What are the responsibilities and job description for the Quality Assurance Manager position at Gratz Pilates?
Role Title: QA Manager / QA Technical Lead
Reports To: Head of Engineering
Role Overview
The QA Manager will build and oversee Gratz Pilates’ Quality Assurance function, ensuring that all finished products, subassemblies, and incoming vendor parts meet defined quality standards. This role requires balancing hands-on inspection and documentation with strategic oversight of QA systems, process development, and customer complaint resolution. The QA Manager will serve as both a leader for the QA team and a cross-functional partner to engineering, operations and customer support.
Responsibilities
Quality Oversight & Standards
Gratz Pilates is the original manufacturer of Pilates apparatus and the industry’s trusted source for authentic equipment. Established in 1928 by Frank Gratz in New York City, our company has a long-standing tradition of crafting precision products that blend metal, wood, leather, and upholstery. Our team is dedicated to quality, heritage, and craftsmanship in every product we produce.
What We Offer
Reports To: Head of Engineering
Role Overview
The QA Manager will build and oversee Gratz Pilates’ Quality Assurance function, ensuring that all finished products, subassemblies, and incoming vendor parts meet defined quality standards. This role requires balancing hands-on inspection and documentation with strategic oversight of QA systems, process development, and customer complaint resolution. The QA Manager will serve as both a leader for the QA team and a cross-functional partner to engineering, operations and customer support.
Responsibilities
Quality Oversight & Standards
- Perform systematic inspections of finished products, assemblies, and vendor-supplied materials.
- Define and enforce measurable inspection criteria across production.
- Ensure traceability of materials, subassemblies, and vendor certifications.
- Conduct recurring audits of products and internal processes.
- Document and escalate recurring quality issues; coordinate corrective actions with engineering and operations.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop, implement, and monitor quality improvements.
- Work with Product & Customer Support (PCS) to validate quality concerns and root causes.
- Support resolution efforts through thorough documentation, investigation, and technical QA verification.
- Bachelor's Degree or BS in Industrial Engineering or Business Management
- 5-7 years experience, 2 years of QA or manufacturing experience, with supervisory responsibilities.
- Hands-on experience with inspections, testing equipment, and QA systems.
- Strong communication and documentation skills for SOPs, work instructions, and team training.
- Ability to collaborate across engineering, production, and customer-facing teams.
- Familiarity with ISO 9001, ISO 20957, or other QMS frameworks.
- Experience in fitness equipment, furniture, consumer products, custom fabrication, or small-batch manufacturing.
- Proficiency with ERP/MRP systems (e.g., Epicore) and QA data collection software (FastFields or equivalent).
Gratz Pilates is the original manufacturer of Pilates apparatus and the industry’s trusted source for authentic equipment. Established in 1928 by Frank Gratz in New York City, our company has a long-standing tradition of crafting precision products that blend metal, wood, leather, and upholstery. Our team is dedicated to quality, heritage, and craftsmanship in every product we produce.
What We Offer
- The opportunity to be part of a heritage brand with a passionate customer base
- A collaborative, hands-on team environment
- Room to grow and develop as our operations expand
- Competitive compensation and benefits
- Medical/Vision Insurance with $0 deductible
- Low-cost Dental add-on
- Provided Short-term/Long-term Disability
- No-cost Life Insurance Policy
- Paid Holidays, Sick Time & Vacation Days
