Senior Level Quality Lead Jobs
Senior level quality lead jobs put experienced professionals in charge of quality systems, compliance strategy, and the cross-functional teams that drive continuous improvement across an organization. Roles concentrate in Technology & Software, Manufacturing, and Banking & Financial Services, with a mix of on-site, hybrid, and remote opportunities, and employers like CooperSurgical, Rivian, and Glaukos hiring at this level now.
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The Rivian Supply Chain team is looking for strategic technical leaders to drive the quality and reliability of our vehicle programs. As a Lead Supplier Development, Industrialization & Quality Engineer, you are an advanced individual contributor and subject matter expert responsible for the complete supplier quality lifecycle, from initial sourcing to ongoing business management. You act as a leader with minimal manager input, taking direct ownership of the most critical and highest-risk suppliers to ensure a seamless production ramp.
In this role, you lead the resolution of complex manufacturing issues and partner with cross-functional leadership to drive systemic change across the organization. You are responsible for identifying and mitigating high-impact risks, serving as a technical mentor, and providing the expert-level analysis necessary to influence critical sourcing and design decisions. We are looking for an expert who can drive accountability with suppliers at the executive level and advocate for the team’s needs in major program reviews.
This position is based onsite in Plymouth, Michigan with a 50–75% primarily domestic travel requirement and reports to the Sr. Manager - Supplier Development, Industrialization & Quality.
Supplier Management: Own the complete "Cradle to Grave" supplier quality lifecycle to ensure seamless production ramps. Manage critical CL0 and CL1 suppliers, resolving failures to mitigate risks or delays.Problem-Solving and Risk Mitigation: Lead the breaking down of complex problems and datasets to derive meaningful, actionable results. Apply standard, robust problem-solving tools to address systemic issues across the supply base.
Technical Skills: Lead high-complexity APQP/PPAP projects impacting major program milestones. Optimize supplier quality KPIs to predict and prevent future failures, aligning project efforts with long-term goals.
Organizational Influence & Outreach: Act as a key advisor to program leadership, presenting and defending strategic recommendations in high-stakes forums. Drive systemic cross-functional change using first principles to persuade other functions to adopt new processes.
Direction: Operate as a leader with minimal manager input, holding accountability for the performance of suppliers and cross-functional teams. Act instinctively to manage and prioritize complex workloads in high-pressure situations.
Education and Experience: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related technical field and a minimum of 6 years of relevant supplier development experience.Domain Expertise: Full understanding of the procurement end-to-end lifecycle and experience managing high-risk supplier portfolios.
Commodity-Specific Experience:
Experience in Cold/Hot stamping, sheet-metal forming, fixture-based assembly, MIG welding, robotic welding, manual welding, e-coat interfaces, and final assembly processes.
Evaluate fixture datum strategies, clamping, weld-gun access, poka-yoke, dimensional capability, and repeatability.
Drive controls for weld defects, dimensional variation, distortion, missing welds, spatter, undercut, porosity, burn-through, and rework.
Technical Skills: Primary owner of the business case and execution for significant process improvement initiatives.
Communication: Interpreter of information who can facilitate productive conversations and gain buy-in for a clear vision.
Execution: Expert analysis and recommendations directly influence critical sourcing decisions and capital investments.
Operational Style: Operates as a leader with minimal manager input, holding accountability for the performance of suppliers/cross-functional teams; navigates high-pressure situations by reaching beyond defined scope to solve problems.
Travel Requirements: Regular primarily domestic travel is a core part of this role, expected to average between 50–75%.
The Rivian Supply Chain team is looking for strategic technical leaders to drive the quality and reliability of our vehicle programs. As a Lead Supplier Development, Industrialization & Quality Engineer, you are an advanced individual contributor and subject matter expert responsible for the complete supplier quality lifecycle, from initial sourcing to ongoing business management. You act as a leader with minimal manager input, taking direct ownership of the most critical and highest-risk suppliers to ensure a seamless production ramp.
In this role, you lead the resolution of complex manufacturing issues and partner with cross-functional leadership to drive systemic change across the organization. You are responsible for identifying and mitigating high-impact risks, serving as a technical mentor, and providing the expert-level analysis necessary to influence critical sourcing and design decisions. We are looking for an expert who can drive accountability with suppliers at the executive level and advocate for the team’s needs in major program reviews.
This position is based onsite in Plymouth, Michigan with a 50–75% primarily domestic travel requirement and reports to the Sr. Manager - Supplier Development, Industrialization & Quality.
Supplier Management: Own the complete "Cradle to Grave" supplier quality lifecycle to ensure seamless production ramps. Manage critical CL0 and CL1 suppliers, resolving failures to mitigate risks or delays.Problem-Solving and Risk Mitigation: Lead the breaking down of complex problems and datasets to derive meaningful, actionable results. Apply standard, robust problem-solving tools to address systemic issues across the supply base.
Technical Skills: Lead high-complexity APQP/PPAP projects impacting major program milestones. Optimize supplier quality KPIs to predict and prevent future failures, aligning project efforts with long-term goals.
Organizational Influence & Outreach: Act as a key advisor to program leadership, presenting and defending strategic recommendations in high-stakes forums. Drive systemic cross-functional change using first principles to persuade other functions to adopt new processes.
Direction: Operate as a leader with minimal manager input, holding accountability for the performance of suppliers and cross-functional teams. Act instinctively to manage and prioritize complex workloads in high-pressure situations.
Education and Experience: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related technical field and a minimum of 6 years of relevant supplier development experience.Domain Expertise: Full understanding of the procurement end-to-end lifecycle and experience managing high-risk supplier portfolios.
Commodity-Specific Experience:
Experience in Cold/Hot stamping, sheet-metal forming, fixture-based assembly, MIG welding, robotic welding, manual welding, e-coat interfaces, and final assembly processes.
Evaluate fixture datum strategies, clamping, weld-gun access, poka-yoke, dimensional capability, and repeatability.
Drive controls for weld defects, dimensional variation, distortion, missing welds, spatter, undercut, porosity, burn-through, and rework.
Technical Skills: Primary owner of the business case and execution for significant process improvement initiatives.
Communication: Interpreter of information who can facilitate productive conversations and gain buy-in for a clear vision.
Execution: Expert analysis and recommendations directly influence critical sourcing decisions and capital investments.
Operational Style: Operates as a leader with minimal manager input, holding accountability for the performance of suppliers/cross-functional teams; navigates high-pressure situations by reaching beyond defined scope to solve problems.
Travel Requirements: Regular primarily domestic travel is a core part of this role, expected to average between 50–75%.
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Senior Level Quality Lead Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a senior level quality lead job?
Employers at this level look for candidates who have owned quality management systems end to end, led audits, and driven measurable process improvements. Certifications like ASQ CQE or CQM carry real weight, as does demonstrated experience mentoring quality engineers and influencing cross-functional stakeholders. Tailoring your resume to show outcomes, not just responsibilities, gives you a clear edge over equally experienced candidates.
Which companies hire senior level quality leads?
Companies hiring senior level quality leads right now include CooperSurgical, Rivian, and Glaukos, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. At this level, hiring tends to come from manufacturers, healthcare systems, aerospace and defense contractors, and technology firms with regulated or complex supply chains.
Are there remote senior level quality lead jobs?
Yes, though many senior quality lead roles require some on-site presence due to the hands-on nature of audits and production oversight. About 25% of senior level quality lead openings are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, concentrated in industries where quality systems, documentation, and compliance work can be managed digitally without being physically present on a production floor.
What makes a quality lead role senior level?
Senior level quality lead roles go beyond executing processes to owning them. That means setting quality strategy, leading root cause investigations on complex failures, managing supplier quality programs, and mentoring junior engineers. Senior roles carry accountability for audit outcomes, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement initiatives that affect the broader organization, not just a single team or product line.
Which industries hire the most senior level quality leads?
Senior Level quality lead roles concentrate in Technology & Software, Manufacturing, and Banking & Financial Services, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. These sectors drive demand because they operate under strict regulatory frameworks, complex supply chains, or high-stakes production environments where senior quality expertise directly reduces risk and cost.