Quality Engineer, Switchboards & AI

Giga Energy

$120K — $150K *
Manufacturing & Automotive
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial Engineering, or related field
  • 3+ years of experience in quality engineering within electrical or industrial manufacturing
  • Knowledge of UL 891/67 compliance or equivalent LV standards
  • Expertise in supplier quality processes in an international context
  • Proficiency in incoming inspection practices and IQC sampling methods
  • Hands-on experience with PFMEA, control plans, and work instructions
  • Strong capabilities in root cause analysis techniques (e.g., 8D, Fishbone, 5-Why)
  • Effective communication skills, particularly in technical reporting

Responsibilities

  • Execute quality procedures for AI pod components following ISO 9001 QMS
  • Support internal and external audits for AI product lines
  • Interface with compliance officers during audits
  • Conduct supplier qualification and audit processes for component suppliers
  • Run incoming quality control checks and issue corrective actions
  • Build inspection checklists for AI pod components
  • Perform and document final inspection and testing for shipment

Benefits

  • Subsidized health, dental, and vision insurance
  • Equity in a rapidly growing startup
  • 401(k) plan with 4% employer match
  • Unlimited PTO policy
  • Parental leave
  • Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) or Health Savings Account (HSA)
  • Commuter benefits where applicable
  • Opportunities for periodic team collaboration on-site
Full Job Description
What you'll do

Giga Energy builds mission-critical power and cooling infrastructure for AI datacenters - chillers, e-houses, switchgear, and fully integrated AI pods delivered to hyperscaler and utility customers across North America. As Quality Engineer, you will be the hands-on quality owner for our newest and most complex product lines - the AI-specific equipment that's driving Giga's next phase of growth. You'll run incoming, in-process, and final inspection for these components, chase down supplier quality issues, and be the person who catches a defect before it ships. This is a technical, in-the-weeds role: less about building the quality org from scratch and more about being excellent at the day-to-day execution that keeps AI pod quality airtight as volume ramps.
Where you'll work

We are an in-office culture - velocity matters when you're building physical infrastructure, and the best decisions happen in the room. This role is based in our Long Beach, CA office, with full-time onsite expectations.
Responsibilities

Quality System Execution
  • Execute quality procedures and work instructions for AI pod components (chillers, e-houses, switchgear) in alignment with the site's ISO 9001 QMS
  • Support internal and external audits, including ISO certification efforts, for AI product lines
  • Maintain the product compliance matrix mapping chillers, e-houses, switchgear, and AI pods to applicable UL, NEC, NEMA, and customer-specific requirements
  • Interface with UL Compliance Officers and third-party agencies during audits for AI equipment

Supplier Quality - China, Mexico & India
  • Support supplier qualification, periodic re-qualification audits, and scorecard reviews for AI component suppliers
  • Execute Supplier Quality Agreements (SQAs) covering material certifications, First Article Inspection (FAI), critical specs, and dimensional tolerances
  • Issue Supplier Corrective Action Requests (SCARs) and drive to closure using 8D methodology; investigate root cause on repeat escapes
  • Support pre-shipment inspection checkpoints at overseas CM facilities to prevent quality escapes from reaching Giga facilities
  • Verify incoming materials meet specifications - manage PPAP-equivalent documentation (material certs, CoC, test reports)

Incoming, In-Process & Final Inspection
  • Execute the incoming quality control (IQC) process for chillers, e-houses, and switchgear components - AQL-based sampling plans, accept/reject criteria, and non-conforming material (NCM) disposition
  • Build and maintain inspection checklists for critical AI pod components: bus bars, breakers, CTs, SPDs, chiller assemblies, and e-house structural/electrical elements
  • Execute in-process quality control plans (QCPs) and visual work instructions (VWIs) for safety-critical assembly operations - bus bar torquing, wiring termination, CT secondary connections
  • Perform final outgoing inspection and electrical test protocol: insulation resistance, continuity, CT polarity, and breaker functional tests - 100% on every unit
  • Maintain serialized test records and Certificate of Conformance (CoC) for every AI pod shipment
  • Execute routine, type, and special test protocols for chillers, e-houses, switchgear, and integrated AI pods

Continuous Improvement
  • Lead root cause analysis using structured tools - 8D, Fishbone, 5-Why - for internal non-conformances and field failures on AI product lines
  • Collaborate with manufacturing engineers on Lean/Six Sigma initiatives to reduce defects, scrap, and rework
  • Track and report quality KPIs for AI components: incoming PPM, first-pass yield (FPY), scrap and rework rate, and warranty claim rate
  • Support digital systems used to capture, track, and resolve NCRs, SCARs, and customer complaints; maintain the calibration register for gauges and test equipment used on AI lines

Customer & Compliance
  • Support the customer complaint process for AI product lines - intake, on-site investigation, 8D report, and formal closure within SLA (containment within 24 hours, full 8D within 30 days)
  • Support warranty claim investigation; represent Quality at customer sites during field investigations and commissioning inspections for AI pods
  • Ensure compliance with applicable safety and environmental regulations
  • Support interfacing with customers and regulatory agencies during audits, UL inspections, and project quality reviews
Requirements
  • Degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical field
  • 3+ years of experience in quality engineering in electrical, power, cooling, or industrial manufacturing
  • Solid understanding of UL 891/67 compliance or equivalent LV switchgear/panelboard standards
  • Experience with supplier quality processes in an international CM environment - audits, corrective actions, and FAI documentation
  • Proficiency in IQC sampling methodology and incoming inspection practices
  • Hands-on experience with PFMEA, control plans, and visual work instructions
  • Strong root cause analysis skills - 8D, Fishbone, 5-Why
  • Strong communicator - able to write clear technical reports and interface with cross-functional teams
  • Ability to collaborate effectively with cross-border engineering and production teams (China, Mexico, India, US)
Bonus points
  • ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), Six Sigma Green Belt, or equivalent certification
  • Experience with cooling systems (chillers) or modular/prefabricated electrical enclosures (e-houses)
  • Experience using digital quality tools - ERP quality modules - to track NCRs, SCARs, and KPIs


Pay Transparency

The range provided below is the role's Base Salary range. This salary range may be inclusive of several career levels at Giga and will be narrowed during the interview process based on a number of factors, including the candidate's experience and qualifications. Additional benefits include 401(k) plan plus subsidized medical, dental, and vision benefits.

Base Pay Range

$120,000-$150,000 USD

How We Work

We value people who take ownership, raise risks early, communicate directly, and follow through. Incomplete information is part of the job. Make the best decision you can, document it, and adjust as the facts change. Move quickly on reversible decisions and take more care when security, safety, financial, employee, or customer risk is involved.
Benefits
  • Subsidized health, dental, and vision insurance
  • Equity (options) in a rapidly growing startup
  • 401(k) with 4% employer match
  • Unlimited PTO
  • Parental leave
  • Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) or Health Savings Account (HSA)
  • Commuter benefits, where applicable
  • Opportunities to collaborate in person at periodic team and company on-sites

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