Quality Excellence Specialist

Job Description/Title: Quality Excellence Specialist

Reports To: President

Department: Quality

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt Location: Full-time, on-site position in Everett, WA

Salary: $70,000-$75,000 (depending on experience)

Position Overview

Paragon Manufacturing is seeking an emerging leader to be our Quality Excellence Specialist to drive our quality control function in a manufacturing environment. This role is responsible for ensuring that products meet customer specifications, engineering requirements, internal quality standards, and applicable regulatory requirements.

The Quality Excellence Specialist will oversee incoming inspection, in-process inspection, final inspection, test documentation, nonconformance control, corrective actions, calibration, audit readiness, and quality team performance. This is a floor-focused role that requires strong attention to detail, technical inspection knowledge, and the ability to enforce quality standards while supporting production.

The ideal candidate is a quality professional looking to mature and develop their leadership experience in a growing business focused on manufacturing quality, cable assemblies, wire harnesses & electro-mechanical assemblies.

Essential Responsibilities

· Guide incoming, in-process, test, and final inspection activities to ensure product conformity

· Ensure products are built and inspected according to engineering drawings, BOMs, work instructions, customer requirements, and applicable standards

· Maintain accurate and traceable inspection records, test records, NCRs, calibration records, and quality documentation

· Identify, document, contain, and control nonconforming material or product.

· Prevent nonconforming product from moving forward until proper disposition is completed

· Champion root cause investigations and corrective action activities

· Partner with Operations, Engineering, Production, and Customer Service to resolve quality issues

· Monitor defect trends, recurring issues, rework, scrap, RMAs, and customer quality concerns

· Ensure inspection tools, gauges, and test equipment are properly calibrated and used correctly

· Maintain audit-ready documentation and support internal, external, customer, and regulatory audits

· Train, coach, and guide inspectors and production personnel on quality standards and workmanship expectations

· Ensure compliance with approved work instructions, specifications, and quality procedures

· Support First Article Inspections for new or revised builds

· Drive accountability, process discipline, and continuous improvement across the production floor

Education & Experience

We are looking for a hands-on quality professional with strong manufacturing experience, practical inspection knowledge, and the ability to lead others while working closely with production and operations.

· High school diploma or equivalent required; additional education in quality or engineering.

· 5+ years of quality experience in a manufacturing environment preferred

· Prior experience leading, training, or mentoring quality inspectors or production employees is strongly preferred

· Experience with cable assemblies, wire harnesses, electro-mechanical assemblies, or similar products is highly desired

· Ability to read and understand engineering drawings, specifications, BOMs, work instructions, and inspection requirements

· Familiarity with IPC/WHMA-A-620 standards; IPC certification is a plus.

· Experience using inspection tools such as calipers, micrometers, gauges, continuity testers, and related equipment

· Working knowledge of nonconformance control, containment, root cause analysis, corrective actions, and quality documentation

· Experience with ISO 9001, ISO 13485, AS9100, ITAR, RoHS, UL, audits, NCRs, CAPAs, RMAs, calibration, or traceability is helpful

· Strong attention to detail, organization, follow-through, and communication skills

· Ability to work well across departments, support production needs, enforce quality standards, and escalate issues appropriately

Benefits

Benefits include medical, dental, vision, paid vacation (10 days), paid sick leave in accordance with Washington State laws, and other company-sponsored benefits

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

This is a full-time, on-site position in Everett, WA. The role operates primarily in a manufacturing and production floor environment and requires regular interaction with inspection, production, engineering, operations, customer service, and leadership teams.

This position requires frequent standing, walking, and movement throughout the facility. Detailed visual inspection and color differentiation are essential functions of the role, with or without reasonable accommodation. The role may require lifting up to 35 lbs. Compliance with all safety, PPE, ESD, and quality requirements is mandatory.

Other Duties

This job description is intended to provide a general overview of the role and is not a comprehensive list of all duties, responsibilities, or activities required. Responsibilities may evolve based on business needs, operational priorities, and organizational growth. Management reserves the right to assign or reassign duties at any time.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Paragon Manufacturing is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to any status protected under federal, Washington State, or local law.

This policy applies to all aspects of employment, including recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, compensation, benefits, training, discipline, and termination.

Export Control Notice

This position may require access to information subject to U.S. export control laws, including ITAR. Employment is contingent upon the ability to comply with applicable export control requirements.

Pay: $70,000.00 - $75,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Application Question(s):

• Have you supervised, trained, or led quality inspectors or production personnel?

• How many years of experience do you have working in a manufacturing quality role?

• Are you able to read and interpret engineering drawings, BOMs, and work instructions?
• Which inspection tools and equipment have you regularly used? For example have you used Calipers, Micrometers, Gauges, Continuity Testers, Multimeters or Optical Inspection tools
• Describe your experience handling nonconforming material, root cause investigations, and corrective actions.
• Have you participated in or supported internal, customer, or regulatory audits? If yes, please describe your role.
• This role is a full-time, on-site position in Everett, WA and requires regular time on the production floor. Are you able to meet these requirements?
• This position may require compliance with U.S. export control regulations, including ITAR. Are you legally authorized to work in the United States and able to comply with export control requirements?
• What is your earliest available start date?
• Does the salary range align with your expectations?
• Do you have experience with Cable assemblies, Wire harnesses, Electro-mechanical assemblies, Aerospace manufacturing, Medical device manufacturing, or Electronics manufacturing?

• Have you worked with the following quality standards or systems? IPC/WHMA-A-620, ISO 9001, AS9100, ISO 13485, ITAR, RoHS, UL requirements, CAPA systems or NCR processes, Calibration systems

Work Location: In person