Quality Director

Position Description

Date Issued:

June 2026

Department:

Quality

Reports to:

VP, Operations

Direct Reports:

Yes

Location:

Van Nuys, CA

Position Purpose:

Capstone Energy+ is seeking a Quality Director to own and advance the company's quality management function across manufacturing, engineering, supply chain, and field operations. This is a senior leadership role responsible for establishing Capstone's reputation as a quality leader in commercial ultra-low-emission, high-reliability microturbine systems, protecting that reputation through rigorous systems, proactive problem-solving, and a culture of continuous improvement. The Quality Director will develop and execute quality strategy, lead and develop a high-performing quality team, manage supplier quality performance, drive Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ) reduction, and ensure Trouble Free Startup and customer satisfaction across Capstone's product and service portfolio. Reporting to the VP of Operations, this individual will serve as a cross-functional quality leader, partnering with Engineering, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Customer Service, and Aftermarket teams to embed quality at every stage of the product lifecycle.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Quality Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of quality professionals, setting clear expectations, building individual capability, and driving team performance against objectives and key results.
• Foster a culture of accountability, urgency, and continuous improvement across the quality organization and beyond.
• Promote Quality's function as a critical contributor to Capstone's competitive position and customer satisfaction, not a back-office compliance function.
• Establish clear daily, weekly and monthly KPI's for our internal team and flow down customer feedback throughout the organization.

Problem-Solving & Corrective Action

• Apply Root Cause Corrective Action (RCCA) methodologies, including Fishbone, Ishikawa, and 5-Why analysis, to resolve quality issues at their source and prevent recurrence.
• Own outgoing quality and escape containment: ensure that no nonconforming product leaves the facility. Implement robust inspection, hold, and disposition processes that intercept defects before they ship, every quality escape to the field is a failure of the system, not just the product.
• Manage and improve the Return Material Authorization (RMA) process, ensuring timely and effective resolution of product returns and clear feedback into design and manufacturing.
• Monitor and systematically reduce Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ): identify inefficiencies, quantify their impact, implement corrective actions, and track results.
• Interface with Manufacturing Engineering, Design Engineering, Test Engineering, and Supply Chain to resolve cross-functional quality issues and establish robust data collection and reporting.

Quality Strategy, Systems & Compliance

• Develop and implement quality strategies, policies, and procedures that enhance product and process quality across manufacturing, engineering, and field operations.
• Maintain and continuously improve Capstone's ISO 9001 certification; stay ahead of evolving ISO requirements and ensure the organization is always audit-ready.
• Lead internal audit activities to ensure a zero findings environment
• Identify and track applicable international, federal, state, and local regulatory certification requirements including UL, cUL, CE, CSA, and others relevant to Capstone's microturbine applications.
• Establish, monitor, and report on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that measure quality performance, drive accountability, and inform executive decision-making.
• Own the closed-loop corrective action process; ensure root cause analysis and corrective actions are completed accurately, on time, and with sustainable outcomes.

Supplier Quality Management

• Develop and maintain supplier scorecards and performance metrics; hold suppliers accountable to Capstone's quality standards through structured performance reviews and escalation processes.
• Partner with the Supply Chain and Strategic Sourcing organizations to build and maintain a strong, quality-capable supplier base.
• Lead supplier quality investigations, corrective action requests, and qualification activities for new and existing suppliers.
• Embed supplier quality requirements into procurement and new product introduction processes to prevent quality failures upstream.

New Product & Engineering Quality

• Ensure the implementation of relevant quality processes and checkpoints on all new product development programs; embed quality gates into the NPI process rather than inspecting quality in after the fact.
• Partner with Engineering to assure product reliability improvement efforts meet Capstone's reliability goals for turbine mechanical systems and high-power electrical components.
• Drive Trouble Free Startup as a measurable outcome of quality excellence in both manufacturing and field commissioning.

Customer & Field Quality

• Interface directly with customers as required; conduct material failure analyses and incident investigations in partnership with Aftermarket and Customer Service teams.
• Ensure field-derived quality data flows back into manufacturing and design processes, closing the loop between field performance and product improvement.
• Collaborate with Aftermarket Regional Service Managers and Technical Services to address recurring field quality issues with urgency and rigor.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Quality Management, or a related technical field required; Master's degree or advanced technical degree preferred.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive quality management experience, with at least 5 years in a leadership role managing a quality team in a manufacturing or production environment.
• Demonstrated experience in a high-tech, precision-engineered product environment; prior experience with turbomachinery, power electronics, or distributed energy systems strongly preferred.
• Proven track record of driving continuous improvement, reducing COPQ, and building quality systems that scale.

Skills & Abilities - Required

• Deep expertise in RCCA methodologies including Fishbone/ Ishikawa, and 5-Why; able to lead and coach others in structured problem-solving.
• Strong working knowledge of ISO 9001 quality management systems, including implementation and certification management.
• Experience managing supplier quality through scorecards, corrective action processes, and supplier development programs.
• Proficiency in RMA process management and COPQ measurement, analysis, and reduction.
• Ability to establish, track, and communicate quality KPIs to both technical teams and executive leadership.
• Executive presence and communication skills: able to represent the quality function with authority and clarity at the executive staff level and, as required, to the Board of Directors - translating complex quality data, risks, and strategic priorities into narratives that drive decisions at the highest level of the organization.
• Excellent leadership and interpersonal skills; able to influence without authority and maintain credibility across Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, and Commercial teams.
• Calm, decisive, and solutions-focused under pressure - able to manage competing priorities and unforeseen circumstances without losing momentum or team confidence.

Skills & Abilities - Preferred

• Six Sigma Black Belt or Master Black Belt certification strongly preferred.
• ASQ Certified Manager of Quality / Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE) preferred.
• Prior experience in distributed power generation, energy, or aerospace/defense industries.
• Lean manufacturing experience and familiarity with Lean/Six Sigma integration in a quality management context.
• Experience with regulatory certifications for electromechanical systems: UL, cUL, CE, CSA, or equivalent.

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

• Zero quality escapes to the field, nonconforming product is identified, contained, and dispositioned before it leaves the facility, preventing customer disruption and protecting Capstone's reputation.
• COPQ trends measurably downward within the first year, inefficiencies are identified, quantified, and eliminated with documented impact on margin and product reliability.
• Supplier quality performance improves across the base, scorecards are live, corrective actions are tracked to closure, and Capstone's supply chain is a quality strength, not a recurring source of issues.
• Trouble Free Startup rates improve quarter over quarter as quality is embedded earlier in manufacturing and commissioning processes.
• The quality team is well-developed, high-performing, and operates with urgency and accountability, the Quality Director is developing the next generation of quality leaders at Capstone.
• ISO 9001 certification is maintained without interruption; regulatory compliance posture is proactive, not reactive.
• Quality has a seat at the table in engineering, supply chain, and operations decisions, not as a gatekeeper, but as a valued strategic partner driving better outcomes.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• On-site at Capstone's Van Nuys, CA headquarters; regular in-person presence is expected for this leadership role.
• Highly cross-functional, high-visibility environment with frequent engagement across Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Aftermarket, and Executive leadership.
• Occasional travel may be required for supplier quality audits, customer quality reviews, or field investigations.
• Fast-paced, dynamic environment; this role requires the ability to manage multiple competing priorities with composure and clear judgment.
• Willingness to work beyond standard hours as driven by quality escalations, customer commitments, or critical production needs.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) incumbent in this position. Employee(s) will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments.

All duties and responsibilities are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills or abilities. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an "at will" relationship.

Pay Range: $165,000 - $190,000 per hour