Quality Engineer Jobs in San Diego, CA
Quality Engineer jobs in San Diego are concentrated in defense and aerospace along the Sorrento Valley and Miramar corridors, medical devices in Torrey Pines and Kearny Mesa, and biotech clusters around La Jolla, with employers across those sectors actively filling roles. Employers hiring right now include Katalyst Healthcares & Life Sciences, Apple, and Northrop Grumman. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Showing 4 of 613+ Quality Engineer jobs
At Zimmer Biomet, we believe in pushing the boundaries of innovation and driving our mission forward. As a global medical technology leader for nearly 100 years, a patient’s mobility is enhanced by a Zimmer Biomet product or technology every 8 seconds.
As a Zimmer Biomet team member, you will share in our commitment to providing mobility and renewed life to people around the world. To support our talent team, we focus on development opportunities, robust employee resource groups (ERGs), a flexible working environment, location specific competitive total rewards, wellness incentives and a culture of recognition and performance awards. We are committed to creating an environment where every team member feels included, respected, empowered and recognised.
What You Can Expect
The Quality Engineer serves as the process owner and technical leader for assigned Quality Engineering processes, ensuring effective implementation, compliance, and continuous improvement. The role provides Quality Engineering leadership across manufacturing and quality activities, including NCMR, CAPA, , calibration and preventive maintenance, and process improvement.
How You'll Create Impact
- Lead and/or oversee NCMR and CAPA processes, ensuring thorough and scientific based investigations identify the true root cause rather than a proximate cause, along with risk-based impact assessments, effective corrective actions, effectiveness checks, and timely closure.
- Analyze quality metrics and trends to identify recurring issues, potential product and process risks, and opportunities for preventive action and continuous improvement. Use risk-based approaches to prioritize quality issues and determine appropriate actions.
- Own and maintain the Equipment Calibration and Preventive Maintenance Program, ensuring equipment is properly calibrated, maintained, documented, and suitable for its intended use based on applicable quality and risk requirements.
- Lead or support evaluation of out-of-specifications calibration results and equipment failures, including risk-based assessment of potential impact on product quality, processes, and previously accepted product, and initiation of appropriate quality actions.
- Support the Sterilization Quality Assurance Program, including process monitoring, quality reviews, investigations, risk-based evaluation of sterilization-related issues, and annual sterilization quality review activities.
- Lead and/or participate in internal and external audits, including preparation, execution, response to findings, risk-based evaluation of audit observations, and corrective action follow-up.
- Identify and address quality system and compliance gaps, assessing associated risks and driving appropriate corrective and preventive actions.
- Develop, review, and improve quality procedures, SOPs, Work Instructions, specifications, and other controlled documents within assigned processes.
- Support regulatory and quality initiatives and promote a strong quality culture, risk-based decision-making, compliance mindset, and proactive problem-solving approach.
What Makes You Stand Out
- Ability to work within a team environment and build relationships outside of the department as well as outside the company (suppliers, regulatory agencies, etc.).
- Ability to deliver, meet deadlines and have results orientation.
- Able to communicate both orally and in written form to multiple levels of the company.
- Demonstrates characteristics of high potential for future development opportunities.
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Knowledge of blueprint reading and geometric dimensioning and tolerancing, basic understanding of QSR/ISO regulations, design assurance, FMEA, and product testing methods, and can use optical comparators and CMMs.
- Strong process ownership and leadership skills
- Highly detail-oriented and organized
- Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills
- Ability to analyze data, identify trends, and make risk-based decisions
- Strong follow-through, accountability, and time-management skills
Your Background
- B.S. in engineering or an alternative Bachelor’s degree program with certification as a quality engineer (e.g. CQE).
- 2-4 years of work experience.
- Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) and Medical device is a plus
- Combination of education and experience may be considered (in evaluating experience relative to requirements)
- Experience with NCMR, CAPA, root cause analysis, risk management, change control, audits, product release, and continuous improvement.
- Experience managing or supporting equipment calibration and preventive maintenance programs
Physical Requirements
Travel Expectations
Up to 15%
Salary Expectations:
$80,000-$95,000
EOE/M/F/Vet/Disability
At Zimmer Biomet, we believe in pushing the boundaries of innovation and driving our mission forward. As a global medical technology leader for nearly 100 years, a patient’s mobility is enhanced by a Zimmer Biomet product or technology every 8 seconds.
As a Zimmer Biomet team member, you will share in our commitment to providing mobility and renewed life to people around the world. To support our talent team, we focus on development opportunities, robust employee resource groups (ERGs), a flexible working environment, location specific competitive total rewards, wellness incentives and a culture of recognition and performance awards. We are committed to creating an environment where every team member feels included, respected, empowered and recognised.
What You Can Expect
The Quality Engineer serves as the process owner and technical leader for assigned Quality Engineering processes, ensuring effective implementation, compliance, and continuous improvement. The role provides Quality Engineering leadership across manufacturing and quality activities, including NCMR, CAPA, , calibration and preventive maintenance, and process improvement.
How You'll Create Impact
- Lead and/or oversee NCMR and CAPA processes, ensuring thorough and scientific based investigations identify the true root cause rather than a proximate cause, along with risk-based impact assessments, effective corrective actions, effectiveness checks, and timely closure.
- Analyze quality metrics and trends to identify recurring issues, potential product and process risks, and opportunities for preventive action and continuous improvement. Use risk-based approaches to prioritize quality issues and determine appropriate actions.
- Own and maintain the Equipment Calibration and Preventive Maintenance Program, ensuring equipment is properly calibrated, maintained, documented, and suitable for its intended use based on applicable quality and risk requirements.
- Lead or support evaluation of out-of-specifications calibration results and equipment failures, including risk-based assessment of potential impact on product quality, processes, and previously accepted product, and initiation of appropriate quality actions.
- Support the Sterilization Quality Assurance Program, including process monitoring, quality reviews, investigations, risk-based evaluation of sterilization-related issues, and annual sterilization quality review activities.
- Lead and/or participate in internal and external audits, including preparation, execution, response to findings, risk-based evaluation of audit observations, and corrective action follow-up.
- Identify and address quality system and compliance gaps, assessing associated risks and driving appropriate corrective and preventive actions.
- Develop, review, and improve quality procedures, SOPs, Work Instructions, specifications, and other controlled documents within assigned processes.
- Support regulatory and quality initiatives and promote a strong quality culture, risk-based decision-making, compliance mindset, and proactive problem-solving approach.
What Makes You Stand Out
- Ability to work within a team environment and build relationships outside of the department as well as outside the company (suppliers, regulatory agencies, etc.).
- Ability to deliver, meet deadlines and have results orientation.
- Able to communicate both orally and in written form to multiple levels of the company.
- Demonstrates characteristics of high potential for future development opportunities.
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Knowledge of blueprint reading and geometric dimensioning and tolerancing, basic understanding of QSR/ISO regulations, design assurance, FMEA, and product testing methods, and can use optical comparators and CMMs.
- Strong process ownership and leadership skills
- Highly detail-oriented and organized
- Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills
- Ability to analyze data, identify trends, and make risk-based decisions
- Strong follow-through, accountability, and time-management skills
Your Background
- B.S. in engineering or an alternative Bachelor’s degree program with certification as a quality engineer (e.g. CQE).
- 2-4 years of work experience.
- Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) and Medical device is a plus
- Combination of education and experience may be considered (in evaluating experience relative to requirements)
- Experience with NCMR, CAPA, root cause analysis, risk management, change control, audits, product release, and continuous improvement.
- Experience managing or supporting equipment calibration and preventive maintenance programs
Physical Requirements
Travel Expectations
Up to 15%
Salary Expectations:
$80,000-$95,000
EOE/M/F/Vet/Disability
See All 613+ Quality Engineer Jobs in San Diego
Find roles in San Diego that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Quality Engineer JobsQuality Engineer Job Market in San Diego
Who's Hiring
- Katalyst Healthcares & Life Sciences74
- Apple56
- Northrop Grumman56
- Zimmer Biomet37
- Modular Medical37
Top Industries Hiring
- Electronics & Hardware56
- Consulting & Professional Services37
- Insurance19
- Banking & Financial Services19
Quality Engineer Jobs in San Diego: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a quality engineer job in San Diego?
San Diego's quality engineer market is driven by defense contractors, medical device manufacturers, and biotech firms, so candidates who tailor their experience to regulated industries move fastest. Focus your search on Sorrento Valley, Kearny Mesa, and the Torrey Pines Research Triangle, where hiring concentrates. Familiarity with FDA quality systems or AS9100 aerospace standards gives a clear edge over generalist candidates in this market.
Which companies hire quality engineers in San Diego?
Employers hiring quality engineers in San Diego right now include Katalyst Healthcares & Life Sciences, Apple, and Northrop Grumman, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. San Diego's hiring base skews toward mid-size and large defense primes, medical device OEMs, and biotech firms with dedicated quality and regulatory affairs functions.
Are there remote quality engineer jobs in San Diego?
Yes, though with limits: quality engineer work is often hands-on, so fully remote roles are more common in software quality assurance and documentation-heavy compliance functions than in manufacturing or lab environments. About 56% of quality engineer openings tied to San Diego are remote or hybrid as of September 2026. In San Diego, hybrid arrangements are most prevalent among biotech and software QA teams rather than defense production roles.
How can I get a quality engineer job in San Diego with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path in San Diego is through a quality technician or quality inspector role at a medical device or defense contract manufacturer in Kearny Mesa or Miramar, then moving into engineer-track positions once you have documented audit or inspection experience. San Diego Community College's manufacturing programs and UCSD Extension courses in quality management build credentials that local employers recognize. Internships at mid-size biotech firms in Torrey Pines also convert to full-time roles at a higher rate than in most other sectors here.
Which industries hire the most quality engineers in San Diego?
San Diego quality engineer roles concentrate in Electronics & Hardware, Consulting & Professional Services, and Insurance, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. San Diego's strong base of Navy and Marine Corps contracting, FDA-regulated medical device production, and gene therapy research creates sustained structural demand across all three of those sectors.
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