Quality Control Supervisor

Ultimate Staffing Services is actively seeking a dedicated and experienced Quality Control Supervisor to join their client's team in California. This position is located onsite at the Stanford Research Park in Palo Alto, CA. The role is crucial for ensuring the highest standards in product quality across various industries, including defense, medical, and scientific markets.

Job Description

For more than 70 years, this organization has been powering the world in ways most people don't see. Its precision-engineered RF and microwave technologies keep communications running, support life-saving medical treatments, protect soldiers and pilots, and enable scientific breakthroughs.

Headquartered in Palo Alto, California, with a global reach, the team serves customers across communications, defense, medical, industrial, and scientific markets. As part of a larger aerospace platform, it combines global resources with the agility and high-impact culture of a close-knit team.

At this organization, your work matters - and you'll see the real-world impact of the solutions you help build every day, supporting cancer radiation systems as well as aviation and defense applications.

Title: Quality Control Supervisor (QC Supervisor / Lead Inspector)

Schedule: Day shift | Typical start between 5:00 AM - 8:00 AM

Location: On-site | Palo Alto, CA (Stanford Research Park)

Salary: $75,000 - $110,000 depending on experience

Team: Lead and support a team of 5 Quality Inspectors

Key Tools: Zeiss CMM, Keyence systems, height gages, calipers, GD&T (ASME Y14.5)

Environment: High-mix RF and microwave manufacturing supporting defense, medical, and scientific technologies

Your Day-to-Day (Role Summary)

The Quality Control Supervisor is responsible for leading daily quality inspection operations and supervising Quality Inspectors to ensure product conformance to engineering, customer, and regulatory requirements. This role manages inspection execution, equipment calibration, and inspection-related supplier quality activities while serving as a technical and operational resource to Manufacturing, Engineering, and Supply Chain. The position acts as a working supervisor, providing inspection coverage as needed and supporting the QA Manager in maintaining effective quality systems and compliance.

This role is well suited for quality professionals who enjoy leading from the floor, developing people, and building inspection discipline in a fast-moving, high-mix manufacturing environment. You'll have real ownership over daily execution while helping shape how quality supports on-time delivery, supplier performance, and customer trust.

We're building a team that values leadership, growth, and potential. If others naturally look to you for guidance and support, and you have a proven track record of taking ownership and driving results, we'd love to hear from you!

You Will Be Accountable For (Responsibilities)

Quality Inspection Operations & Team Leadership

• Set the standard for inspection excellence by establishing clear expectations, reinforcing accountability, and modeling strong technical judgment and follow-through.
• Supervise, schedule, and prioritize work for Quality Inspectors in alignment with daily production priorities and standup cadence to support production flow and on-time delivery goals.
• Ensure inspection coverage for incoming, in-process, final, and receiving inspection activities.
• Provide technical guidance, training, and on-the-job coaching to Quality Inspectors to improve inspection accuracy, consistency, and efficiency.
• Review inspection records for completeness, accuracy, and compliance with procedures.
• Step in as inspection backup as needed, performing complex inspections to prevent shipment delays.
• Address inspection-related issues, escalations, and errors, including coordination of containment and corrective actions.

Inspection Execution (Working Supervisor)

• Perform simple to complex mechanical and visual inspections in accordance with engineering drawings, specifications, and procedures.
• Utilize standard and advanced inspection tools and equipment, including CMM (Zeiss), Keyence systems, height gages, calipers, and thread gages.
• Support incoming inspection backlog targets (e.g., maintaining lot averages within defined goals).
• Ensure final inspection activities meet internal and ISO requirements with no missed shipments due to inspection availability.
• Monitor and communicate inspection-related performance metrics (e.g., backlog, cycle time, Material Review Board [MRB] aging) to support on-time delivery objectives.

Supplier Quality & Nonconformance Management

• Perform supplier quality activities related to inspection-driven issues, including:
• Managing MRB activities
• Issuing and tracking SDRs (Supplier Deviation Requests)
• Supporting First Article (FA) inspection and validation
• Execute and track MRB transactions within the ERP system to ensure timely identification, segregation, documentation, and disposition of nonconforming material.
• Interface with Supply Chain and suppliers to resolve inspection-related nonconformances.
• Forecast and communicate next steps for supplier-related quality issues based on inspection findings.
• Support resolution of customer complaints resulting from inspection-related errors.

Quality System Support & Compliance

• Maintain required safety and quality certifications (e.g., QP1) and ensure inspectors maintain appropriate training.
• Maintain and expand knowledge of internal quality systems and applicable external standards.
• Participate in safety, quality awareness, and continuous improvement activities.
• Contribute to cross-functional improvement forums as assigned.
• Support IT and data/system-related activities as they impact inspection operations.
• Serve as acting QA point-of-contact when the QA Manager is unavailable, within defined scope.

This position offers visibility, influence, and the opportunity to grow into broader quality leadership roles as the organization continues to scale and mature.

You Are the Right Person for This Job If You Have These Preferred Requirements

• High school diploma or GED required; technical training or associate degree preferred.
• Progressively responsible experience in quality inspection, with prior experience supervising or leading inspectors strongly preferred.
• 2+ years of professional experience preferred with prior manufacturing exposure OR at least 1 year of experience managing a team.
• Strong working knowledge of mechanical inspection methods and equipment, including CMM and vision systems.
• Proficiency in reading and interpreting engineering drawings using ASME Y14.5 standards.
• Experience managing MRB activities and supporting supplier quality processes.
• Demonstrated ability to train and mentor inspection personnel.
• Strong organizational, documentation, and follow-through skills.
• Effective communication skills with the ability to interface across Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and QA.
• Working knowledge of ISO-based quality systems and calibration control.

This role may require extended hours, overtime, and occasional weekend support based on production needs. This role is restricted to U.S. persons (i.e., U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and other protected individuals) due to access to export-controlled technology.

What We Offer

Salary Range: $75,000 to $110,000 depending on experience

Work Hours: Monday to Friday

Benefits: Comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, and vision insurance, 401(k) with company match, and more.

Additional Details: This job is a supervisor position.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, age, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, or military or veteran status. We consider all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with state and local laws, including the California Fair Chance Act, City of Los Angeles' Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance.