Director of Quality

Viking Enterprise Solutions (VES) has a rich history of leadership in providing storage and storage server platforms to hyperscale and enterprise data centers worldwide. The division leads the market with ultra-high capacity and high-performance systems. Now VES provides advanced software solutions supporting ML/AI applications for generative and inferential AI in the data center and at the Edge. Software is at the heart of what makes VES a solutions provider. Cloud native systems are designed and built to simplify the use of tools and hardware so users get the job done quickly and efficiently. VES also designs and builds NVMe flash based server appliances, JBOD storage systems and related products for a variety of data center and storage applications. Viking Enterprise Solutions products are tailored for integration into OEM, System Integrator and data center products.

Viking Enterprise Solutions is proud to be part of the Sanmina family. Sanmina is recognized as a technology leader, providing end-to-end design, manufacturing and logistics solutions, maintaining a global footprint of design and manufacturing operations in 23 countries on six continents.

Job Purpose:

The Director of Quality will lead and champion all aspects of quality management for our server and storage product lines, from design and development through manufacturing, deployment, and post-sales support. This strategic role is responsible for establishing, implementing, and continuously improving a robust Quality Management System (QMS) that ensures product excellence, drives customer satisfaction, and fosters a culture of quality across the organization. The ideal candidate will possess deep technical expertise in server and storage hardware and software, a proven track record in quality leadership, and a strong commitment to continuous improvement methodologies. This is a customer facing role and the ideal candidate will be responsible for presenting regular updates to customer management teams.

Nature of Duties/Responsibilities:

• Strategic Leadership & QMS Development:
  • Expand, implement, and maintain the overall Quality Management System (QMS) aligned with industry standards (e.g., ISO 9001, TL 9000, AS9100 where applicable) and overall company objectives.
  • Develop and execute a comprehensive quality strategy that supports business goals, focusing on product reliability, performance, and customer satisfaction.
  • Be the primary interface to field quality issues and monitor JIRA tickets to identify trends
  • Drive a "Quality First" culture throughout all stages of product lifecycle, from concept to end-of-life.
  • Lead the development and implementation of quality policies, procedures, and standards.
• Product Life Cycle Quality Assurance:
  • Design & Development: Partner with Engineering (Hardware, Firmware, Software) to integrate quality by design principles, including Design for Manufacturability (DFM), Design for Testability (DFT), and Design for Reliability (DFR). Oversee design reviews, FMEAs, and risk assessments.
  • New Product Introduction (NPI): Ensure robust NPI processes, including qualification of new components, suppliers, and manufacturing processes, leading early quality involvement and readiness assessments.
  • Manufacturing Quality: Oversee quality control and assurance activities at manufacturers and internal production facilities. Implement effective in-process and final product testing strategies.
  • Supply Chain Quality: Establish and manage supplier quality programs, including qualification, audits, performance monitoring, and corrective action processes for critical components and assemblies through partnerships with suppliers and throughout supply chain
  • Field Quality & Reliability: Monitor field performance, analyze returned material (RMAs), drive root cause analysis (RCA), and implement effective corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) to reduce failure rates and improve product longevity.
• Process Improvement & Methodologies:
  • Champion the use of advanced quality tools and methodologies (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma, 8D, Statistical Process Control - SPC) to identify root causes of issues and drive sustainable improvements.
  • Lead continuous improvement initiatives across all operational functions to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and improve quality outcomes.
  • Establish and monitor key quality metrics (KPIs) and performance indicators, regularly reporting progress to executive leadership.
• Team Leadership & Development:
  • Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing quality engineering and assurance team.
  • Foster a collaborative environment that encourages problem-solving, innovation, and professional growth.
  • Conduct performance reviews, provide constructive feedback, and identify training and development needs for the quality team.
• Customer & Stakeholder Engagement:
  • Act as a primary point of contact for significant customer quality issues, driving timely resolution and maintaining strong customer relationships.
  • Collaborate cross-functionally with R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Sales, and Customer Support to ensure quality objectives are met.
  • Participate in customer audits and support regulatory compliance activities.
• Audit & Compliance:
  • Lead internal and external quality audits (e.g., ISO 9001, customer audits).
  • Ensure compliance with relevant industry standards, regulatory requirements, and customer-specific quality requirements.

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical field. Master's degree preferred.
• Experience:
  • 10+ years of progressive experience in quality management, with at least 5 years in a leadership/director role within the server, storage, networking, or complex electronics hardware manufacturing industry.
  • Demonstrated experience with server architectures (e.g., x86, ARM), storage technologies (e.g., NVMe, SAS/SATA, RAID, SAN/NAS), data center environments, and relevant industry standards.
  • Proven track record of establishing and managing comprehensive Quality Management Systems (QMS).
  • Experience with contract manufacturing (CM) environments and global supply chains.
• Technical Skills:
  • Strong understanding of hardware design principles, manufacturing processes (SMT, assembly, test), and failure analysis techniques.
  • Familiarity with firmware, BIOS, BMC, and operating system level interactions relevant to server and storage stability.
  • Proficiency in quality methodologies (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma - Black Belt certification highly desirable, 8D, FMEA, SPC).
  • Knowledge of reliability engineering principles (e.g., MTBF calculations, HALT/HASS testing).
  • Experience with quality management software and statistical analysis tools.

• ASQ Certifications (e.g., Certified Quality Manager, Certified Reliability Engineer).
• Experience with specific industry certifications (e.g., Open Compute Project - OCP, TL 9000, ISO).
• Familiarity with cloud infrastructure, hyperscale data centers, or enterprise IT environments.