Quality Manager (Remote, USA)

Are you a systems builder who thrives on creating order Do you find satisfaction in preventing problems before they happen and fixing them with grace and rigor when they do If you love turning complexity into consistency and have a relentless eye for detail keep reading. Apex is looking for an experienced hands-on and proactive Quality Manager to build the foundation of Quality Management practices.

Who are we

Apex is a leading provider of high-performance automotive wheels and accessories serving a community of drivers who push limits and demand products that can keep up. From education and our highly-touted fitment guides to rigorous product testing and quality standards we deliver exceptional value to our customers. Founded in California in 2007 our company has grown into a team of 45 passionate professionals and engineers working remotely across the country. We are united by a shared dedication to precision performance and authenticity.

Objective

The Quality Manager at Apex owns the entire lifecycle of product quality from the first steps in the manufacturing process to the moment it arrives in our warehouse with the goal of capturing all quality issues at our contract manufacturing sites before the products are shipped to us. Success in this role means designing a scalable repeatable quality process that ensures every custom-designed product meets our rigorous standards for precision safety and appearance.

Job Summary

The Quality Manager is the cornerstone and first employee of a newly formed Quality team within Apexs Engineering Department. This isnt a maintain the system role; its a build the system role. Youre stepping into a company thats always valued quality but now were ready to formalize scale and elevate it. Your mission is to design implement and lead a sustainable and scalable quality framework that ensures consistency and precision across contract manufacturers.

Youll begin by building upon our existing foundation by fully developing the quality framework addressing KPIs polishing inspection standards and creating documentation that drives alignment between our contract manufacturers and Apexs expectations. Youll build trust and accountability with factory quality teams guiding their investigations and root cause analyses even though they dont report to you. Youll set a regular cadence for discussions that focus on prevention not just correction and ensure the data you receive from overseas is accurate transparent and actionable.

In the short term youll be both the architect and the builder rolling up your sleeves to create the systems and processes that will later become your teams foundation. As the team grows youll be responsible for hiring training and mentoring quality technicians including an on-site inspector at our suppliers factory in Southeast Asia and a domestic team member supporting our 3PL warehouse in Northern California. Together youll ensure that quality issues are detected early before they ever reach us and especially before they reach our customers. Youll ensure that root causes are addressed effectively and supplier performance is tracked with clear measurable KPIs.

Our products are engineered in-house and manufactured to our specifications by large ISO and TÜV-certified contract partners. These facilities have deep OEM experience but often vary in the rigor of their aftermarket processes. Youll face the nuanced challenge of driving improvement within organizations we dont own where our leverage may be limited but our standards are not. Success will require equal parts technical acumen and diplomacy as you bridge cultural and operational gaps apply data and persuasion to elevate processes to OEM-level discipline and consistently reinforce that improved quality is essential to mutual growth and long-term partnership.

This is a hands-on high-impact role for someone who can work cross-culturally and spot a flaw on a wheel finish one day while building a quality dashboard the next. If you cant confidently lead a meeting - either with leadership the contract manufacturers or your own team this isnt the role for you. While we dont want you to be in the weeds constantly doing on-site quality inspections with metrology tools you need to know enough about the quality technicians role and tools to effectively coach them. Knowing how metrology tools are calibrated and used is a critical aspect of this position. If you have worked exclusively in QA/QC in SAAS/IT or in spaces not related to the manufacturing of physical products you dont have the depth or manner of experience were looking for.

One of the key challenges in this role involves navigating time zones language barriers and business customs. The manufacturing teams youll collaborate with are based in Southeast Asia and primarily communicate in Mandarin. Youll need to either speak Mandarin fluently have proven experience successfully bridging cultural and language differences in the region or demonstrate that ability through prior work with international manufacturers. Due to the geographic distribution of our vendors early-morning or late-evening calls will occasionally be necessary to maintain effective communication.

Reporting to our Product Engineering Manager youll collaborate closely with product engineers and R&D to align product specifications measurement standards and testing methodologies. Youll work hand-in-hand with our Supply Chain team to translate quality findings into supplier scorecards cost recovery discussions and contract negotiations that theyll lead. Youll coordinate with Customer Service to ensure field data and customer feedback inform corrective actions and with our 3PL warehouse team to define efficient inspection and quarantine workflows. While youll have autonomy to manage day-to-day quality operations approve inspection protocols and reject nonconforming product broader decisions like major system overhauls capital equipment purchases or changes that affect COGS require leadership buy-in.

Success in this position means that youve built a scalable transparent and data-driven quality program that doesnt just react to problems but anticipates and prevents them. Balancing the dynamics of work with offshored contract manufacturers bridging the language and culture gaps all while building a lean high-performance quality function from scratch will be central to your success. We envision the quality team as a stabilizing force within the business that once established is a consistently oiled and well-running machine.

Who are you

• You see systems where others see chaos and bring clarity structure and accountability to everything you touch.
• Youre equal parts diplomat and detective: able to uncover the real story behind the data and earn trust across cultures companies and time zones.

• You lead with quiet confidence. You dont need authority to influence and you know how to bring people to the table when theyd rather stay in their lanes.
• You balance rigor with pragmatism knowing when perfect helps and when it gets in the way of progress.
• You dont shy away from tough conversations; you approach them with facts fairness and persistence until improvement takes hold.
• You take ownership naturally and when something breaks your instinct is to fix the process not the blame.
• You find genuine satisfaction in building something that lasts: a quality culture that thrives when youre on vacation runs smoothly and keeps raising the bar.

How to Apply

When submitting your application use the space provided for a cover letter to answer the following question: Describe a time when you had to push for quality or process improvements with an overseas manufacturing partner that has their own interests in mind. What was the quality or process improvement you needed to see How did you approach it What was the result Would you do anything differently next time If you are a motorsports enthusiast take a moment to tell us about your experience in the space!

Responsibilities

• Elevate and enhance Apexs quality control program assessing current practices both domestically and overseas and refining standards documentation and inspection criteria to ensure consistency scalability and world-class product quality.
• Develop and implement quality systems and processes for supplier-side in-process and inbound inspections with a strong focus on preventing nonconformances before shipment and ensuring alignment between factory and Apex standards.
• Lead and develop a lean quality team composed of Apex employees contractors or third-party partners to ensure consistent on-the-ground inspection coverage. Hire train mentor and evaluate quality personnel for technical accuracy and performance providing coaching and feedback as needed. This may include managing a full-time quality Technician based at our partners Thailand factory who will oversee daily inspections enforce Apexs quality standards and ensure that nonconforming products are reworked or rejected before shipment. Foster a culture of continuous improvement accountability and craftsmanship excellence across all inspection activities.
• Review improve and maintain clear documentation including control plans inspection templates work instructions and visual standards for both overseas and domestic teams.
• Conduct supplier audits and process reviews including mid-production and pre-shipment inspections at our international manufacturing facilities providing actionable feedback and following up on corrective action reports (CARs).
• Partner with Engineering and R&D on product specifications measurement standards and testing methodologies to ensure new products and manufacturing techniques meet Apex performance expectations.
• Collaborate closely with the Customer Service Manager to capture detailed data on quality issues including root cause frequency and cost impact and use those insights to drive corrective and preventive actions.
• Work with the Vendor Manager to communicate defect rates error types and supplier performance trends ensuring quality data informs vendor scorecards and cost recovery discussions.
• Coordinate with Apexs 3PL warehouse team to define and document efficient workflows for domestic inspections including weight verification visual checks and product quarantine or release procedures.
• Lead root cause and corrective action (RCCA) initiatives collaborating across departments and with supplier partners to resolve issues and prevent recurrence.
• Define and track KPIs such as defect rates rework rates supplier quality scores and cost of poor quality using these metrics to identify trends and guide improvements.
• Implement continuous improvement methodologies such as Lean Six Sigma or Kaizen to reduce variation eliminate recurring defects and strengthen supplier training and accountability.
• Communicate findings and recommendations through concise reports dashboards and presentations to leadership providing transparency into supplier performance quality trends and progress toward company goals.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement and accountability within the quality function mentoring staff promoting technical excellence and ensuring every product that leaves the factory upholds Apexs reputation for precision and performance.
• Lead and develop your team through radical candor balancing direct honest feedback with genuine care while managing all aspects of people leadership including hiring interviewing onboarding coaching mentoring performance reviews setting clear performance expectations managing to OKRs and KPIs and when necessary making tough decisions around discipline or termination to maintain a healthy high-performing team culture.

• Other duties as assigned.

• Bachelors degree in Engineering Applied Sciences Manufacturing Management or a related field; a Masters degree is preferred.

• Certifications including ASQ Six Sigma green belt or higher or similar is strongly preferred.
• 5 years of experience in Quality Control or Quality Assurance in an environment manufacturing physical products or 3 years of experience in QC/QA plus additional relevant. manufacturing-related experience. Well give strong preference to candidates who have worked with metal manufacturing especially forging and flow-forming techniques.
• 2 years of experience building teams and directly managing individuals especially those in QA/QC-related positions.
• Experience working in ISO 9001 IATF 16949 or similar accredited QMS environments.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with a keen attention to detail and a pragmatic approach that balances precision with production efficiency.
• Experience with metrology within a manufacturing inspection environment including calibration and use of precision measurement tools setup and operation of gauging and instrumentation and a strong understanding of measurement principles and techniques.
• Proven experience in appropriately tailoring quality improvement initiatives to specific manufacturer and customer-specific requirements and capabilities.
• Project Management experience and the use of PM software are a plus (Click-Up).
• Well give strong preference to candidates who have experience working with overseas manufacturers especially in Southeast Asia.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with a proven ability to collaborate effectively across functions including engineering operations and suppliers including the ability to overcome language and cultural barriers.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and manage multiple projects effectively.
• Ability to use standard communication tools such as Slack and Google Suite.
• Ability to travel internationally and domestically.
• Well give strong preference to candidates who are geographically located near our office in Pleasanton CA.
• Well give strong preference to candidates who speak Mandarin.
• Bonus points for being an automotive enthusiast!

• Full-time salaried exempt employment on W2 with Apex. Youll earn a base compensation of $90000 - $115000 depending on location and experience. We still want to hear from you if your desired compensation falls outside of this range.
• Robust health benefits that include medical insurance covering 100% of monthly premiums for employees and their dependents under the age of 14 on our base plans and generous contributions towards premiums for dependents over 14. We have a wide variety of other medical plans so you can contribute to a more robust plan that better suits your needs. Get access to an HSA mental health support and gym membership discounts! Dental and vision benefits cover 100% of the monthly premiums for employees on our base plans plus affordable buy-up options if you need orthodontic coverage.
• Retirement savings through our 401(k) with generous company contributions.
• Paid time off to recharge and do what fuels you through paid sick leave vacation time and 11 paid company holidays including Juneteenth and Indigenous Peoples Day.
• Track-Day Reimbursements to support your track addiction with reimbursements for HPDE autocross event registration fees and more.
• Through your association with Apex Wheels you are eligible to apply for the SEMA college grant and loan forgiveness program.
• Employee discounts and freebies on Apex products and swag (Did we mention friends and family discounts).
• A modern professional work environment supported through remote work almost anywhere in the contiguous U.S. and casual in-office dress (t-shirts and jeans are normal for us). Our in-person company events often include sim-racing karting spectator events and visits to some of our favorite places in Northern California.

About the Work Environment

While performing the duties of this job you will be regularly required to stand sit talk hear reach stoop kneel and use your hands and fingers to operate a computer telephone and keyboard. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision requirements due to computer work. Ability to sit at a computer terminal for an extended period. Youll have a high degree of control over your working environment as youll be primarily working from your home office. Occasional domestic travel is required for this position. Occasional international travel is also required based on business needs. When traveling internationally you will be in a manufacturing facility where walking and lifting may be the manufacturing setting loud noises unconditioned temperatures and bright lights will be regularly present. Regular predictable attendance is required.

Required Experience:

Manager