Head of Quality Assurance and Control

***Head of QA/QC - Manufacturing Quality Leader***
***Orange County, CA (Travel up to 25%)***
***Relocation Assistance Available***

***$140k - $160k***

Overview:

We are seeking a hands-on Head of QA/QC to lead quality strategy, execution, and team performance across a complex project-based manufacturing environment. This leader will own quality performance, build stronger systems and processes, and drive a culture of accountability and operational excellence.

This is a highly visible leadership role for someone who enjoys balancing strategic initiatives with active shop floor involvement and can quickly establish credibility with manufacturing teams.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead QA/QC operations and overall manufacturing quality performance
• Manage, mentor, and develop QA/QC supervisors, leads, and inspectors
• Drive improvements to quality systems, policies, and execution practices
• Overhaul and strengthen NCR and CAPA processes
• Lead root cause investigations and corrective actions for quality failures
• Own key quality metrics including COPQ, FPY, and customer quality performance

Looking to advance your QA & Testing career with relocation support? Explore QA & Testing Jobs with Relocation Packages that include comprehensive packages to help you move and settle in your new role.

• Partner closely with Operations, Engineering, Project teams, and leadership
• Serve as a quality leader for customer audits, escalations, and continuous improvement initiatives
• Maintain a strong shop floor presence and actively support manufacturing teams

Ideal Background:

• Proven experience leading QA/QC teams within manufacturing or fabrication environments
• Experience in fabrication, piping systems, engineered products, plastics, industrial manufacturing, metal products, or related industries
• Exposure to fabrication processes including welding, assembly, fitting, cutting, or similar manufacturing operations
• Strong experience with ISO 9001 and quality systems leadership
• Demonstrated success improving CAPA, NCR, and root-cause processes
• Experience driving First Pass Yield (FPY), Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ), or similar operational quality metrics
• Hands-on leadership style with the ability to coach teams directly on the manufacturing floor

Discover our full range of relocation jobs with comprehensive support packages to help you relocate and settle in your new location.

What We're Looking For:

This is not a maintenance leadership role. We are seeking a proactive quality leader and change agent who can quickly understand the business, establish structure, improve systems, and elevate quality performance across operations.

Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco/Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to the individual's skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, office location and other geographic considerations, as well as other business and organizational needs. With that said, as required by local law in geographies that require salary range disclosure, Vaco/Highspring notes the salary range for the role is noted in this job posting. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses, and can participate in medical, dental, and vision benefits as well as the company's 401(k) retirement plan.

Additional disclaimer:

Unless otherwise noted in the job description, the position Vaco/Highspring is filing for is occupied. Please note, however, that Vaco/Highspring is regularly asked to provide talent to other organizations. By submitting to this position, you are agreeing to be included in our talent pool for future hiring for similarly qualified positions. Submissions to this position are subject to the use of AI to perform preliminary candidate screenings, focused on ensuring minimum job requirements noted in the position are satisfied. Further assessment of candidates beyond this initial phase within Vaco/Highspring will be otherwise assessed by recruiters and hiring managers. Vaco/Highspring does not have knowledge of the tools used by its clients in making final hiring decisions and cannot opine on their use of AI products.

Highspring LLC (d/b/a Vaco by Highspring) and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries ("we," "our," or "Vaco by Highspring") are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race (including but not limited to traits historically associated with race such as hair texture and hair style), color, sex (includes pregnancy or related conditions), religion or creed, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, status as a veteran, union membership, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation, or any other protected characteristics as required by applicable law. The company is also committed to ensuring that persons who need them are provided with reasonable accommodations; if an accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact HR@vaco.com .

Vaco by Highspring also wants all applicants to know their rights that workplace discrimination is illegal.

By submitting to this position, you agree that you will be giving Vaco by Highspring the exclusive right to present your as a candidate for the foregoing employment opportunity. Additionally, you agree to be included in our talent pool for future hiring for similarly qualified positions. You further agree that you have represented information about yourself accurately and have not affirmatively misrepresented your qualifications. Lastly, you agree to maintain as confidential, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any information you learn from Vaco by Highspring about the position and you will limit disclosure of information about the position only to the extent necessary to perform any obligations in furtherance of your application. In exchange, Vaco by Highspring agrees to exercise reasonable efforts to represent you through all solicitation, job screening and resume dispersal.

For residents of Ontario, Canada only: to the extent the position for employment is not with Highspring or not otherwise noted as vacant above, candidate should be informed that this role is to replace a presently employed person at Vaco by Highspring's client.

Vaco by Highspring respects your privacy and are committed to providing transparent notice of our policies.

• California residents may access Vaco by Highspring HR Notice at Collection for California Applicants and Employees here.


• Virginia residents may access our state specific policies here.


• Residents of all other states may access our policies here.


• Canadian residents may access our policies in English here and in French here.


• Residents of countries governed by GDPR and UK GDPR may access our policies here.

Additionally, submissions to this position are subject to the use of AI to perform preliminary candidate screenings, focused on ensuring minimum job requirements noted in the position are satisfied. More details about Vaco by Highspring's use of AI can be found here (https://www.highspring.com/ai-use-notices/). Further assessment of candidates beyond this initial phase will be conducted by recruiters and hiring managers. Vaco by Highspring does not know and cannot opine on if its client's use of AI products in hiring.

Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco by Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to:

· the individual's skill sets, experience and training;

· licensure and certification requirements;

· office location and other geographic considerations; and

· other business and organizational needs.

With that said, as required by local law, Vaco by Highspring believes that the following salary range referenced above reasonably estimates the base compensation for an individual hired into this position in geographies that require salary range disclosure. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses and/or participation in medical, dental, and vision benefits as well as the company's retirement plan (or similar retirement benefits).