Qcells North America
Vice President of Quality Management
Qcells North America, San Francisco, California, United States, 94199
Vice President of Quality Management
Qcells North America
Base Pay Range $240,000.00/yr - $300,000.00/yr
Job Description As Vice President of Quality Management at Hanwha Q CELLS America, you are responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive global quality strategy to ensure the delivery of high-quality, safe, reliable and compliant energy solutions. You will lead the end‑to‑end quality, reliability, and product release assurance for AC modules, microinverters, and energy storage systems (ESS) that combine complex electro‑mechanical, embedded firmware, and cloud/mobile software technologies. This is a senior executive leadership role charged with architecting and executing a world‑class quality management system across design, NPI, manufacturing, deployment and customer lifecycle.
You will lead cross‑functional quality efforts across firmware/software (mobile + embedded), hardware, and manufacturing operations, ensuring full integration and accountability across all product dimensions. You’ll oversee quality operations both domestically and offshore/nearshore development centers and distributed engineering teams, implementing an integrated QA discipline for complex, distributed product systems. This position reports to the Chief Product Officer and is based in Santa Clara, San Francisco, Bay Area, Irvine, CA, or remote.
TIME & LOCATION: Monday through Friday 8:00 am‑5:00 pm (flexible 9:00 am‑6:00 pm as needed). Overtime and weekend work may be required. Expected travel up to 20% for on‑site support, quality audits, troubleshooting or customer support.
Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership
Champion a culture of quality throughout the organization, promoting a mindset of continuous improvement, proactive problem‑solving, and accountability.
Define and lead a comprehensive quality roadmap that unifies hardware, embedded firmware, cloud infrastructure, and mobile apps under a cohesive strategy aligned to corporate OKRs, warranty exposure, and customer expectations.
Build and lead a structured quality program for embedded firmware, cloud‑connected platforms, and mobile apps (iOS, Android). Deploy software QA metrics, regression testing, automation, CI/CD validation gates, and release readiness reviews across hybrid teams.
Drive quality across global partners, including manufacturing sites (e.g., Jabil, Flex) and offshore software development teams. Develop and implement rigorous quality planning, supplier audits, and integrated software‑plus‑hardware validation plans.
Work across engineering, product management, customer service, and operations teams to align quality deliverables and maintain accountability across the value chain. Translate customer incidents/VOCs into product and process improvement opportunities.
Leverage data analytics and software telemetry from mobile apps, embedded logs, and fleet systems to drive predictive insights. Implement dashboards to track in‑field performance, software crash trends, and end‑to‑end defect rates.
Execution Excellence
Oversee the process for ensuring that all products and services meet or exceed customer expectations and regulatory requirements. Establish and operate an integrated QA system across mechanical, electrical, embedded, and mobile software components.
Manage inspection and testing programs to verify conformance to requirements. Own quality participation in stage‑gate and launch governance, including setting quality exit criteria (e.g., defect thresholds, MTBF, beta validation results) and risk sign‑offs for product release.
Own field failure analysis, warranty risk modeling, and VOC‑based quality improvement. Monitor field telemetry data, lead RCCA investigations, and translate issues into design/process corrective actions.
Lead interactions with independent engineers, banks, and third‑party reviewers. Prepare technical documentation to support product bankability and certification (UL, IEC, ISO, NFPA, etc.).
Lead continuous‑improvement culture. Introduce best practices from leading innovators (Tesla, Enphase, Apple, SolarEdge). Cultivate zero‑defect mindset and execute Six Sigma/Lean initiatives.
Risk Management
Identify and mitigate risks associated with product quality, safety, environmental impact, and regulatory compliance.
Develop and implement risk mitigation strategies and contingency plans to address potential quality‑related issues.
Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Software, or Systems Engineering (Master’s or MBA a plus).
20+ years in product quality, reliability engineering, or systems QA, including:
10+ years leading multidisciplinary HW/SW/FW teams.
Proven experience with embedded systems and mobile/cloud software QA.
Quality leadership in electromechanical products (e.g., solar inverters, ESS, EVs, IoT).
Experience QA of renewable system components – AC modules, micro‑inverters, ESS; embedded firmware systems testing (unit, integration, system); mobile & cloud QA; ISO‑9001, ISO‑26262, ASPICE, UL, IEC, NFPA 855.
Managing quality across offshore development centers and partners; maintaining a single quality culture across multiple time zones.
Proficiency in reliability engineering tools (FMEA, Weibull, root‑cause), quality frameworks (ISO 9001, UL, IEC, NFPA, ISO 26262, ASPICE), and QA tools (Jira, Zephyr, TestRail, Jenkins, Python/R, Tableau, Power BI).
Demonstrated success supporting product certifications, independent engineering reviews, and customer audit engagements.
Excellent communicator, able to articulate risk, root cause, and roadmap to C‑suite, engineers, and external partners.
Strategic thinker with customer‑centric mindset, data‑driven rigor, and urgency to improve rapidly.
Physical, Mental & Environmental Demands Mobility: Standing 20% of time, Sitting 70%, Walking 10%. Strength: Pulling, Pushing, Carrying, Lifting up to 10 lb. Dexterity: Typing, Handling, Reaching – Frequent. Agility: Turning, Twisting – Frequent. Bending – Occasional. Crouching, Balancing, Climbing, Crawling, Kneeling – Never.
Equal Opportunity Employer All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.
Additional Information California Pay Transparency Act: The salary range above is for CA positions only and should not be interpreted as an offer of compensation. Actual compensation is influenced by education, experience, location, and role requirements. You may view your privacy rights by reviewing Qcells’ Privacy Policy or contacting our HR team.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Base Pay Range $240,000.00/yr - $300,000.00/yr
Job Description As Vice President of Quality Management at Hanwha Q CELLS America, you are responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive global quality strategy to ensure the delivery of high-quality, safe, reliable and compliant energy solutions. You will lead the end‑to‑end quality, reliability, and product release assurance for AC modules, microinverters, and energy storage systems (ESS) that combine complex electro‑mechanical, embedded firmware, and cloud/mobile software technologies. This is a senior executive leadership role charged with architecting and executing a world‑class quality management system across design, NPI, manufacturing, deployment and customer lifecycle.
You will lead cross‑functional quality efforts across firmware/software (mobile + embedded), hardware, and manufacturing operations, ensuring full integration and accountability across all product dimensions. You’ll oversee quality operations both domestically and offshore/nearshore development centers and distributed engineering teams, implementing an integrated QA discipline for complex, distributed product systems. This position reports to the Chief Product Officer and is based in Santa Clara, San Francisco, Bay Area, Irvine, CA, or remote.
TIME & LOCATION: Monday through Friday 8:00 am‑5:00 pm (flexible 9:00 am‑6:00 pm as needed). Overtime and weekend work may be required. Expected travel up to 20% for on‑site support, quality audits, troubleshooting or customer support.
Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership
Champion a culture of quality throughout the organization, promoting a mindset of continuous improvement, proactive problem‑solving, and accountability.
Define and lead a comprehensive quality roadmap that unifies hardware, embedded firmware, cloud infrastructure, and mobile apps under a cohesive strategy aligned to corporate OKRs, warranty exposure, and customer expectations.
Build and lead a structured quality program for embedded firmware, cloud‑connected platforms, and mobile apps (iOS, Android). Deploy software QA metrics, regression testing, automation, CI/CD validation gates, and release readiness reviews across hybrid teams.
Drive quality across global partners, including manufacturing sites (e.g., Jabil, Flex) and offshore software development teams. Develop and implement rigorous quality planning, supplier audits, and integrated software‑plus‑hardware validation plans.
Work across engineering, product management, customer service, and operations teams to align quality deliverables and maintain accountability across the value chain. Translate customer incidents/VOCs into product and process improvement opportunities.
Leverage data analytics and software telemetry from mobile apps, embedded logs, and fleet systems to drive predictive insights. Implement dashboards to track in‑field performance, software crash trends, and end‑to‑end defect rates.
Execution Excellence
Oversee the process for ensuring that all products and services meet or exceed customer expectations and regulatory requirements. Establish and operate an integrated QA system across mechanical, electrical, embedded, and mobile software components.
Manage inspection and testing programs to verify conformance to requirements. Own quality participation in stage‑gate and launch governance, including setting quality exit criteria (e.g., defect thresholds, MTBF, beta validation results) and risk sign‑offs for product release.
Own field failure analysis, warranty risk modeling, and VOC‑based quality improvement. Monitor field telemetry data, lead RCCA investigations, and translate issues into design/process corrective actions.
Lead interactions with independent engineers, banks, and third‑party reviewers. Prepare technical documentation to support product bankability and certification (UL, IEC, ISO, NFPA, etc.).
Lead continuous‑improvement culture. Introduce best practices from leading innovators (Tesla, Enphase, Apple, SolarEdge). Cultivate zero‑defect mindset and execute Six Sigma/Lean initiatives.
Risk Management
Identify and mitigate risks associated with product quality, safety, environmental impact, and regulatory compliance.
Develop and implement risk mitigation strategies and contingency plans to address potential quality‑related issues.
Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Software, or Systems Engineering (Master’s or MBA a plus).
20+ years in product quality, reliability engineering, or systems QA, including:
10+ years leading multidisciplinary HW/SW/FW teams.
Proven experience with embedded systems and mobile/cloud software QA.
Quality leadership in electromechanical products (e.g., solar inverters, ESS, EVs, IoT).
Experience QA of renewable system components – AC modules, micro‑inverters, ESS; embedded firmware systems testing (unit, integration, system); mobile & cloud QA; ISO‑9001, ISO‑26262, ASPICE, UL, IEC, NFPA 855.
Managing quality across offshore development centers and partners; maintaining a single quality culture across multiple time zones.
Proficiency in reliability engineering tools (FMEA, Weibull, root‑cause), quality frameworks (ISO 9001, UL, IEC, NFPA, ISO 26262, ASPICE), and QA tools (Jira, Zephyr, TestRail, Jenkins, Python/R, Tableau, Power BI).
Demonstrated success supporting product certifications, independent engineering reviews, and customer audit engagements.
Excellent communicator, able to articulate risk, root cause, and roadmap to C‑suite, engineers, and external partners.
Strategic thinker with customer‑centric mindset, data‑driven rigor, and urgency to improve rapidly.
Physical, Mental & Environmental Demands Mobility: Standing 20% of time, Sitting 70%, Walking 10%. Strength: Pulling, Pushing, Carrying, Lifting up to 10 lb. Dexterity: Typing, Handling, Reaching – Frequent. Agility: Turning, Twisting – Frequent. Bending – Occasional. Crouching, Balancing, Climbing, Crawling, Kneeling – Never.
Equal Opportunity Employer All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.
Additional Information California Pay Transparency Act: The salary range above is for CA positions only and should not be interpreted as an offer of compensation. Actual compensation is influenced by education, experience, location, and role requirements. You may view your privacy rights by reviewing Qcells’ Privacy Policy or contacting our HR team.
#J-18808-Ljbffr