Quality Associate Lead

Company History: Fathom is one of the largest digital manufacturing platforms offering on-demand manufacturing in North America. With more than 90 large-platform industrial-grade 3D printing machines and a national footprint with more than 500,000 square feet of manufacturing capacity across 10 facilities, Fathom seamlessly blends in-house capabilities across plastic and metal additive technologies, CNC machining, injection molding & tooling, urethane casting, sheet metal fabrication, and design and engineering.

With over 50 years of industry experience, Fathom is at the forefront of the industry 4.0 digital manufacturing revolution serving clients in the technology, defense, aerospace, medical, automotive and IOT sectors. Fathom's extensive certifications include ISO 9001:2015, ISO 9001:2015 Design, ISO 13485:2016, AS9100:2016, NIST 800-171 and ITAR.

Job Description

Position Summary

The Precision Sheet Metal Quality & Manufacturing Excellence Lead serves as the technical authority for quality assurance, process compliance, and operator development within a high-mix precision sheet metal manufacturing environment. This role is responsible for in-process quality verification, first article inspections, disposition approval, root cause analysis, quality coaching, and hands-on training of press brake and hardware installation operators.

This position bridges Quality and Manufacturing by ensuring products meet customer requirements while developing operator skill levels, improving process capability, and reducing defects through standardized work practices and continuous improvement initiatives.

The ideal candidate possesses extensive knowledge of sheet metal fabrication, GD&T, blueprint interpretation, press brake forming, hardware installation processes, inspection methodologies, and manufacturing best practices.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Quality Leadership

• Serve as the primary quality resource for sheet metal fabrication operations.
• Perform first article inspections (FAI) on new and existing products.
• Conduct in-process audits and verification inspections throughout manufacturing.
• Approve, document, and manage nonconforming material dispositions.
• Evaluate and determine product acceptance based on engineering drawings, customer specifications, and quality requirements.
• Verify dimensional accuracy, cosmetic requirements, and compliance to customer standards.
• Support final inspection activities as required.
• Review and validate setup inspections prior to production release.
• Assist in developing inspection plans and quality control methods.
• Collaborate with Engineering and Production teams to resolve manufacturing challenges.

Manufacturing Process Expertise

• Provide technical support for press brake operations including:

• Bend sequence optimization

• Tool selection

• Setup verification

• Dimensional troubleshooting

• Forming best practices

• Provide technical support for hardware installation processes including:

• PEM insertion

• Hardware verification

• Setup approval

• Process troubleshooting

• Monitor manufacturing processes to ensure compliance with established standards.

• Identify opportunities to improve quality, efficiency, and repeatability.

Training and Workforce Development

• Function as a trainer for press brake and hardware operators.

• Develop and maintain operator qualification and certification programs.

• Train employees on:

• Blueprint reading

• GD&T interpretation

• Measurement techniques

• Quality standards

• First piece inspection requirements

• Process control methods

• Create work instructions, training materials, and standardized operating procedures.

• Evaluate operator competency and provide ongoing coaching.

• Mentor developing operators to increase technical proficiency and cross-functional capabilities.

Continuous Improvement

• Lead root cause investigations for quality issues.
• Implement corrective and preventive actions.
• Participate in Kaizen and continuous improvement activities.
• Analyze defect trends and recommend process improvements.
• Reduce scrap, rework, and customer quality concerns through proactive process control.
• Support quality management system compliance and audit readiness.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Act as liaison between Quality, Engineering, and Production.
• Assist supervisors and department managers in resolving quality-related issues.
• Promote a culture of accountability, craftsmanship, and continuous improvement.
• Provide guidance and technical direction to manufacturing personnel.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum 7 years of experience in precision sheet metal fabrication.
• Minimum 3 years of quality inspection, quality leadership, or manufacturing leadership experience.
• Advanced blueprint reading and GD&T interpretation skills.
• Expert knowledge of press brake forming processes.
• Strong knowledge of hardware installation processes and inspection requirements.
• Experience performing first article inspections and detailed dimensional layouts.
• Experience approving and documenting nonconformance dispositions.
• Proficient with:
• Calipers
• Micrometers
• Height gauges
• Radius gauges
• Angle measurement equipment
• Optical measuring equipment
• Ability to interpret customer specifications and engineering requirements.
• Strong problem-solving and root cause analysis skills.
• Excellent communication and training abilities.

Preferred Qualifications

• ASQ Quality certification preferred.
• Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma training preferred.
• Experience in aerospace, defense, medical, electronics, telecommunications, or other precision manufacturing industries.
• Experience with ERP and quality management systems.
• Experience developing training programs and qualification standards.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Technical Expertise

• Precision sheet metal fabrication
• Press brake programming and setup validation
• Hardware installation processes
• GD&T
• First article inspections
• Process capability
• Statistical process control
• Root cause analysis
• Inspection planning
• Quality systems

Leadership Skills

• Coaching and mentoring
• Technical instruction
• Cross-functional collaboration
• Conflict resolution
• Continuous improvement leadership
• Employee skill development

Physical Requirements

• Frequent standing and walking in a manufacturing environment.
• Ability to lift up to 35 pounds.
• Ability to use inspection and measuring equipment.
• Ability to move throughout production areas conducting audits and training activities.

Compensation Justification Statement

This position combines responsibilities typically associated with:

• Quality Lead
• Quality Engineer
• Manufacturing Trainer
• Press Brake Subject Matter Expert
• Hardware Process Specialist
• Continuous Improvement Leader

The role requires advanced technical expertise, independent decision-making authority regarding product acceptance and disposition, workforce development responsibilities, and direct influence over manufacturing quality performance. Because of the combination of quality ownership, technical leadership, and operator training responsibilities, this position is classified above a traditional Quality Inspector or Quality Technician role.

Recommended Pay Range: $36.00-$42.00 per hour

Target Rate: $38.00 per hour

What we offer:

Health Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision coverage. Company paid for Life insurance, short-term and long-term disability insurance.

Additional Benefits: Paid time off, Floating Holidays, Volunteer time off, and sick time off (depending on state of employment). 401k Plan

Employee Perks: Discounts on products and services.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled

This employer participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, this employer is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before the employer can take any action against you, including terminating your employment. Employers can only use E-Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9.