IPC Training & Quality Specialist

Job Summary

The IPC Training Specialist serves as the primary IPC training resource and a working quality contributor for ClearPath Medical's production workforce. This role designs, delivers, and continuously improves training programs that certify operators to IPC J-STD-001 and IPC/WHMA-A-620 standards, and must be able to personally demonstrate the soldering and harness assembly techniques they teach. Approximately 60–70% of this role is dedicated to training program ownership and delivery; the remaining 30–40% supports active quality coordination, including incoming and in-process inspection, nonconformance management, and audit readiness.

Key Responsibilities

Training & Workforce Development (60–70%)

• Serve as the in-house Subject Matter Expert (SME) and certified trainer for IPC J-STD-001 (Soldering) and IPC/WHMA-A-620 (Wire Harness Assembly) standards.
• Personally demonstrate soldering and wire harness assembly techniques to operators; model correct methods Hands-On before certifying others to perform them independently.
• Design, develop, and maintain all production training programs, including new-hire onboarding, process-specific skills training, cross-training, and refresher courses.
• Deliver Hands-On and classroom-style instruction for cable and wire harness assembly, soldering techniques, visual inspection, and quality expectations.
• Build and manage operator qualification and certification processes; define competency benchmarks and evaluate operator performance against IPC acceptance criteria.
• Create and maintain training materials including work instructions, job aids, qualification checklists, visual aids, and assessment tools.
• Identify skills gaps through observation, inspection data trends, and supervisor feedback; develop targeted training interventions to close gaps proactively.
• Maintain accurate training records and certification matrices for all production staff; ensure records are audit-ready and current at all times.
• Coordinate with supervisors to ensure on-the-job training (OJT) is delivered consistently and that trained behaviors are reinforced on the production floor.
• Evaluate training effectiveness through assessments, re-qualification performance, and quality trend data; revise programs continuously based on results.
• Support IPC CIS/CIT certification efforts for key personnel; coordinate training schedules and track certification renewal timelines.

Quality Coordination (30–40%)

• Perform incoming inspection of raw materials, components, and sub-assemblies; accept, reject, or disposition nonconforming material per applicable IPC and drawing requirements.
• Conduct in-process and final inspection of cable and wire harness assemblies per IPC/WHMA-A-620; verify workmanship, dimensional, and functional acceptance criteria.
• Initiate and document nonconformance reports (NCRs) and corrective action requests (CARs); lead or support root cause analysis and track corrective actions through closure.
• Maintain inspection records, calibration logs, and quality metrics; generate regular reports to support visibility into quality trends on the production floor.
• Monitor and report on first-pass yield, rework rates, and inspection escapes; use data to identify training opportunities and drive continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with engineering and production teams to review and update work instructions, inspection criteria, and acceptance standards as products or processes change.
• Assist with preparation and hosting of internal, customer, and third-party audits; support corrective action response documentation as needed.
• Support the Quality Manager with quality system maintenance activities including document control and record accuracy.
• High school diploma or GED required; Associate's or Bachelor's degree in a technical or education-related field preferred.
• 3+ years of hands-on experience in cable/wire harness assembly or electronic assembly manufacturing, with demonstrated proficiency in IPC J-STD-001 soldering techniques.
• Proven ability to personally perform — not just evaluate — the soldering and harness assembly techniques this role will teach; candidates who cannot demonstrate the skills they instruct will not be considered.
• Working knowledge of IPC J-STD-001 and IPC/WHMA-A-620 standards, including acceptance criteria, workmanship requirements, and inspection methods.
• IPC J-STD-001 or IPC/WHMA-A-620 CIS (Certified IPC Specialist) or CIT (Certified IPC Trainer) certification required, or must be willing and able to obtain within 6 months of hire.
• At least 1–2 years of experience in a training, mentoring, or operator certification capacity — formal or informal — where you showed others how to perform assembly or inspection work.
• Experience performing quality inspections, including incoming, in-process, or final inspection, in a production environment.
• Experience initiating and tracking nonconformance reports (NCRs) or corrective action requests (CARs).
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, work instructions, and quality specifications.
• Experience maintaining training records and quality documentation in a regulated or quality-managed environment.

Technical Skills

• IPC J-STD-001: hands-on soldering proficiency AND training delivery — must be able to demonstrate technique, not only evaluate it
• IPC/WHMA-A-620: wire harness assembly construction, inspection, acceptance criteria, and training delivery
• Incoming, in-process, and final inspection methods; accept/reject disposition against IPC and drawing requirements
• Nonconformance documentation (NCRs, CARs), root cause analysis, and corrective action tracking
• Development of work instructions, qualification checklists, and visual training aids
• Quality metrics tracking and reporting (yield, rework, inspection escapes)
• Familiarity with ISO 13485 or other quality management system frameworks (preferred)
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint); experience with LMS platforms a plus

Soft Skills

• Excellent coaching and instructional delivery ability — can simplify complex technical content for diverse learners
• Strong attention to detail with the discipline to build rigorous qualification standards
• Structured problem-solving approach; can identify root cause of skills gaps and design effective interventions
• Clear written and verbal communication; comfortable working across production, engineering, and quality teams
• Ownership mindset — treats both training effectiveness and quality outcomes as personal accountabilities
• Define operator training requirements and qualification standards for production roles.
• Certify or decertify production operators based on demonstrated competency against IPC standards.
• Approve training materials, qualification checklists, and work instructions within the scope of this role.
• Accept or reject incoming material and finished assemblies at inspection; disposition nonconforming product within established quality system guidelines.
• Initiate, track, and close nonconformance reports (NCRs) and corrective action requests (CARs); escalate unresolved issues to the Quality Manager.
• Workforce Capability: Ensures every production operator is trained, qualified, and performing to IPC standards — the foundation of product quality at scale.
• Quality & Compliance: Actively contributes to incoming and in-process quality control and maintains a quality management system that can pass customer, ISO 13485, and regulatory audits.
• Customer Satisfaction: Reduces defects and rework by building a skilled, consistently trained production team and catching nonconformances before they reach the customer.
• Scalability: Develops training infrastructure that supports onboarding of new hires and cross-training of existing staff as the company grows

Compensation & Details

• Salary: $72,000 – $80,000 per year, based on experience
• Employment Type: Full-Time
• Location: Tustin, CA

ClearPath Medical is an equal opportunity employer.