Head of QC

What you will own

QC planning across the supply chain

• Build and own a rolling QC calendar for every PO and factory: incoming (IQC), during-production (in-line), pre-shipment and final inspections, 100% QC and container loading checks, tied to production schedules and cargo ready dates.

• Forecast inspector capacity weeks ahead, and flex with temporary staff and third parties so QC is never what holds up a ship date.

• Set sampling plans according to our Supplier Quality Manual (ANSI/ASQ Z1.4, General Inspection Level II, AQL 0 / 1.5 / 4.0 for critical, major and minor defects, special levels S-2 and S-4), and apply tightened, reduced and skip-lot rules.

Leading the China QA/QC team

• Manage, coach and schedule the China QA/QC team (three QC inspectors and a QA engineer); set daily priorities and review every report.

• Train inspectors on product-specific checklists, golden samples, defect classification and functional and safety tests (for example ground continuity, insulation resistance, hi-pot and leakage current on appliances; coating thickness and adhesion on cookware).

• Run regular calibration sessions so every inspector, in-house or third-party, grades defects the same way.

Costco and BD programs

• Plan and run QC for Costco and BD programs end to end: 100% QC, factory training, sample selection support, and coordination with retailer-appointed inspection and testing firms.

• Work with Supply Chain to build retailer QC and testing time (typically two to three weeks for Costco) into production timelines.

• Recruit, qualify, train and audit third-party QC providers (for example QIMA, Bureau Veritas or Intertek) to Our Place standards when we need more capacity; manage their scheduling, cost and report quality.

Issue handling

• Issue non-conformance reports, lead containment within 24 hours, decide rework, sort or reject with QA and Supply Chain, and track supplier corrective actions to closure.

• Flag quality risks to ship dates early, with options.

• Keep factories' in-line QC and production control plans aligned with our standards.

Reporting and tools

• Own inspection data in Qarma: complete, on-time reports, defect paretos and supplier pass rates.

• Publish a weekly QC report in English to the US and China teams covering schedule, results, open issues and risks.

• Feed field and customer issues back into inspection checklists with QA and Engineering.

What success looks like in 6-12 months

Every PO has a planned inspection before production starts, and no shipment slips because QC wasn't scheduled or staffed.

Costco and BD shipments pass retailer inspections the first time.

A trained, audited bench of third-party inspectors is ready for peak volume.

Inspection reports are complete and on time in Qarma, and defect trends are reviewed weekly with QA.

In-house and third-party inspectors grade defects consistently.

What you bring

8+ years in QC or QA for consumer products made in China, including 3+ years leading inspection teams. Small kitchen appliance experience is required; cookware is a plus.

Fluent spoken and written English and Mandarin.

Hands-on skill with AQL sampling, inspection checklists, golden samples, first article inspection, non-conformance reports, 8D and factory audits.

Experience running retailer QC programs (Costco preferred) and managing third-party inspection firms.

Comfortable running appliance safety and function tests and cookware material tests, and reading specifications and drawings.

A highly organized planner who works from data and tools (Qarma or similar, plus spreadsheets).

Based in Los Angeles or willing to relocate, and able to travel 25%+ of the time, including extended periods in China.

What we offer

Competitive pay and real-deal equity — we want you to have a slice of what we’re building together

A chance to share in our wins — all full-time team members are eligible for our discretionary annual bonus plan

Benefits that actually benefit — top-tier medical, dental, and vision to keep you feeling your best

Plenty of time off — generous PTO, and synchronized time off (we all log off together so you can actually rest)

We invest in you — $500 a year for learning & development, plus an optional 401k plan so future you is covered

All the kitchen treats — team member discount, an annual our place gift card, and of course, lots of our place goodies for your home

A workspace worth leaving your house for — a beautiful office with a creative studio, multiple kitchens, and plenty of room for big ideas

Tuesday lunches — catered meals so you can catch up with your teammates over something delicious

A culture of connection — team events, activities, and an annual company retreat because we like hanging out together

A team full of kind, thoughtful humans who actually care — because the people make this place