Reports to: Director of Manufacturing Operations & Quality
Location: Onsite in Littleton, CO

Role Overview

Emporia Energy is seeking an experienced and self-directed Quality Engineer for a hands-on individual contributor role focused on operational execution across our hardware product portfolio. This position is the primary point person for all communications and continuous improvement processes with our various contract manufacturers (CMs). You will operate with a high degree of autonomy to drive meaningful outcomes and ensure that Emporia products are manufactured to specification. The ideal candidate brings deep experience with consumer electronics contract manufacturing-particularly with overseas partners-and will work cross-functionally with Engineering, Operations, and Compliance to maintain supply continuity and oversee quality standards with our external partners.

Core Responsibilities & Coordination

The core of this role is serving as the central hub for coordination and quality oversight with Emporia's external partners and internal team. You will be responsible for the following execution-focused tasks:

Quality & Compliance

• Lead and execute CM factory audits and product quality audits; develop corrective action plans and track resolution to closure.
• Own Emporia's RMA and warranty process from end to end-analyze return data, identify systemic failure modes, work with Engineering and the CM to implement corrective actions, and report trends to leadership.
• Partner with Emporia's compliance team to ensure all products and contract manufacturing facilities meet UL and other applicable regulatory standards; manage compliance audit schedules and remediation activities.
• Review technical production drawings, BOMs, data sheets, and manufacturing documentation for accuracy, completeness, and consistency prior to production release.

Supplier Performance & Supply Chain

• Conduct structured supplier performance reviews and evaluations; maintain supplier scorecards, manage clear quality metrics, and drive continuous improvement across the supply base to ensure supplier-originated issues are properly attributed and resolved.
• Work with Engineering and Planning to assess impact of product changes on the supply chain, including component phase-in/phase-out planning and E&O risk management.

Process Development & PDLC

• Identify gaps in existing operational processes and independently design and implement improvements; proactively surface issues and solutions without waiting to be directed.
• Create and maintain quality and supply chain reporting for leadership, including supplier scorecards, warranty trend reports, audit findings, and supply risk summaries.
• As a startup, this role requires flexibility and a "wear many hats" mindset-this description does not capture all assignments.

Required Qualifications

• BS or higher in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing & Operations Engineering, Supply Chain, or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years of experience in quality, supply chain, or operations roles within the consumer electronics industry or similarly regulated environments.
• Self-directed and highly autonomous-able to establish priorities, create structure, and drive results without requiring close oversight.
• Exceptional written and verbal communicator who leads with the bottom line - able to distill complex quality and supply chain issues into clear, concise takeaways for cross-functional teams and senior leadership.
• Demonstrated experience owning factory and product audits, supplier performance programs, and quality management systems (QMS) in a contract manufacturing environment.
• Catches what others miss - typos, BOMs discrepancies, and the one data point that doesn't belong.
• Direct experience working with international contract manufacturers and ODM/JDM partners.
• Familiarity with UL certification processes and factory compliance requirements.
• Experience with RMA/warranty analysis and driving systematic corrective actions.
• Comfort working with PLM systems for BOM, ECO, and change management (e.g., Arena or equivalent).
• A genuine human being who brings energy and humor to the work - we take the mission seriously, but not ourselves.
• Experienced with Google Workspace, Jira, and Confluence.
• Ability to travel internationally to contract manufacturing partners and suppliers, up to approximately 25% of the time.
• AI-native working style: comfortable using AI tools to accelerate product research, ingest and synthesize data across multiple platforms and systems, and draft requirements and documentation.

What We Offer

Compensation: The expected base salary range is $120,000 - $140,000, plus stock options. The offered salary will depend on numerous factors, including but not limited to work experience, skills, and internal equity considerations. The base salary does not include benefits or other incentives.

Benefits: medical/dental/vision insurance, 401(k), employee stock option program, paid holidays plus unlimited PTO, discounts on Emporia products and partner offerings.

Career Growth: Be part of a fast-growing company at the forefront of home energy innovation.