Contract Manufacturing Manager

Quality Manager | Contract Manufacturing San Jose, CA | Onsite | $140K–$180K+ Base + Bonus (DOE) Are you a quality leader who knows how to manage contract manufacturers without trying to run their factories for them? We’re partnering with a growing technology manufacturer seeking an experienced Quality Manager to lead supplier and contract manufacturing quality from its San Jose-area operation . This is a highly visible role for someone who can combine strong technical quality expertise with supplier management, customer focus, and practical business judgment. The ideal candidate understands how to establish the right quality controls, identify risk before it reaches the customer, and hold manufacturing partners accountable for results while building productive, long-term relationships. What You’ll Do Own quality performance across key contract manufacturing partners , establishing clear expectations and ensuring products consistently meet specifications and customer requirements. Partner with Engineering, Product Management, Supply Chain, Sales, and manufacturing partners to define specifications, acceptance criteria, inspection methods, and verification requirements . Proactively identify product quality risks before they become customer issues, including packaging, labeling, handling, shipping, and product conformity . Lead quality investigations, containment, root cause analysis, corrective actions, and verification of effectiveness . Monitor supplier and product quality KPIs and drive meaningful continuous improvement . Conduct supplier assessments and support customer and supplier audits. Provide technical quality guidance to internal teams and support customer quality discussions when needed. Provide leadership, coaching, and training to Quality Engineers and cross-functional partners. Help strengthen quality processes as the organization continues to grow. What We’re Looking For Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Physical Science, or a related technical discipline . 7+ years of quality engineering/quality management experience within a manufacturing environment. Strong experience managing contract manufacturers or supplier quality , ideally in a higher-volume manufacturing environment. Demonstrated success resolving complex manufacturing and product quality issues. Strong understanding of ISO 9001 and risk-based quality management. Hands‑on experience with quality methodologies such as 8D, FMEA, SPC, CAPA, root cause analysis, and corrective action . Ability to evaluate cause and effect, determine the appropriate level of quality control, and focus resources on the issues that create meaningful business and customer risk. Strong communication, leadership, training, and cross‑functional collaboration skills. Ability to travel periodically to manufacturing partners. Especially Relevant Experience Candidates coming from environments involving electronics, fiber optics, telecommunications, data centers, optical products, or electromechanical manufacturing may be particularly well aligned. Direct fiber optics experience is not required . Strong contract manufacturing expertise and the ability to quickly understand products, processes, and quality systems are more important. Professional quality credentials such as ASQ CQE, CQA, or CMQ/OE are a plus. Why This Opportunity Stands Out This isn’t a role for someone who simply checks boxes or applies the same quality playbook everywhere. The organization is looking for a Quality Manager who understands how quality systems actually accomplish business and customer goals . You’ll have the autonomy to evaluate manufacturing partners, determine where risk exists, establish appropriate controls, and drive solutions without unnecessarily prescribing how suppliers manage their internal operations. You’ll join a collaborative, engineering‑oriented environment where Quality works closely with technical, commercial, and supply‑chain teams. The business is operating in a rapidly growing technology market , creating meaningful opportunity for someone who wants to take ownership, build strong supplier relationships, develop others, and grow with the organization. Base salary: Approximately $140,000–$180,000 , with flexibility above the range for an exceptional candidate Bonus: Manager‑level discretionary bonus tied to performance/KPIs Location: San Jose, CA Schedule: Primarily onsite/international travel, Monday through Friday Travel: Periodic supplier/contract manufacturing travel Relocation: Potentially considered for a highly qualified candidate The Profile That Will Get Attention You may be especially compelling if your resume shows: If you’re a hands‑on quality leader who knows how to prevent problems instead of simply reacting to them , this could be an excellent opportunity to make a visible impact in a growing organization. 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