The posting
The Quality Lead oversees day-to-day quality operations within the PCBA manufacturing facility to ensure products meet customer specifications, industry standards, and regulatory requirements. This role acts as the key liaison between production, engineering, and quality teams, providing leadership to Quality Technicians and Inspectors, driving root cause and corrective actions, and supporting continuous improvement initiatives. The Quality Lead ensures a culture of quality excellence across all assembly and testing operations.
Key Responsibilities:
Quality Leadership & Oversight
- Supervise and coordinate daily activities of Quality Technicians, Inspectors, and incoming quality staff.
- Prioritize inspection workloads based on production schedules and customer requirements.
- Provide training, guidance, and coaching to quality team members on inspection methods, IPC standards, and documentation practices.
- Serve as the quality point-of-contact for production lines and support cross-functional problem-solving.
- Ensure all inspectors are properly trained and certified.
Inspection & Process Control
- Ensure consistent execution of incoming, in-process, and final inspections according to IPC-A-610, J-STD-001, and customer requirements.
- Review and approve inspection records, first article reports, and quality documentation.
- Verify that measurement equipment is properly calibrated and used correctly.
- Monitor key quality metrics (defect rates, rework trends, first-pass yield) and initiate corrective actions where necessary.
Nonconformance & Corrective Action
- Lead root cause analysis and corrective/preventive action (CAPA) activities for internal and customer issues.
- Facilitate MRB (Material Review Board) meetings and ensure timely disposition of nonconforming materials.
- Support 8D, 5 Whys, and Fishbone analysis methodologies to resolve recurring quality issues.
Continuous Improvement & Auditing
- Drive process improvement initiatives in collaboration with production, engineering, and supply chain teams.
- Participate in or lead internal quality audits and support external customer or ISO audits.
- Recommend and implement improvements to inspection processes, work instructions, and QMS documentation.
- Support Lean, Six Sigma, and 5S programs to enhance quality and operational efficiency.
Customer & Compliance Support
- Interface with internal customers and suppliers on quality-related matters, including documentation, inspections, and issue resolution.
- Ensure compliance with ISO 9001, IPC, and customer-specific quality standards.
- Assist in developing and maintaining quality procedures, checklists, and training materials.
Qualifications
Education
- High school diploma or equivalent (required).
- Associate’s degree or technical certification in electronics/manufacturing preferred.
Experience
- 2+ years of experience in electronics manufacturing or process support within a contract manufacturing environment preferred.
- Familiarity with SMT, through-hole, reflow, and soldering processes.
- IPC-A-610 and/or J-STD-001 certification preferred.
Skills
- Strong understanding of PCB assembly processes and IPC workmanship standards (Class 2 and 3).
- Ability to read and interpret assembly drawings, BOMs, and technical instructions.
- Proficient in data collection and basic statistical analysis.
- Hands-on troubleshooting skills with soldering, inspection, and assembly equipment.
- Strong communication and teamwork skills; able to work across production, quality, and engineering.
- Detail-oriented with the ability to quickly identify process deviations.
Benefits
- 401(k) with company match
- Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance
- Paid time off
- Career growth opportunities in advanced electronics manufacturing
Schedule
- 8-hour shift, Monday–Friday
- Overtime and weekends as needed
Pay Range
$24—$28 USD
ITAR/EAR Compliance: Due to the nature of the work performed at Rocket EMS, this position may require access to export-controlled technical data or technology. The successful candidate must be eligible to access such information under applicable U.S. export-control laws or be eligible for any required government authorization.
Rocket EMS will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the California Fair Chance Act. Candidates are not required to disclose criminal history or participate in a background check unless and until a conditional offer of employment has been made. Any final offer of employment may be conditioned on completion of a background check, consistent with applicable law. #zr
