Senior Staff Quality Engineer, Manufacturing

Sila; Alameda (CA); On-site; USD 156,000 - 197,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive Total Rewards package

Equity and bonuses

Job summary

Sila in Alameda, CA seeks a Senior Staff Quality Engineer to enhance our quality management systems. In this role, you will lead investigations, implement improvements, and collaborate across teams to meet quality standards.

With over 10 years of experience in a regulated environment, you will drive RCA efforts and optimize processes through statistical analysis. Join us in powering the transition to clean energy!

Qualifications

• Proven track record in quality engineering within a regulated QMS.
• Expertise in RCA tools and data-driven decision making.
• Strong leadership skills in cross-functional settings.

Responsibilities

• Lead Root Cause Analysis for manufacturing quality events.
• Oversee SPC and SQC frameworks to optimize manufacturing yields.
• Implement internal audit programs and support external audit readiness.

Skills

Analytical problem-solving

Root Cause Analysis (RCA)

Statistical Process Control (SPC)

Cross-functional collaboration

Mentorship and development

Education

10+ years of quality engineering experience

Experience with ISO 9001, IATF 16949, AS9100, or GMP

Tools

Statistical software (JMP, Hex)

Job description

Senior Staff Quality Engineer, Manufacturing

Alameda, CA

About Us

We are Sila, a next-generation battery materials company. Our mission is to power the world’s transition to clean energy. We engineer and manufacture ground-breaking battery materials that significantly increase the energy density of batteries, while reducing their size and weight. The result are smaller, more powerful batteries that can unlock innovation in consumer devices and accelerate the mass adoption of electric cars to eliminate our dependence on fossil fuels.

Who You Are

You are an analytical problem‑solver who thrives in a dynamic manufacturing environment. You champion the Quality Management System and love to figure out why problems exist and identify solutions to prevent them from happening again. You are a visionary Senior Staff Quality Engineer with expertise in a regulated QMS environment (ISO 9001, IATF 16949, AS9100, or GMP). You are a natural collaborator and can speak the language of different teams – whether talking tolerances with Equipment Engineers, discussing process capability with Process Engineering, aligning on data with Quality Control, or supporting the fast‑paced demands of Operations. You balance a high standard for quality with a practical understanding of manufacturing throughput.

Responsibilities and Duties

Problem Solving & Investigation Stewardship

• Root Cause Analysis (RCA) Leadership: Serve as an expert RCA facilitator and own end‑to‑end stewardship of major manufacturing quality event investigations.
• R&D & Internal Customer Interface: Serve as the core Quality partner for R&D and NPI teams, managing the feedback loop to smoothly transition new products/processes into stable, high‑yield manufacturing.

Operational Quality & Data Governance

• SPC and SQC Governance: Oversee Statistical Process Control (SPC) and Statistical Quality Control (SQC) frameworks, leveraging data reviews to proactively optimize manufacturing yield.
• Cross‑Functional Operations: Partner with Manufacturing Process Engineering, Equipment Engineering, Quality Control, and Operations teams to lead Material Review Board (MRB) dispositions and align daily production with quality standards.

Manufacturing Excellence & Continuous Improvement

• Proactive Floor Governance & Cleanliness: Establish a systematic routine for manufacturing floor walks and process audits to identify risks early.
• Workflow Simplification & Yield Optimization: Lead continuous improvement projects to streamline Sila’s manufacturing and QC systems/workflows, balancing strict compliance with operational throughput to maximize quality yield.

QMS, Compliance & Leadership

• Audit & QMS Leadership: Execute Sila’s internal audit program and lead/support readiness efforts for external quality certification and surveillance audits.

Executive Reporting & Culture: Track and report key quality performance metrics while driving quality culture and QMS awareness training to Manufacturing teams.

Knowledge and Skill Requirements

• Experience: Minimum 10 years of quality engineering experience within an established Quality Management System (ISO 9001, IATF 16949, AS9100, or GMP). Deep background in material or chemical manufacturing operations is highly preferred.
• Systemic Root Cause Analysis (RCA): Advanced proficiency in data‑driven RCA tools (8D, 5 Whys, FMEA, statistical process control) to diagnose complex variations and implement lasting Corrective and Preventive Actions (CAPA).
• Standards & Auditing: Demonstrated expertise with ISO 9001 and/or IATF 16949 and experience leading internal audits to ensure continuous site readiness.
• Statistical Software Proficiency: Strong working knowledge of advanced data analysis and statistical software, specifically JMP or Hex, to manipulate large datasets, conduct capability studies, and drive data‑backed quality decisions.
• Cross‑Functional Leadership & Facilitation: Proven skill in leading and structuring critical meetings to ensure efficiency and clear, accountable outcomes. Adept at mediating conflicts and building consensus among diverse functional groups.
• Mentorship & Development: Experience coaching and mentoring junior staff or peers on quality principles and QMS procedures, providing constructive and empathetic feedback to foster professional growth.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

• Wear personal protective equipment including, but not limited to, a lab coat, gloves, safety glasses, and steel‑toe safety shoes.
• Move long distances (e.g., from building to building) and be stationary for extended periods of time.
• Operate a computer and other office equipment, such as a laptop, copier/printer, in a fixed location.

The starting base pay for this role is between $156,000 and $197,000 at the time of posting. Base pay depends on factors such as education, experience, and skills. It is one part of Sila’s competitive Total Rewards package that may include benefits, perks, equity, and bonuses.

Working at Sila

We are an equal‑opportunity employer and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where good ideas can come from anyone. All qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, national origin, or any other status protected by law.