Quality Assurance Lead Jobs in New Jersey
Quality Assurance Lead jobs in New Jersey are consistently in demand, concentrated in pharmaceuticals and life sciences, medical devices, and consumer packaged goods, with openings at every level from entry-level QA specialist to senior lead. The heaviest hiring is in and around Newark, Parsippany, and Princeton, where companies like Johnson and Johnson, Becton Dickinson, and Merck maintain major operations. The most sought-after specialties include GMP compliance, regulatory affairs quality, and software or systems quality assurance. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 4 of 96+ Quality Assurance Lead jobs
Position Overview
We are seeking a highly analytical, proactive, and detail-oriented QA/QC Associate to
join our cannabis cultivation and manufacturing team. In this vital role, you will ensure
that products meet rigorous internal quality standards and strict state regulations by
performing comprehensive inspections, audits, and technical measurements throughout
the entire production lifecycle. Your expertise will uphold compliance with Good
Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and state cannabis rules, utilizing advanced tools,
quality systems, and Metrc to deliver safe, consistent, and exceptional products that
meet consumer expectations.
Key Responsibilities
- Metrc Compliance &Tracking: Audit, verify, and maintain the integrity of all plant and package tags within the Metrc system. Ensure every physical batch accurately mirrors its digital footprint in Metrc before moving across production stages.
- Precision Technical Inspections: Conduct detailed inspections of raw cannabis material, in-process extractions, packaging, and finished goods. Use precision measuring instruments and scales to verify dimensional accuracy, weight tolerances, and mechanical blueprint compliance for hardware components (e.g. vape cartridges)
- Sampling & Lab Coordination: Collect representative product samples for internal testing and manage the creation of compliance test samples in Metrc. Coordinate sample transfers to certified third-party analytical laboratories for mandatory potency and contaminant screening.
- Regulatory Compliance Auditing: Perform regular quality audits in accordance with GMP, HACCP, and state cannabis control board rules to ensure compliance across cultivation, extraction, processing, and distribution.
- Data Analysis & Corrective Action: Analyze technical measurement data and lab inspection results to identify deviations from quality standards. Recommend and help implement corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) to optimize production processes.
- Documentation & Records Management: Maintain flawless, real-time records of quality control activities, including batch records, inspection reports, audit logs, and non-conformance reports (NCRs). Cross-reference physical paperwork with Metrc records to prevent regulatory discrepancies.
- Blueprint & Document Interpretation: Interpret manufacturing documentation, SOPs, technical drawings, and specifications to validate product conformity and packaging compliance.
- Calibration Support: Support the calibration, cleaning, and maintenance of laboratory testing instruments, precision measurement tools, and legal-for-trade scales to ensure ongoing measurement accuracy.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with cultivation, extraction, and packaging teams to implement QA procedures, resolve quality deviations, and drive continuous manufacturing excellence.
- Facility Hygiene & Sanitation: Monitor facility cleanliness, sanitation logs, and employee adherence to personal protective equipment (PPE) to ensure a sterile, contamination-free environment.
Qualifications &Requirements
- Experience: 1–2 years of hands-on QA/QC experience in a regulated manufacturing environment, such as cannabis, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, or food processing.
- Metrc Expertise: Proven experience utilizing Metrc. A deep understanding of creating manifests, managing package tags, and resolving Metrc inventory discrepancies is highly preferred.
- Regulatory Knowledge: Deep understanding of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and state-specific cannabis compliance frameworks.
- Technical & Mechanical Skills: Strong mechanical aptitude, including the ability to interpret technical specifications, read mechanical blueprints, and utilize precision measurement tools and calibrated scales.
- Core Competencies: Attention to detail, data-collection skills, and basic math skills required for precise measurements, batch calculations, and data logs.
- Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills for documenting technical findings clearly and collaborating with cross-functional teams.
- Age Legal Requirements: Must be at least 21 years old.
Physical Demands
- Ability to stand, walk, and bend for extended periods during facility inspection and manufacturing line audits.
- Ability to lift up to 30–50 pounds occasionally for material and component handling.
- Comfort wearing required personal protective equipment (PPE), hairnets, lab coats, and gloves in production and cleanroom areas.
Pay: $19.00 - $21.00 per hour
Expected hours: 40.0 per week
Work Location: In person
Position Overview
We are seeking a highly analytical, proactive, and detail-oriented QA/QC Associate to
join our cannabis cultivation and manufacturing team. In this vital role, you will ensure
that products meet rigorous internal quality standards and strict state regulations by
performing comprehensive inspections, audits, and technical measurements throughout
the entire production lifecycle. Your expertise will uphold compliance with Good
Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and state cannabis rules, utilizing advanced tools,
quality systems, and Metrc to deliver safe, consistent, and exceptional products that
meet consumer expectations.
Key Responsibilities
- Metrc Compliance &Tracking: Audit, verify, and maintain the integrity of all plant and package tags within the Metrc system. Ensure every physical batch accurately mirrors its digital footprint in Metrc before moving across production stages.
- Precision Technical Inspections: Conduct detailed inspections of raw cannabis material, in-process extractions, packaging, and finished goods. Use precision measuring instruments and scales to verify dimensional accuracy, weight tolerances, and mechanical blueprint compliance for hardware components (e.g. vape cartridges)
- Sampling & Lab Coordination: Collect representative product samples for internal testing and manage the creation of compliance test samples in Metrc. Coordinate sample transfers to certified third-party analytical laboratories for mandatory potency and contaminant screening.
- Regulatory Compliance Auditing: Perform regular quality audits in accordance with GMP, HACCP, and state cannabis control board rules to ensure compliance across cultivation, extraction, processing, and distribution.
- Data Analysis & Corrective Action: Analyze technical measurement data and lab inspection results to identify deviations from quality standards. Recommend and help implement corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) to optimize production processes.
- Documentation & Records Management: Maintain flawless, real-time records of quality control activities, including batch records, inspection reports, audit logs, and non-conformance reports (NCRs). Cross-reference physical paperwork with Metrc records to prevent regulatory discrepancies.
- Blueprint & Document Interpretation: Interpret manufacturing documentation, SOPs, technical drawings, and specifications to validate product conformity and packaging compliance.
- Calibration Support: Support the calibration, cleaning, and maintenance of laboratory testing instruments, precision measurement tools, and legal-for-trade scales to ensure ongoing measurement accuracy.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with cultivation, extraction, and packaging teams to implement QA procedures, resolve quality deviations, and drive continuous manufacturing excellence.
- Facility Hygiene & Sanitation: Monitor facility cleanliness, sanitation logs, and employee adherence to personal protective equipment (PPE) to ensure a sterile, contamination-free environment.
Qualifications &Requirements
- Experience: 1–2 years of hands-on QA/QC experience in a regulated manufacturing environment, such as cannabis, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, or food processing.
- Metrc Expertise: Proven experience utilizing Metrc. A deep understanding of creating manifests, managing package tags, and resolving Metrc inventory discrepancies is highly preferred.
- Regulatory Knowledge: Deep understanding of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and state-specific cannabis compliance frameworks.
- Technical & Mechanical Skills: Strong mechanical aptitude, including the ability to interpret technical specifications, read mechanical blueprints, and utilize precision measurement tools and calibrated scales.
- Core Competencies: Attention to detail, data-collection skills, and basic math skills required for precise measurements, batch calculations, and data logs.
- Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills for documenting technical findings clearly and collaborating with cross-functional teams.
- Age Legal Requirements: Must be at least 21 years old.
Physical Demands
- Ability to stand, walk, and bend for extended periods during facility inspection and manufacturing line audits.
- Ability to lift up to 30–50 pounds occasionally for material and component handling.
- Comfort wearing required personal protective equipment (PPE), hairnets, lab coats, and gloves in production and cleanroom areas.
Pay: $19.00 - $21.00 per hour
Expected hours: 40.0 per week
Work Location: In person
See All 96 Quality Assurance Lead Jobs in New Jersey
Find roles in New Jersey that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Quality Assurance Lead JobsQuality Assurance Lead Jobs by City in New Jersey
Where New Jersey roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Quality Assurance Lead Job Market in New Jersey
A snapshot from current New Jersey openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Medical Devices
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals
- Retail
- Science & Research
- Technology & Software
What New Jersey Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in quality assurance lead jobs across New Jersey.
- Bachelor's degree in life sciences, engineering, or a related field required
- Demonstrated experience with GMP, ISO 9001, or FDA regulatory compliance frameworks
- Proven ability to lead root cause analysis and corrective action processes
- Hands-on experience with quality management systems such as Veeva or MasterControl
- Strong familiarity with New Jersey pharmaceutical or medical device manufacturing environments
- ASQ Certified Quality Auditor or Certified Quality Engineer credential preferred by employers
Quality Assurance Lead Jobs in New Jersey: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a quality assurance lead in New Jersey?
Most quality assurance lead roles in New Jersey require a bachelor's degree in a life sciences, engineering, or technical discipline, since no state-issued license is required for the role itself. Employers in the pharmaceutical and medical device sectors, which dominate New Jersey hiring, strongly prefer candidates with hands-on GMP or FDA-regulated environment experience. Earning an ASQ credential such as the Certified Quality Engineer or Certified Quality Auditor meaningfully strengthens a candidacy in this market.
How much do quality assurance leads make in New Jersey?
Quality assurance leads in New Jersey earn a median of about $119,470 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $70,150 for the lowest 10% to over $168,680 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire quality assurance leads in New Jersey?
Employers hiring quality assurance leads in New Jersey right now include SGS, MIAX, and MICRO, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 2026. New Jersey's deep concentration of pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device headquarters makes it one of the most active states in the country for quality assurance hiring at the lead level.
Which New Jersey cities have the most quality assurance lead jobs?
The cities with the most quality assurance lead openings in New Jersey are Princeton, Edison, and East Windsor. This distribution reflects the corridor of pharmaceutical and life sciences headquarters and manufacturing sites running through central and northern New Jersey, with suburban corporate campuses in areas like Parsippany and Princeton driving significant volume outside the major cities.
Are there remote quality assurance lead jobs in New Jersey?
Yes, but they are less common than in purely analytical fields, since many quality assurance lead roles require on-site presence for audits, lab oversight, or manufacturing floor activities. About 32% of quality assurance lead openings tied to New Jersey are remote or hybrid as of October 2026. The portions of the role most amenable to remote work include documentation review, supplier quality management, and regulatory submissions support.
How can I get hired as a quality assurance lead in New Jersey with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is starting as a quality assurance associate or QA specialist at one of New Jersey's pharmaceutical or medical device companies, then building toward a lead role through demonstrated ownership of investigations and audits. Large employers in the state regularly hire recent graduates with life sciences degrees into rotational quality programs or associate-level roles that develop the skills needed for a lead position. Earning an entry-level ASQ certification and gaining familiarity with a quality management system like Veeva gives candidates a concrete edge when competing for those openings.
Where can I find and apply to quality assurance lead jobs in New Jersey?
You can find and apply to quality assurance lead jobs in New Jersey on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from employers hiring in the state right now. Search the listings to find roles that match your experience and specialization, and apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 96 Quality Assurance Lead Jobs in New Jersey
Find roles in New Jersey that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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