Quality Lead

Pacific Fusion was founded in 2023 with the mission to power the world with abundant, affordable, clean energy. We are rapidly designing and building a pulser-driven inertial fusion system to achieve net facility gain (more fusion energy output than stored energy input). In parallel, we are developing the key components required to build affordable fusion systems. Our plans are ambitious. We have raised over $900M so far from investors, resourcing us to deliver on these plans. We are bringing together the best scientists, engineers, and operators from the fusion community, hard tech industry, and other sectors. We are united by a shared sense of urgency to provide clean power for the world, particularly managing climate change while meeting growing global energy demand. You can read more about us in this letter from our founders. Why This Role Matters This Quality Lead is responsible for developing and implementing Pacific Fusion’s Quality Management System (QMS), inspection processes, corrective action systems, training programs, operational standards, and safety management systems. The successful candidate will work closely with Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Production teams to ensure our products are built safely, consistently, and to the highest quality standards. This is a highly visible role that requires a builder’s mindset. The ideal candidate is equally comfortable developing strategic systems and rolling up their sleeves on the manufacturing floor to solve problems, conduct investigations, perform audits, and support production teams. What You'll Do Quality Systems & Compliance Develop, implement, and maintain Pacific Fusion’s Quality Management System (QMS). Establish quality policies, procedures, work instructions, and documentation standards. Design and implement document control, training, nonconformance, corrective action, and change management processes. Build scalable quality systems that support rapid company growth and future certification efforts. Lead internal audits and management reviews. Prepare the organization for potential compliance with standards such as ISO9001 and other applicable industry requirements. Ensure quality requirements are effectively integrated into manufacturing and engineering processes. Manufacturing Quality Develop incoming, in-process, and final inspection programs. Establish quality metrics, dashboards, and reporting systems. Lead root cause investigations and corrective action activities. Analyze quality trends and implement continuous improvement initiatives. Partner with Engineering and Operations teams to improve manufacturability, reliability, and process capability. Manage supplier quality activities, including supplier audits, qualification, and performance monitoring. Support change management activities from a quality standpoint. Drive a culture of quality ownership throughout the organization. Safety Programs Ensure compliance with OSHA and applicable federal, state, and local safety regulations. Lead incident investigations, corrective actions, and lessons-learned programs through a problem solving mindset. Manage emergency response planning and preparedness activities. Conduct routine safety inspections, risk assessments, and hazard analyses. Partner with operational leaders to proactively identify and mitigate workplace risks. Promote a culture where safety is treated as a core component of operational excellence and product quality. Safety first-Quality always. Leadership & Culture Serve as a trusted advisor to leadership on quality and safety matters. Develop quality and safety objectives aligned with company goals. Build and mentor future quality and safety team members as the organization grows. Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, operational discipline, and employee engagement. Drive cross-functional collaboration between Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Production teams. What You Bring Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, Industrial Technology, or a related technical field. 5+ years of experience in quality engineering, quality management, manufacturing engineering, or related disciplines. Demonstrated experience building or significantly improving quality systems in a manufacturing environment. Experience supporting advanced manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, energy, defense, semiconductor, scientific equipment, or highly regulated industries. Experience leading root cause investigations and implementing corrective actions. Experience developing policies, procedures, training programs, and operational standards. Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, inspection methods, SPC, and quality tools. Excellent communication and cross‑functional leadership skills. Ability to thrive in a fast‑paced startup environment with evolving priorities. Willingness to spend significant time on the manufacturing floor supporting operations directly. Familiarity with MES, SCADA, or factory data collection tools. Comfortable operating in an evolving, ambiguous, and cross‑functional startup environment. Passion for developing safe, scalable processes that accelerate the deployment of fusion energy. Physical Requirements: This position requires the physical ability to squat, reach, climb, prolonged periods of standing, frequent lifting of objects up to 50 lb, and regular hands‑on work with tools and equipment in the laboratory. Bonus Points For Background in electromechanical product assembly or electronics manufacturing. Familiarity with ERP/MRP systems. Working knowledge of OSHA requirements and industrial safety practices. Familiarity with datavis tools and visual factory concepts that use dashboards, IoT data, and visual tools to display real‑time facility performance. Experience implementing or managing quality systems aligned with ISO9001, ISO45001, AS9100, or similar standards. Familiarity with quality tools such as FMEA, Control Plans, PPAP, ISIR, SPC, and 8D problem solving. Experience managing supplier quality and supply chain quality programs. Knowledge of radiation safety, high‑voltage systems, cryogenic systems, pressure systems, hazardous energy control, or other industrial hazards commonly encountered in advanced energy environments. Experience supporting research, prototype, or low‑volume/high‑complexity manufacturing operations. Familiarity with regulatory and industry frameworks relevant to fusion energy, nuclear technologies, advanced energy systems, and high‑reliability engineering organizations. Professional certifications such as Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE), Certified Safety Professional (CSP), OSHA, or similar professional certifications. Proven ability to build systems, teams, and culture from the ground up. Pay Range: $116,000 – $174,000 USD Total Compensation & Benefits for Eligible Employees Equity plan 6% employer 401k matching Generous paid time off (including sick leave, vacation, paid family leave) Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance Actual base salary offered will be determined by: experience, skills, and work location. This range is for base salary, our total compensation includes equity and benefits. We welcome you to apply even if your expectations are outside our listed range. Pacific Fusion is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. Pacific Fusion is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities in our job application procedures and throughout employment. If you need assistance or any accommodation, please let us know. Pacific Fusion does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies without a fully executed recruitment agreement in place. In the absence of such agreement, Pacific Fusion reserves the right to pursue and hire any candidates without an obligation to pay fees. Agencies are requested not to contact Pacific Fusion hiring managers or employees regarding recruiting services. #J-18808-Ljbffr