, first article reporting, nonconformance documentation, and traceability.

Leadership and team development

• Leads, trains, and coaches inspection staff, including employees cross-trained from other departments to perform in-process inspections.
• Spends time on the floor daily with inspection and production to review priorities, answer questions, and clarify which characteristics are critical.
• Holds people and departments accountable to quality commitments, and follows up until issues are closed.

Supplier quality and contract review

• Develops supplier quality expectations, including supplier qualification, performance monitoring, and supplier corrective actions (SCARs).
• Reviews customer contracts, purchase orders, and supplier terms for quality requirements, and maintains quality clauses for purchasing.
• Leads direct, productive conversations with suppliers on quality issues.
• Develops, documents, and implements new processes where gaps exist.
• Drives problem solving using structured tools such as 5 Whys, fishbone diagrams, Pareto analysis, and basic SPC.
• Partners with Engineering, Production, Machine Shop, and Supply Chain to prevent escapes and improve yields.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of quality and inspection experience in a manufacturing environment; machining and electro-mechanical assembly experience strongly preferred.
• Experience directly supervising or leading people.
• Demonstrated experience building or significantly improving inspection processes or a quality system, with specific examples of processes developed and implemented.
• Working knowledge of ISO 9001 and the ability to implement it pragmatically for a small business.
• Strong ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, and GD&T.
• Hands-on metrology skills with precision measurement tools, and experience maintaining calibration systems.
• Experience with nonconformance management, root cause analysis, and corrective actions.
• Clear, concise written and verbal communication, with the ability to communicate up to the executive team and down to the production floor.
• Strong documentation skills, with the ability to write procedures, work instructions, and forms people will actually use.

Preferred

• Experience leading an organization through initial ISO 9001 certification.
• Supplier quality experience, including supplier audits, PPAP, and first article inspection.
• Experience in marine, subsea, aerospace, defense, or other high-reliability hardware environments.
• Familiarity with ERP/MRP systems, quality modules, or electronic document control.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to perform inspections in a production environment, including standing, bending, and lifting typical parts and fixtures. Reasonable accommodation is available.
• on-site presence is required.

Compensation

• $115,000-$140,000 DOE
• Medical and dental coverage, with base plan premiums paid by Tecnadyne
• A zero-deductible medical plan option
• Employer contributions to your Health Savings Account (HSA)
• A 401(k) with eligibility and full vesting from your first day
• Paid time off and paid sick leave available from day one
• Tuition reimbursement to support your growth

Tecnadyne is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to any characteristic protected by law, including protected veteran status and disability. We consider qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records in accordance with the California Fair Chance Act.