What are the responsibilities and job description for the Quality Assurance Specialist position at Sparx Hockey?
About Us:
Founded in 2013, Sparx Hockey is a privately held corporation located just outside of Boston in Acton, Massachusetts. Sparx Hockey is a developer and manufacturer of skate sharpening equipment and related accessories for ice hockey, figure skating and sled hockey. The Sparx Sharpener, the company’s flagship product, is an affordable, automated product that allows anyone, anywhere, with no prior skate sharpening experience, to easily sharpen hockey and figure skates with pro-level accuracy. Thousands of customers in the U.S. and Canada are currently sharpening their skates with Sparx, including individuals, families, teams, rink operators and pro shops. The company is focused on building a leadership position in skate sharpening by providing customers with the most advanced, accurate and easy to use skate sharpening equipment on the planet.
In addition to Sparx Hockey’s exceptional products and record-setting growth, we also pride ourselves on being a fun place to work. Although it’s not an employment prerequisite, many of our employees still play, coach, and are parents of young hockey players. We do more than just build great hockey products; we use them ourselves. When we’re not working hard or playing hockey, our team can be found having a blast at our annual summer outing and impromptu barbecues that fill in the rest of the Sparx annual event calendar. Sparx Hockey’s global headquarters are located in Acton, MA and are home to R&D, Operations, Marketing, Sales, and Finance teams as well as our production lines and warehouse/distribution center.
About the role:
We are seeking a detail-oriented and analytical Quality Assurance Specialist to maintain and elevate our product and process standards. In this role, you will be the custodian of our Quality Management System (QMS), driving continuous improvement from internal processes to external supplier relationships. The ideal candidate thrives on data-driven decision-making, possesses excellent organizational skills for documentation, and ensures our measuring equipment remains precise and compliant.
Responsibilities:
- Quality Management System (QMS) Ownership: Maintain, update, and audit the company’s QMS documentation (SOPs, work instructions, quality manuals) to ensure alignment with industry regulations and standards.
- Data Collection & Health Monitoring: Establish KPIs, collect performance data, and perform statistical analysis to proactively monitor product and process health, identifying trends, defects, and areas for improvement.
- Supplier Quality Management: Partner with suppliers to define quality expectations, conduct supplier audits, and collaboratively implement Corrective and Preventive Actions (CAPA) to improve inbound material and process quality.
- Equipment & Calibration Management: Manage the schedule, execution, and documentation of all equipment calibrations and maintenance to guarantee inspection and testing accuracy.
- Root Cause Analysis & CAPA: Lead investigations into product deviations, customer complaints, or internal non-conformances, utilizing root-cause analysis methodologies (e.g., 5 Whys, Fishbone) to implement permanent solutions.
- Cross-Functional Support: Train internal teams on quality protocols, compliance standards, and document control best practices.
Qualifications:
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Quality Management, Technical Writing, or a related field (or equivalent practical experience).
- Experience: 3–5 years of experience in a QA or Quality Engineering role, ideally within a regulated environment (e.g., Manufacturing, Aerospace, Medical Devices, or Software/IT depending on your industry).
- Technical Skills:
- Strong proficiency with QMS software and digital document control systems.
- Solid understanding of statistical analysis tools (e.g., Excel, Minitab, SPC charts) to interpret process data.
- Familiarity with calibration standards and tracking tools.
- Certifications (Preferred but not required): ASQ Certified Quality Auditor (CQA), Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), or Six Sigma Green/Black Belt.
- Soft Skills: High attention to detail, strong cross-functional communication, objective problem-solving mindset, and clear technical writing abilities.
Salary : $60,000 - $80,000