What are the responsibilities and job description for the Quality Assurance Manager position at Guidex Group?
Position Summary
Guidex Group is seeking an experienced Quality Assurance Manager to lead the QA team for a metal grinding machine shop. Will oversee quality processes in manual and legacy machine shop. This role combines hands-on mechanical expertise with team leadership and process management. You will ensure all parts, assemblies, and machine maintenance work meet mechanical tolerances, safety standards, and production quality requirements.
The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced, hands-on environment, mentors a skilled QA team, and implements continuous improvement strategies to maintain high-quality standards across legacy machine tools, including mills, grinders, presses, and hydraulic/pneumatic systems.
Responsibilities
- Lead a team of QA inspectors and drive accountability for quality performance and compliance with mechanical tolerances.
- Supervise inspection and quality assurance activities for all manual machine shop operations, including restoration, maintenance, and production of mechanical components.
- Implement training and certifications as needed to maintain a highly skilled, flexible, and capable QA team.
- Lead root cause analysis (RCA) for recurring defects or mechanical failures and recommend or implement corrective and preventive actions.
- Establish and maintain critical characteristic control for parts, assemblies, and maintenance procedures.
- Collaborate with maintenance, engineering, and operations teams to improve processes, reduce defects, and ensure machine reliability.
- Ensure QA documentation, inspection reports, and work records are accurate, traceable, and maintained.
- Mentor and develop QA staff to improve technical skills, inspection accuracy, and understanding of mechanical tolerances.
- Maintain a safe working environment, enforcing lockout/tagout, machine guarding, and confined space procedures.
Basic Qualifications
- High school diploma or GED required; trade school or technical training preferred.
- Minimum 5–7 years of experience in quality assurance, inspection, or mechanical maintenance in a manual or legacy machine shop environment.
- At least 1 year experience leading a small team or supervising QA staff.
- Hands-on expertise with legacy machine tools, hydraulic and pneumatic systems.
- Ability to read and interpret mechanical drawings, blueprints, schematics, and technical documentation.
- Strong problem-solving, root cause analysis, and decision-making skills.
Preferred Skills and Experience
- Prior experience developing QA processes and inspection standards for mechanical or legacy equipment.
- Experience with precision measurement tools (micrometers, calipers, dial indicators, gauges).
- Familiarity with preventive maintenance procedures and reliability improvement initiatives.
- Experience mentoring and developing QA inspectors or maintenance staff.
- Strong computer skills for QA documentation and reporting or spreadsheets.
- Ability to navigate fast-paced and changing environments while maintaining high quality standards.
Additional Requirements
- Must be willing to work 1st shift: Monday – Friday, & work extended hours, overtime, and weekends as needed.
- Must be able to lift 25–50 lbs. unassisted.
- Ability to work in confined spaces and around manual machinery safely.
- Strong attention to detail, accuracy, and mechanical quality.
Compensation and Benefits (Direct Hire Benefits)
- Competitive salary based on experience.
- Overtime eligibility.
- Health, dental, and vision coverage.
- 401(k) retirement plan.
- Paid vacation and holidays.
Ideal Candidate
- Experienced in managing QA operations in a manual/legacy machine shop environment.
- Hands-on knowledge of mechanical systems and legacy machine tools.
- Skilled leader, able to mentor staff, implement QA processes, and drive continuous improvement.
- Detail-oriented, organized, and committed to maintaining high mechanical precision and quality standards.