Quality Engineer

About Blue Robotics

Blue Robotics makes affordable, high-quality hardware and software for marine robotics - from underwater thrusters and ROVs to autonomous surface vehicles and the software that runs them. What does this really mean? We design cool tech for use underwater that allows tons of people and organizations to pursue their audacious dreams of exploring and learning about our oceans and waterways.

As our products become more advanced and our production volume increases, maintaining strong, scalable quality systems is critical to ensuring reliability in the field. We are looking for a Quality Engineer who will take ownership of both day-to-day inspection operations and long-term quality system development across manufacturing, new product introduction, and field support.

This role sits at the center of our manufacturing and engineering teams, working closely with production, supply chain, and design engineering to ensure that quality is built into every stage of the product lifecycle-from incoming materials through final assembly and field performance.

The ideal candidate is hands-on, highly detail-oriented, and comfortable working in a fast-moving manufacturing environment where they will directly shape inspection systems, measurement methods, and corrective actions that improve product reliability at scale.

Key Responsibilities

Quality Operations & Inspection

• Manage and support the incoming and production inspection teams.
• Oversee incoming inspections for machined, molded, electronic, and assembled components using tools such as calipers, pin gauges, thread gauges, hardness testers, and other metrology equipment.
• Improve production inspection standards and visual inspection processes to better identify cosmetic and assembly-related defects.
• Ensure inspection findings are properly documented, tracked, and communicated to the appropriate teams.
• Own and manage the MRB (Material Review Board) process, including disposition coordination and cross-functional resolution of non-conforming materials.
• Generate and maintain FAIRs (First Article Inspection Reports) and other inspection records.
• Design and develop Go/No-Go gauges and inspection fixtures to support efficient and repeatable part inspection.

Quality Systems & Documentation

• Maintain and improve the systems used to capture and manage quality data and workflows, including Smartsheet, Google Sheets, Google Slides, Dozuki documentation, and related tools.
• Improve inspection procedures, documentation, training materials, and reporting processes.
• Develop and maintain quality metrics and weekly quality reports for production and operations teams.
• Own and manage the product deviation process.
• Help establish scalable quality systems that support company growth and new product introductions.

New Product Development Support

• Review engineering drawings and collaborate with engineering teams to identify critical dimensions, tolerances, and inspection requirements.
• Develop practical inspection methods and measurement strategies for new parts and assemblies.
• Support prototype and pre-production inspection activities.
• Own and operate the company CMM (Coordinate Measuring Machine) for new product inspections and advanced dimensional verification.
• Design and build fixtures for securing parts on the CMM to ensure repeatability, reduce setup time, and improve measurement consistency.
• Assist engineering teams with DFM/DFA feedback related to manufacturability and inspectability.

Problem Solving & Corrective Actions

• Investigate root causes of quality issues and drive corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
• Work closely with customer support teams to troubleshoot field failures and identify trends in customer-reported issues.
• Generate supplier quality reports and communicate findings to the supply chain team for supplier follow-up and corrective actions.
• Partner with production, operations, and engineering teams to reduce defects and improve process consistency.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or a related field.
• 4-6 years of experience in quality engineering.
• Expert knowledge of metrology tools and gauges.
• Advanced understanding of GD&T Principles
• Strong knowledge of quality management principles, tools, and methodologies.
• Excellent problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify and resolve complex quality issues.
• Fantastic communication skills and the ability to interact with cross-functional teams and hold people accountable for their work.
• Ability to lead cross-functional root cause analysis (RCA) efforts and drive corrective action implementation
• Detail-oriented and self-motivated, with a passion for delivering high-quality products and improving processes.
• Ability to travel internationally roughly 10% of the time
• Must currently reside within commuting distance of Torrance, CA. This is a fully onsite role five days a week with no remote flexibility.

Perks, Pay & More

• Location: Onsite, Torrance, CA
• Medical, dental and vision insurance
• Basic Life and AD&D coverage
• Voluntary Life Insurance
• 401(k) + 4% Match
• Paid parental leave
• Paid time off + Paid Holidays
• Team lunches and other fun events