Director of Quality Assurance

A rapidly growing advanced manufacturing company is expanding its domestic lithium-ion battery manufacturing operations and is seeking a Director of Manufacturing Quality Assurance to lead quality across production operations.

The organization develops advanced energy storage technologies for demanding commercial and government applications where safety, consistency, and manufacturing excellence are critical. This position offers the opportunity to play a key leadership role in establishing world-class manufacturing quality processes during a period of significant growth.

The Role:

The Director of Manufacturing Quality Assurance will provide hands-on leadership for manufacturing quality across lithium-ion cylindrical cell production, ensuring robust quality systems, disciplined process control, and continuous improvement throughout manufacturing operations.

This is not a purely administrative leadership position . The successful candidate will bring firsthand experience solving manufacturing quality challenges in a cylindrical cell production environment and will serve as a technical mentor to quality and manufacturing teams.

Working closely with Operations, Engineering, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain leadership, this individual will drive manufacturing quality performance while supporting production scale-up, operational excellence, and customer satisfaction.

Key Responsibilities:

Manufacturing Quality Leadership

• Lead the manufacturing quality organization and foster a culture focused on accountability, process discipline, and continuous improvement.
• Establish manufacturing quality objectives aligned with operational and business goals.
• Partner cross-functionally with Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, and Supply Chain to improve manufacturing performance and product quality.
• Develop, mentor, and coach quality engineers, technicians, and inspectors.
• Lead by example by providing hands-on technical coaching based on prior experience solving manufacturing quality challenges in lithium-ion cylindrical cell production.

Manufacturing Quality Systems

• Support and continuously improve Quality Management Systems (QMS) in accordance with recognized industry standards, including ISO 9001 and IATF 16949.
• Ensure compliance with applicable regulatory, environmental, and safety requirements.
• Support document control, engineering change processes, internal audits, and quality documentation.
• Develop meaningful quality metrics and reporting that support manufacturing decision-making.

Process & Product Quality

• Oversee quality throughout incoming inspection, in-process manufacturing, and final product testing.
• Utilize statistical process control, FMEA, Six Sigma, CAPA, root cause analysis, and other structured problem-solving methodologies.
• Drive improvements in yield, defect reduction, scrap reduction, process capability, and overall manufacturing performance.
• Apply practical manufacturing experience to rapidly identify, troubleshoot, and resolve process and quality issues while implementing sustainable corrective actions.
• Support new manufacturing processes and production ramp activities while maintaining world-class quality standards.

Supplier & Operational Quality

• Support supplier quality initiatives and participate in supplier quality reviews.
• Ensure timely resolution of internal and external quality issues through effective corrective and preventive action processes.
• Collaborate with Operations and Supply Chain to improve incoming material quality and manufacturing consistency.

Continuous Improvement

• Champion Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives throughout production.
• Develop quality metrics, dashboards, and KPI reporting to support operational decision-making.
• Drive initiatives focused on reducing Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ) while improving process capability and manufacturing performance.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Materials Science, Chemistry, or a related technical discipline.
• Minimum of five years of hands-on experience supporting lithium-ion cylindrical cell manufacturing, with demonstrated success resolving manufacturing quality and process issues in a production environment.
• Minimum of three years leading or managing a manufacturing quality organization.
• Strong understanding of quality systems, process control methodologies, statistical analysis, and continuous improvement.
• Experience implementing or supporting ISO-based Quality Management Systems within a manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated experience with SPC, FMEA, CAPA, root cause analysis, Lean Manufacturing, and Six Sigma methodologies.
• Must be capable of providing technical leadership, coaching, and mentorship to manufacturing and quality teams based on direct experience with cylindrical cell manufacturing processes.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience supporting production ramp-up or expansion of advanced manufacturing operations.
• Background in battery manufacturing, energy storage, electronics, automotive, or other high-reliability manufacturing environments.
• Master's degree or advanced technical education is a plus.

Compensation & Benefits:

• Base salary: $190,000 – $250,000
• 10% annual bonus based on individual performance and company objectives
• Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, paid time off, and 401(k) with company match.

Why This Opportunity?

This is an opportunity to join a rapidly growing advanced manufacturer at an exciting stage of expansion and help establish manufacturing quality standards that support the production of next-generation energy storage technologies. The successful candidate will have significant influence over manufacturing quality systems, operational performance, and continuous improvement initiatives while helping build a world-class production organization.