Location: Fremont, CA
Work Setting: 100% onsite semiconductor manufacturing environment
Compensation: $100,625 – $172,250 base salary
Bonus: Annual bonus opportunity up to 12%
Relocation: Available
Benefits: Medical, dental, vision, 401(k), employee stock programs, paid time off, and comprehensive employer benefits package
Work Authorization: Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States. The company is open to considering candidates requiring limited employment authorization support.
Position Summary
A global leader in photonics and semiconductor technology is seeking a Lead Quality Systems Engineer to support its rapidly growing semiconductor manufacturing operation in Fremont, California.
This is a highly visible role responsible for leading the site's Quality Management System (QMS), ensuring ISO 9001 compliance, driving continuous improvement initiatives, and partnering across Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, Corporate Quality, and executive leadership.
Reporting directly to the Director of Quality & Reliability, this individual will become the site's primary quality systems expert, leading internal and external audits, managing quality documentation, improving Cost of Quality (COQ) metrics, and helping prepare the organization for continued growth.
The ideal candidate is a proactive quality professional who enjoys improving systems, driving operational excellence, and building a culture of quality across a fast-paced high-tech manufacturing environment.
Key Responsibilities
• Own and continuously improve the site's ISO 9001 Quality Management System (QMS)
• Plan, lead, and support internal and external quality audits while ensuring ongoing compliance with quality and regulatory requirements
• Develop and maintain quality procedures, documentation, work instructions, and quality system records
• Drive Cost of Quality (COQ), corrective action, CAPA, and continuous improvement initiatives
• Partner with Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, EHS, Corporate Quality, suppliers, and customers to improve quality performance
• Monitor quality metrics, identify trends, and lead root cause investigations and corrective actions
• Train internal auditors and support quality system development across the organization
• Help prepare the business for future growth, additional certifications, and expanded quality initiatives
Required Qualifications
• Bachelor's degree in Quality Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related technical discipline
• 5+ years of Quality Systems experience within a high-tech manufacturing environment
• Hands-on experience owning or managing an ISO 9001 Quality Management System
• Certified ISO 9001 Lead Auditor or Internal Auditor, or willingness to obtain certification
• Experience leading external certification audits and internal audit programs
• Strong understanding of MES, ERP, and PLM systems
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing, 6S, CAPA, root cause analysis, and continuous improvement methodologies
• Excellent communication, documentation, and cross-functional leadership skills
Preferred Qualifications
• Semiconductor, photonics, electronics, aerospace, or medical device manufacturing experience
• Six Sigma Green Belt, Black Belt, or ASQ certifications (CQE, CQA, etc.)
• Experience supporting ISO 14001 environmental management systems
• Knowledge of semiconductor wafer fabrication processes
• Experience with Cost of Quality (COQ) initiatives and quality metrics
• Background supporting public companies or highly regulated manufacturing environments
Why This Opportunity
• Own the site's entire Quality Management System with significant autonomy and visibility
• Report directly to the Director of Quality & Reliability and partner closely with executive leadership
• Opportunity to drive continuous improvement across a rapidly growing semiconductor business
• High-impact role with exposure to Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, Corporate Quality, customers, and suppliers
• Collaborative engineering culture with minimal organizational politics
• Opportunity to grow into future Quality leadership responsibilities
• Competitive compensation, annual bonus, relocation assistance, and comprehensive benefits package
• Join a global technology leader developing advanced photonics and semiconductor solutions