Senior Quality Engineer

Blue Ridge Optics

Full Time

Bedford, VA

Blue Ridge Optics is seeking an experienced Senior Quality Engineer to lead our quality function while remaining actively engaged on the manufacturing floor. This is a hands‑on leadership opportunity for an experienced quality professional with a background in optics, optical cleaning, optical coatings, or optical metrology. As the Senior Quality Engineer, you will oversee our Quality Inspection and Metrology teams, take ownership of our Quality Management System (QMS), and work closely with Engineering and Manufacturing to ensure products meet customer expectations while supporting efficient production.

This position is ideal for someone who combines strong technical expertise with practical decision‑making and enjoys solving complex manufacturing challenges.

• Lead and mentor the Quality Inspection and Metrology teams.
• Own and continuously improve the company’s Quality Management System (QMS).
• Oversee product inspection, testing, quality documentation, reporting, and records.
• Review and disposition nonconforming material while collaborating with Engineering and Manufacturing to determine appropriate corrective actions.
• Support root cause investigations and implement effective corrective and preventive actions.
• Perform inspections and process parts as needed to support production. This is a working leadership role, and the successful candidate will not hesitate to step in wherever needed.
• Develop and improve inspection methods, quality procedures, and manufacturing processes.
• Promote a culture of quality, continuous improvement, and accountability throughout the organization.
• Ensure customer, regulatory, and internal quality requirements are consistently met.

• Experience in one or more of the following: o Optics manufacturing
• Optical cleaning
• Optical coatings
• Optical metrology
• Experience in a quality engineering or quality leadership role within a manufacturing environment.
• Experience leading or mentoring quality inspectors or technicians.
• Strong understanding of quality systems, inspection techniques, and precision manufacturing.
• Excellent analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively across Engineering, Manufacturing, and Operations.

The Ideal Candidate If you’re a technically strong quality professional who enjoys leading by example, solving complex problems, and making a direct impact on a growing precision optics manufacturer, we’d love to hear from you.