Quality Manager at Samtec in Alajuela Province, Costa Rica

Descripción

Puesto en Samtec, Inc

Quality manager

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Position Summary

The Quality Manager is a senior quality leader for Samtec's Costa Rica manufacturing site, with direct responsibility for the HDR and Cable Manufacturing areas. This role is accountable for upholding and strengthening the site quality management system within these areas, building a culture of continuous improvement, and ensuring products consistently meet customer and regulatory requirements. The Quality Manager leads and develops a team of MQE’s, MQS’s, and Inspectors, and acts as the primary quality representative for these areas with customers, auditors, and key internal stakeholders.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities

Site & Team Leadership

• Serve as the primary quality leader for the HDR and Cable Manufacturing areas at the Costa Rica site, overseeing quality operations and directing all quality-related activities within those areas.
• Lead, develop, and mentor a quality engineering team including Manufacturing Quality Engineers (MQE), Manufacturing Quality Support (MQS), and Inspectors, setting clear goals and accountability for each function.
• Build and sustain a culture of quality and continuous improvement across all site functions, engaging operations, engineering, and other support teams.

Quality Management Systems

• Ensure compliance with and drive continuous improvement of the site quality management system (QMS) within the HDR and Cable Manufacturing areas, in accordance with ISO 9001, IATF 16949, and other applicable standards; lead internal audits for assigned areas and contribute to site management reviews.
• Establish, monitor, and report on key quality metrics (defect rates, yield, customer escapes, audit findings, CAPA closure) to site leadership and global quality stakeholders.
• Ensure all quality processes are documented, controlled, and consistently followed across the HDR and Cable Manufacturing areas.
• Partner with Process Engineering on Process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (PFMEA) efforts, providing quality input and monitoring the effectiveness of resulting controls.

Customer Quality

• Serve as the primary quality point of contact for customers of HDR and Cable products, leading customer audits for assigned areas, managing quality-related communications, and representing these areas in customer quality reviews.
• Partner with the CQE to drive root cause analysis and corrective/preventive action (CAPA) for customer-reported quality issues, ensuring timely and effective resolution.
• Collect, analyze, and act on customer quality data and feedback to proactively identify trends and drive systemic improvements.

Manufacturing & Supplier Quality

• Act as the voice of the customer within manufacturing, partnering with the MQE’s to provide quality oversight for change management, nonconforming material disposition, and product qualifications.
• Partner with SQE to oversee supplier continuous improvement activities, including supplier audits, qualification, and management of quality-related incidents and corrective actions.

New Product & Engineering Support

• Provide quality engineering support to R&D, marketing, and operations for the development and qualification of new products.
• Collaborate with Engineering and Operations on process improvement initiatives, applying Six Sigma and lean manufacturing tools to drive measurable quality and efficiency gains.

** The responsibilities listed above are intended as a general guideline. Associates may be asked to perform additional tasks based on business needs, strengths, and capabilities".

Required Experience

Required

• Minimum 5 years of progressive quality experience, with at least 3 years in a Quality Management or supervisory role.
• Demonstrated experience leading teams and managing multiple quality functions (customer, manufacturing, and/or supplier quality).
• Experience in a technical manufacturing environment. Experience with cable assemblies, electronics, high-speed interconnects, or high-frequency RF products is preferred.
• Hands-on experience implementing and maintaining IATF 16949 and/or ISO 9001 quality management systems.
• Proficiency with core quality tools: PFMEA, control plans, MSA, SPC, 8D, and root cause analysis methodologies.
• Strong understanding of lean manufacturing principles and Six Sigma methodology.
• English and Spanish language proficiency required (Costa Rica site).

Preferred

• Quality certification (CQM, CQE, Six Sigma Black Belt, or equivalent).
• Familiarity with ISO 9001, IATF 16949, and other quality management system requirements.
• Experience managing customer-facing quality relationships, including customer audits and quality reviews.

Education

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Quality, or a related technical discipline.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to work in a manufacturing environment, including standing or sitting for extended periods (minimum 90 consecutive minutes).

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