Penumbra

Quality Engineering Manager

Penumbra$145K — $214K *
Healthcare
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Biomedical, Mechanical, Materials, Chemical, or related discipline preferred)
  • 5+ years of experience in Quality Engineering or Manufacturing Engineering within the medical device industry
  • 1+ years of leadership experience required; people management experience preferred
  • Working knowledge of FDA QSR and ISO 13485 in a manufacturing environment
  • Strong data analysis, problem-solving, and decision-making skills

Responsibilities

  • Lead Quality Engineering support for assigned product portfolios and production lines
  • Serve as the primary quality partner to Production, Manufacturing Engineering, and Industrial Engineering
  • Own manufacturing quality performance, including yield, scrap, productivity, and throughput-related quality losses
  • Drive continuous improvement of inspection systems and test methods
  • Apply Lean and Six Sigma methodologies to improve yield and reduce waste
  • Champion process-based risk management, including pFMEAs and defining CTQs
  • Hire, develop, and manage Quality Engineers, including workload and FTE planning

Benefits

  • Collaborative teamwork environment with constant learning and performance rewards
  • Opportunity to be part of a revolutionary team in treating significant diseases
  • Generous benefits package including medical, dental, vision, and disability insurance
  • 401(k) with employer match and paid parental leave
  • A minimum of fifteen days of accrued vacation per year, increasing with tenure
Full Job Description
General Summary

In this role, you will lead a team of Quality Engineers supporting manufacturing operations and production lines for a portfolio of medical devices. You will be accountable for manufacturing quality performance, inspection strategy, yield improvement, and sustaining process control, from early commercial ramp through product maturity and site transfer.

Embedded within Technical Operations, this role partners closely with Manufacturing Engineering, Production, and Industrial Engineering to build quality into manufacturing processes from the start. From a quality-first perspective, you will ensure processes are capable, controlled, and appropriately de-risked through robust process controls, inspection strategies, and data-driven monitoring. Your work will directly influence product yield, productivity, and operational stability by preventing defects, detecting issues early, and ensuring consistent, compliant manufacturing performance.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities
• Lead Quality Engineering support for assigned product portfolios and production lines
• Serve as the primary quality partner to Production, Manufacturing Engineering, and Industrial Engineering
• Own manufacturing quality performance, including yield, scrap, productivity, and throughput-related quality losses
• Own and advance inspection strategies, including in-process and final inspection, destructive testing, sampling plans, and acceptance/reject criteria
• Drive continuous improvement of inspection systems, test methods, process monitoring, and digital quality tools
• Apply Lean and Six Sigma methodologies to improve yield, reduce waste, and enhance process capability
• Own execution of quality system activities within Operations, including NCRs, MRB, CAPAs, control chart investigations, and effectiveness verification
• Champion process-based risk management, including pFMEAs and defining CTQs
• Review and approve equipment-related quality activities, including equipment qualifications (IQ/OQ), equipment-related ECOs, non-standard maintenance activities, and equipment software validation, in partnership with Manufacturing Engineering
• Hire, develop, and manage Quality Engineers, including workload and FTE planning to support production priorities

*Indicates an essential function of the role

Position Qualifications

Minimum education and experience:
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Biomedical, Mechanical, Materials, Chemical, or related discipline preferred)
• 5+ years of experience in Quality Engineering, or Manufacturing Engineering within the medical device industry
• 1+ years of leadership experience required; people management experience preferred
• Previous manufacturing engineering, process development, or NPI experience preferred
• Working knowledge of FDA QSR and ISO 13485 in a manufacturing environment
• Prior people leadership experience or demonstrated readiness to manage and develop engineers
• Strong data analysis, problem-solving, and decision-making skills

Preferred Qualifications:
• Product Quality Engineering support for catheterization delivery systems and/or nitinol-based devices
• Experience supporting high-volume manufacturing and early commercial yield ramp
• Strong background in inspection systems, destructive testing, and statistical sampling methods
• Versatility, flexibility, and willingness to work within a dynamic environment
• Practical application of Lean and Six Sigma in manufacturing or quality environments
• Experience partnering closely with Production, Industrial Engineering, and Equipment Engineering teams
• CQE certification or training
• Experience with data systems (e.g. PowerBI or Tableau), statistical analysis, and design of experimentation

Working Conditions
• General office, laboratory, and cleanroom environments
• Business travel from 0% - 10%
• Requires some lifting and moving of up to 25 pounds
• Must be able to move between buildings and floors.
• Must be able to remain stationary and use a computer or other standard office equipment, such as a printer or copy machine, for an extensive period of time each day.
• Must be able to read, prepare emails, and produce documents and spreadsheets.
• Must be able to move within the office and access file cabinets or supplies, as needed.
• Must be able to communicate and exchange accurate information with employees at all levels on a daily basis.

Location: Alameda, CA

Starting Base Salary: $145,000 to $214,000

Individual compensation will vary over time-based on factors such as performance, skill level, competencies, work location and shift.

What We Offer
• A collaborative teamwork environment where learning is constant, and performance is rewarded.
• The opportunity to be part of the team that is revolutionizing the treatment of some of the world's most devastating diseases.
• A generous benefits package for eligible employees that includes medical, dental, vision, life, AD&D, short and long-term disability insurance, 401(k) with employer match, paid parental leave, eleven paid company holidays per year, a minimum of fifteen days of accrued vacation per year, which increases with tenure, and paid sick time in compliance with applicable law(s).

About Penumbra

Penumbra is a global healthcare company that designs, develops, manufactures, and markets innovative medical devices for the diagnosis and treatment of neurological and vascular diseases. The company's products include clot retrieval devices, neurovascular stents, and more. Penumbra serves a variety of markets including hospitals, clinics, and ambulatory surgery centers. With a commitment to improving patient outcomes, Penumbra is dedicated to advancing the field of interventional medicine through innovation and collaboration.
Learn more about Penumbra
Size
3,800 employees
Market Cap
$8.4 billion
Industry
Net Income
-$15.7 million
Founded
2004
5 Year Trend
+23.2%
Revenue
$560.4 million
NASDAQ

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