Job PurposeAs the
Manager of the Quality Control Lab, you will be the departmental owner of inspection workflows, metrology standards, and personnel development. You are responsible for the coordination of all lab activities to ensure VulcanForms' products meet the highest standards of excellence in a 24/7 manufacturing environment. You will manage the laboratory's physical and human resources to ensure the facility is fully equipped to support aggressive production ramps. Your goal is to standardize and scale QC operations while providing executive leadership with data-driven visibility into lab performance and product quality.
Key Responsibilities- Own the daily operations and long-term scheduling for the QC Inspection team. Accountable for departmental results, including throughput, staffing levels, and operational costs.
- Act as the primary technical advisor for the lab, resolving difficult to moderately complex problems regarding measurement strategy, equipment downtime, or inspection bottlenecks.
- Establish and enforce foundational engineering standards, lab safety protocols, and global validation methods (IQ/OQ/PQ) for all metrology equipment.
- Provide Program Managers and executive stakeholders with accurate turnaround times (TAT). Proactively manage the lab's capacity to prevent production delays.
- Architect and maintain a suite of KPIs (e.g., Backlog Aging, Cycle Time, First-Pass Yield) to drive measurable improvements in lab efficiency.
- Lead the recruitment, onboarding, and professional growth of the QC team. Build structured, multi-shift training programs to ensure technical competence remains high as the team scales.
- Ensure the lab is always "audit-ready" for regulatory bodies (ISO 9001, AS9100) and customer-specific quality requirements.
- Partner with Manufacturing, Engineering, and Digital teams to ensure inspection data integrates seamlessly with our digital thread (MES/ERP).
Qualifications- 8+ years of experience in Quality Control, Metrology, or Inspection within a high-precision manufacturing environment.
- 3+ years of formal management experience (M2 or Lead level), with proven success managing a multi-shift technical team.
- Mastery of GD&T and advanced metrology equipment (CMM, GOM/Blue Light, NDT).
- Proven experience with Budgeting & Staffing: Ability to manage departmental costs and forecast resource needs based on production volume.
- Deep understanding of ISO 9001 or AS9100 requirements within a laboratory setting.
- Demonstrated ability to translate complex quality data into actionable narratives for senior management.
Preferred Qualifications- Experience running or scaling a QC lab in a fast-paced, high-growth "startup-to-production" environment.
- Certification in Lean Six Sigma or similar methodologies with experience implementing 5S or Kaizen events in a lab setting.
- Experience with metal Additive Manufacturing (AM) inspection requirements and the unique challenges of powder-bed fusion quality control.
- Familiarity with automating inspection data workflows and integrating lab results into centralized digital threads.
VulcanForms offers a competitive salary and equity package. Actual compensation is based on factors such as the candidate's skills, qualifications, and experience. In addition, VulcanForms provides comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance; generous paid time off; and a 401(k) plan with company match.
The annual base salary range for this position is $122,400 to $168,300.
