Director of Manufacturing and Quality

About the role:

Reporting directly to the VP of Manufacturing Operations, the Director of Manufacturing and Quality will hold complete accountability for the global manufacturing strategy, production execution, and end-to-end quality management of Bolt’s hardware portfolio. This leadership role spans the entire product lifecycle—from early NPI (New Product Introduction) and design-for-manufacturability (DFM) reviews to high-volume mass production, factory consolidation, and field quality tracking.

The ideal candidate has a proven track record of unifying multi-site manufacturing footprints, establishing overseas extended factories (particularly in Asia), and scaling rigorous Quality Management Systems (QMS). You will lead a cross-functional team of manufacturing, test, and quality engineers to achieve world-class production yields and flawless execution. 

What you'll do:

Global Manufacturing Strategy & Execution

• Production Footprint Optimization: Architect and execute the global manufacturing strategy, including the optimization of domestic facilities and the successful launch and stabilization of overseas extended factories.

• NPI to Mass Production Scaling: Drive the seamless operational handoff of complex hardware products from design engineering into high-volume manufacturing. Establish robust New Product Introduction (NPI) playbooks.

• Capacity & Efficiency Optimization: Drive line balancing, automation initiatives, and factory layout designs to optimize throughput, maximize capital expenditure efficiency, and reduce cycle times.

• Vendor & CM Operations: Manage technical execution at tier-1 Contract Manufacturers (CMs) and ODMs. Partner with Supply Chain to hold vendors accountable to strict operational SLAs.

End-to-End Quality Engineering & Compliance

• QMS Leadership: Own, scale, and continuous improve Bolt’s global Quality Management System (QMS) across all manufacturing sites and external partners, ensuring compliance with relevant international standards.

• Advanced Quality Planning: Embed Design for Manufacturability, Assembly, and Test (DFM/DFA/DFT) early in the product development cycle. Implement robust PFMEA (Process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis) and control plans at all factory levels.

• Yield & Reliability Maximization: Drive rigorous statistical process control (SPC) on the factory floor. Analyze complex test data to root-cause and eliminate component-level, PCBA-level, and system-level failures.

• Closed-Loop Corrective Action: Lead global failure analysis (FA) and Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA) processes for manufacturing escapes and field returns, ensuring engineering feedback loops are closed instantly.

Team Leadership & Executive Advisory

• Organizational Scaling: Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing international team of Manufacturing, Test, and Supplier Quality Engineers.

• Executive Metrics Dashboard: Define, track, and regularly report on mission-critical operational metrics (First Pass Yield, Cost of Poor Quality, OEE, Scrap Rate, and Field Defect Rates) to the VP of Operations and the executive leadership team. 

Qualifications:

• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in hardware manufacturing operations, NPI, and quality engineering within high-tech electronics, compute hardware, or complex electromechanical industries.

Proven Delivery Track Record:

• Direct experience establishing and scaling overseas manufacturing facilities/extended factories (particularly in Taiwan, China, or Southeast Asia) and managing Tier-1 EMS/CM partners.

Technical Depth: 

• Deep understanding of both Electrical fabrication (SMT lines, PCBA testing, ICT/FCT fixtures, thermal management) and Mechanical processes (precision machining, die-casting, custom tooling, injection molding).

Quality Methodologies:

• Expert knowledge of advanced quality tools (Six Sigma Black Belt preferred, Lean Manufacturing, SPC, 8D problem solving, FMEA, Gauge R&R).

• System Familiarity: Extensive experience utilizing PLM (e.g., Arena, Agile), ERP, and manufacturing execution systems (MES) to drive process discipline.

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical discipline. An MS in Engineering or an MBA is highly desirable.

Travel: 

• Ability to travel globally (up to 30-40%) to domestic facilities and international manufacturing sites to lead factory bring-ups, line audits, and critical business reviews.

• Targeting cross-functional team scaling, standard setting, and unifying overseas extended factories.

Unifying Global Quality Culture:

• "When scaling an operational footprint that includes both domestic facilities and overseas extended factories in Asia, a disconnect in quality culture often emerges. How do you instill a unified, proactive quality mindset across geographically separated teams so that local operators and remote contract manufacturers take joint ownership of quality standards rather than treating them as a checkbox exercise?"

Developing & Mentoring Specialized Engineers:

• "Manufacturing, Test, and Supplier Quality Engineering require vastly different technical skillsets. How do you approach building out a career progression track and mentoring framework for these distinct functions? Can you give an example of how you coached a junior engineer to effectively stand their ground during an aggressive yield dispute with a tier-1 global ODM?"

Managing Cross-Functional Friction (Engineering vs. Operations):

• "During a high-stakes New Product Introduction (NPI) phase, Design Engineering often pushes to relax manufacturing line requirements to hit functional deadlines, while Quality/Operations must protect factory yields and long-term reliability. Describe your personal framework for navigating this friction, managing stakeholder expectations, and ensuring team psychological safety when hard boundary lines must be drawn." 

Fostering Accountability Across Time Zones:

• "Building a high-performing international operations team means managing personnel across extreme time zone differences (US and Asia). How do you design operational handoffs, communication structures, and team habits to ensure overseas engineers feel fully integrated, empowered, and accountable—rather than feeling like a disconnected 'night shift' executing directives?"

Driving a Zero-Defect/Continuous Improvement Mindset:

• "When a catastrophic manufacturing escape or field failure occurs, human nature leads to finger-pointing. How do you cultivate a blameless post-mortem culture focused on systematic Root Cause and Corrective Action (CAPA/8D) while still maintaining a high-performance bar for operational accountability?"

Compensation Range:$200,000–$250,000 per year (California). This range represents the anticipated base pay for this role; the final offer may vary based on qualifications, experience, and location.

Benefits:

• Medical, Dental, & Vision - 100% covered premiums
• Equity - Stock Options
• 401(k) match
• WFH Hardware Reimbursement

Bolt is committed to building a diverse and inclusive environment in which we recognize and value each other’s differences as well as fostering a culture that promotes its core values: Professionalism, Integrity, and Respect. As an equal opportunity employer, all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, age, disability, or status as a protected veteran.