Quality Control Technician Lead

IPG Photonics is revolutionizing the laser industry as the pioneering developer and leading producer of fiber lasers and amplifiers. Headquartered in Marlborough, MA, IPG has over 4,800 employees in more than 30 locations around the world. We aspire to work together with our employees and customers to apply light in ways that improve life.

Our mission is to develop innovative laser solutions to make the world a better place. To accomplish this mission, we are committed to attracting and retaining the best talent and an engaged and thriving workforce that drives a sustainable future for our company and society.

Working at IPG Photonics, you can expect challenging projects, a motivating and friendly environment, and competitive benefits.

The Technician Lead – Quality Control is a highly skilled quality specialist who coordinates daily technical work and ensures incoming materials, subassemblies, and finished laser systems meet engineering specifications, approved inspection criteria, and ISO 9001 quality-system requirements. Working with limited day-to-day instruction, this role performs and verifies complex inspections, resolves varied and non-routine quality issues, recommends improved methods and procedures, and serves as the technical escalation point for the vendor quality. The position provides work direction, training, and coaching without formal people-management responsibility and is accountable for the quality and timeliness of assigned deliverables.

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate and prioritize daily incoming, in-process, and final inspection activities to support production schedules, material availability, and customer delivery requirements.
• Perform and verify complex dimensional, optical, electrical, and functional inspections of optical components, laser assemblies, electronic modules, and precision mechanical parts using calibrated inspection and test equipment.
• Interpret engineering drawings, specifications, geometric dimensioning and tolerancing, work instructions, sampling plans, and acceptance criteria; clarify technical requirements with Engineering and Quality when needed.
• Independently select, adapt, and document inspection methods for varied or non-routine assignments while remaining within approved quality-system requirements.
• Serve as the first technical escalation point for inspection discrepancies, measurement concerns, and product-quality issues; contain suspect material and stop or hold work when requirements are not met.
• Initiate and lead nonconformance investigations, support Material Review Board activities, and recommend evidence-based dispositions within delegated authority.
• Lead or support root cause analysis using appropriate problem-solving methods and implement and verify corrective and preventive actions for recurring quality issues.
• Apply Statistical Process Control, control charts, trend analysis, and process capability techniques to monitor critical characteristics, identify variation, and recommend corrective action.
• Develop, improve, and maintain inspection plans, test methods, work instructions, checklists, and quality records; recommend new procedures or changes that improve accuracy, consistency, and cycle time.
• Verify the proper use, condition, and calibration status of inspection equipment and support measurement-system studies, equipment qualification, and control of monitoring and measuring resources.
• Review inspection results and quality documentation for completeness, accuracy, traceability, and compliance before product release or escalation.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Supplier Quality to resolve quality issues, improve supplier and process performance, and prevent defects or escapes.
• Support internal, customer, and regulatory audits by providing accurate records, explaining inspection controls, and completing assigned follow-up actions.
• Monitor and communicate quality indicators such as first-pass yield, defect trends, inspection turnaround time, rework, and escapes; lead practical continuous-improvement actions.
• Follow and reinforce company requirements for quality, safety, housekeeping, and controlled handling of materials and products.

Qualifications

• Associate degree, technical diploma, or recognized vocational certification in quality, manufacturing, engineering technology, electronics, optics, or a related field preferred; equivalent relevant experience will be considered.
• Typically 4–6 years of related quality inspection or manufacturing experience, including demonstrated responsibility for complex inspection work and coaching or guiding other technicians.
• Advanced ability to read engineering drawings and specifications and apply dimensional inspection methods; working knowledge of geometric dimensioning and tolerancing is preferred.
• Proficiency with relevant inspection and test equipment, which may include calipers, micrometers, height gages, CMMs, optical comparators, power meters, beam profilers, and electrical test equipment.
• Strong working knowledge of ISO 9001 quality-management-system requirements and practical experience with nonconformance control, MRB, CAPA, audits, and document control.
• Demonstrated ability to use SPC, trend analysis, process capability, and structured root cause analysis to solve quality problems and recommend improvements.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain technical findings, influence corrective action, and work effectively across functions.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and experience entering, analyzing, and retrieving data in quality, manufacturing, or enterprise systems.
• Experience in laser, electro-optical, electronic, or other high-precision manufacturing is preferred.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand for extended periods and perform repetitive inspection tasks.
• Good hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity for handling precision components and measurement equipment.
• Ability to lift and move materials weighing up to 50 pounds occasionally, with appropriate assistance or equipment as required.

IPG Photonics is revolutionizing the laser industry as the pioneering developer and leading producer of fiber lasers and amplifiers. Headquartered in Marlborough, MA, IPG has over 4,800 employees in more than 30 locations around the world. We aspire to work together with our employees and customers to apply light in ways that improve life.

Our mission is to develop innovative laser solutions to make the world a better place. To accomplish this mission, we are committed to attracting and retaining the best talent and an engaged and thriving workforce that drives a sustainable future for our company and society.

Working at IPG Photonics, you can expect challenging projects, a motivating and friendly environment, and competitive benefits.

The Technician Lead – Quality Control is a highly skilled quality specialist who coordinates daily technical work and ensures incoming materials, subassemblies, and finished laser systems meet engineering specifications, approved inspection criteria, and ISO 9001 quality-system requirements. Working with limited day-to-day instruction, this role performs and verifies complex inspections, resolves varied and non-routine quality issues, recommends improved methods and procedures, and serves as the technical escalation point for the vendor quality. The position provides work direction, training, and coaching without formal people-management responsibility and is accountable for the quality and timeliness of assigned deliverables.

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate and prioritize daily incoming, in-process, and final inspection activities to support production schedules, material availability, and customer delivery requirements.
• Perform and verify complex dimensional, optical, electrical, and functional inspections of optical components, laser assemblies, electronic modules, and precision mechanical parts using calibrated inspection and test equipment.
• Interpret engineering drawings, specifications, geometric dimensioning and tolerancing, work instructions, sampling plans, and acceptance criteria; clarify technical requirements with Engineering and Quality when needed.
• Independently select, adapt, and document inspection methods for varied or non-routine assignments while remaining within approved quality-system requirements.
• Serve as the first technical escalation point for inspection discrepancies, measurement concerns, and product-quality issues; contain suspect material and stop or hold work when requirements are not met.
• Initiate and lead nonconformance investigations, support Material Review Board activities, and recommend evidence-based dispositions within delegated authority.
• Lead or support root cause analysis using appropriate problem-solving methods and implement and verify corrective and preventive actions for recurring quality issues.
• Apply Statistical Process Control, control charts, trend analysis, and process capability techniques to monitor critical characteristics, identify variation, and recommend corrective action.
• Develop, improve, and maintain inspection plans, test methods, work instructions, checklists, and quality records; recommend new procedures or changes that improve accuracy, consistency, and cycle time.
• Verify the proper use, condition, and calibration status of inspection equipment and support measurement-system studies, equipment qualification, and control of monitoring and measuring resources.
• Review inspection results and quality documentation for completeness, accuracy, traceability, and compliance before product release or escalation.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Supplier Quality to resolve quality issues, improve supplier and process performance, and prevent defects or escapes.
• Support internal, customer, and regulatory audits by providing accurate records, explaining inspection controls, and completing assigned follow-up actions.
• Monitor and communicate quality indicators such as first-pass yield, defect trends, inspection turnaround time, rework, and escapes; lead practical continuous-improvement actions.
• Follow and reinforce company requirements for quality, safety, housekeeping, and controlled handling of materials and products.

Qualifications

• Associate degree, technical diploma, or recognized vocational certification in quality, manufacturing, engineering technology, electronics, optics, or a related field preferred; equivalent relevant experience will be considered.
• Typically 4–6 years of related quality inspection or manufacturing experience, including demonstrated responsibility for complex inspection work and coaching or guiding other technicians.
• Advanced ability to read engineering drawings and specifications and apply dimensional inspection methods; working knowledge of geometric dimensioning and tolerancing is preferred.
• Proficiency with relevant inspection and test equipment, which may include calipers, micrometers, height gages, CMMs, optical comparators, power meters, beam profilers, and electrical test equipment.
• Strong working knowledge of ISO 9001 quality-management-system requirements and practical experience with nonconformance control, MRB, CAPA, audits, and document control.
• Demonstrated ability to use SPC, trend analysis, process capability, and structured root cause analysis to solve quality problems and recommend improvements.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain technical findings, influence corrective action, and work effectively across functions.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and experience entering, analyzing, and retrieving data in quality, manufacturing, or enterprise systems.
• Experience in laser, electro-optical, electronic, or other high-precision manufacturing is preferred.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand for extended periods and perform repetitive inspection tasks.
• Good hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity for handling precision components and measurement equipment.
• Ability to lift and move materials weighing up to 50 pounds occasionally, with appropriate assistance or equipment as required.