Director, Quality Engineering

At Benchmark, we are driven by our purpose: to innovate for a healthier, safer, and better-connected world to create a brighter future. When you join us, you become part of a team passionate about making a meaningful impact across various sectors, including commercial aerospace, defense, advanced computing, next-generation communications, complex industrials, medical, and semiconductor capital equipment. We prioritize career growth, fostering a culture that ensures you reach your full potential. At Benchmark, your work is purpose-driven, enabling you to create a positive impact on the world and make your career truly meaningful. You’ll be part of a collaborative, diverse, and inclusive team that values your ideas and contributions.

Summary:
The Director Quality Engineering plans, develops and implements a quality engineering program tailored to meet customer requirements and consistent with applicable certifications and standards. Drives continuous improvement through the implementation of quality engineering projects, global capability program and quality mentoring within Benchmark’s manufacturing operations. This position requires a prior background working for an EMS/CM or Electronics OEM and experience within Aerospace/DoD and Medical Device.

Responsibilities:

• Prior EMS experience or experience with PCBA manufacturing. ISO 13485 and AS 9001 ISO 9100. Prior Medical Device and Aerospace Defense manufacturing.
• Ensures that supplier and customer material and product quality levels are at the highest level of acceptance to support Benchmark’s reputation and be at anticipated cost levels.
• Is the primary customer interface for all Quality Engineering discussions and issues in support of the Quality Engineering staff.
• Understands customer expectations and supplier capabilities and recommends enhancements to improve yields and product build efficiency through the leadership of the Quality Engineering staff.
• Coordinates new process introductions with Manufacturing.
• Develops quality targets for new processes by reviewing contracts, determining the contractual quality requirements and clarifying interpretations when required and developing quality indicator measurements early in the program.
• Oversees critical product components and coordinates supplier quality requirements with the Supplier Quality group in the Supply Chain organization.
• Disseminates quality requirements to all groups involved in order to ensure that the delivered products meet contractual requirements.
• Drives the resolution of corrective actions on in-house and field product quality programs.
• Leads process improvement opportunities as an active participant or team player in the improvement process.
• Takes ownership for in-process Material Review Board (MRB) and maintains a rigid schedule for MRB meetings and ensures MRB location inventories are kept to a minimum.
• Identifies and implements new product capability improvement practices and processes that are “best in class”.
• Develops and maintains the process capability system by driving the expansion and use of SPC and DOE techniques.
• Establishes and oversees department budget.
• Manages Inspection and Process Audit resources to match production requirements and seeks continuous improvements in these areas to further reduce the dependency on Inspection.
• Supports the Quality Process Audit program and institutes random audits to ensure that quality targets are being met.
• Maintains state-of-the-art knowledge by keeping abreast of new techniques and methods by way of contacts with other industries, current publications, advanced education and memberships in professional societies/organizations.
• Maintains an effective employee unit through appropriate employee selection, training and development, motivation and discipline, performance evaluation and wage salary treatment.

Other information:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Effective interpersonal skills.
• Effective multitasking skills and the ability to take on additional responsibilities as required.
• Effective organization and prioritization skills.
• Demonstrate high attention to detail.
• Ability to work with diverse groups.
• Demonstrates discretion, confidentiality, independent judgment and professionalism.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision and guidance, exercising discretion and independent judgment.
• Understanding of and ability to use continuous improvement tools.
• Strong customer service and client focus.
• Working knowledge of productivity tools, including Microsoft Office products and Teams conferencing software.
• Demonstrated leadership and people management skills including ability to effectively coach and mentor employees at all levels.
• Enthusiastic and motivational communicator with multi-cultural experience.
• Demonstrates effective customer interface skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to interact and influence individuals, internally and externally, across all levels, functions and geographies.
• Use of discretion with the ability to gain trust of business leaders and others to discuss and respond to sensitive and business critical issues.
• Effective negotiation and problem-solving skills.
• Effective analytical, planning and organizational skills.
• Collaborate and influence cross functional peer leaders in order to obtain support for process improvements.
• Solid financial understanding, risk analysis ability, relationship building and project management.
• 4 year Engineering or Technical degree preferred or equivalent combination of education and experience as approved by executive management.
• 10+ years of experience in Quality Systems/Engineering; including at least 8 years in a supervisory role required.
• Six Sigma Black Belt or Master Black Belt preferred.
• Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) and/or Certified Qualified Auditor (CQA) strongly desired.
• Proven Lean implementation experience in an electronics manufacturing environment.
• Understanding of and ability to use continuous improvement tools.
• Ability to support a 24/7 global business operation as required.
• Effective analytical, planning and organizational skills.
• Effective interpersonal skills with employees and customers.
• Effective negotiation and problem solving skills.
• Demonstrate discretion, confidentiality, independent judgment and professionalism when representing the company.
• Demonstrate teamwork and the ability to operate on diverse project teams with minimal direction.
• Solid financial understanding, risk analysis ability, relationship building and project management skills.
• Ability to read, analyze, interpret and communicate regarding common scientific and/or technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents.
• Lead or participate in a continuous improvements activity with complete documentation, including a follow up review with the team in a presentation format.
• Available for travel up to 25-40% of the time, including day, overnight and international travel as required.

Education: Bachelor's Degree, MBA preferred

Geographical Location: New Hampshire:Nashua

Physical Location: Nashua, NH

Shift: Shift 1

Work Schedule: M-F 0800-1700

Full Time

Export Control: This job position may include access to controlled information or technology covered under applicable U.S. export control laws. As such, employment for this job position may be contingent on either verification that an applicant falls under the definition of a “U.S. Person” (which includes U.S. citizens, U.S. lawful permanent residents, and those granted U.S. asylum or refugee status) or on the Company timely obtaining any necessary export license required under federal laws. The Company evaluates such export license situations on a case-by-case basis and may decline to proceed with a job applicant in its sole discretion since export license applications can take many weeks to be processed.

In our innovative environment, you'll work with cutting-edge technology, leading the way in engineering design and delivering world-class manufacturing services for products that make a real difference in the lives of others. At Benchmark, your career is more than just a job. It’s an opportunity to be part of something bigger, where your work matters and helps shape a brighter future for everyone. Together, we will achieve extraordinary things.

Benchmark is an equal opportunity employer. We are bringing together a diverse workforce with unique talents, life experiences, cultures, and perspectives to promote an innovative, collaborative, and creative place to work. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please email us at