Hardware QA Analyst

Job Title: Hardware QA Analyst

Location: Hybrid (2 Days On-Site in DC Area)

Job Type: Long-Term Contract

Job Overview

We are seeking a Hardware QA Analyst to support complex projects across IT development environments. The ideal candidate will focus on ensuring hardware testing meets predefined quality standards and adheres to QA processes. This role involves collaborating with engineers who handle most of the testing, while the Hardware QA Analyst provides oversight, ensures compliance with QA procedures, and drives process improvements across the organization. This hybrid role requires two days onsite and involves contributing to the development of standard operating procedures and continuous process improvements.

Key Responsibilities

• QA Review & Monitoring: Review formal test plans, documented test results, and project deliverables. Produce compliance checklists, monitor QA tasks, and evaluate processes such as test life cycles, change management, and release management.
• Root Cause Analysis: Conduct investigations into technical and operational problems on installed networks, systems, and hardware products, documenting findings in Root Cause Analysis reports.
• Process Improvement: Assist in creating standard operating procedures and identifying areas for process improvement throughout the QA process. Implement lean, Six Sigma, and continuous process improvement methodologies to drive operational excellence.
• Compliance & Documentation: Ensure adherence to and enforcement of QA processes. Prepare, maintain, and review documentation on all QA phases, ensuring compliance with system requirements and best practices.
• Operational Excellence: Develop and implement a set of metrics to track performance, drive operational discipline, and promote continuous improvement.
• Coaching & Leadership: Provide coaching and mentoring to less-experienced team members on QA strategies, best practices, and quality deployment techniques.
• Collaboration: Collaborate closely with engineers to ensure hardware testing meets quality standards. Support the evolution of QA strategies and activities.
  
  

Required Skills & Experience

• Hardware Testing Experience: Strong experience in reviewing hardware testing, as well as supporting QA processes related to hardware rather than software.
• QA Expertise: Experience developing QA processes, producing compliance checklists, conducting root cause analysis, and ensuring adherence to testing standards.
• Continuous Process Improvement: Experience implementing lean, Six Sigma, or other continuous process improvement methodologies in an operational environment.
• Metrics & Performance Tracking: Ability to develop and implement metrics for tracking operational performance and driving continuous improvement.
• CMMI Experience: Familiarity with the Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) appraisal process.
• Formal Certifications: Formal training or certification in operational excellence methodologies (e.g., Six Sigma) is required.
• Leadership: Experience providing coaching and mentoring within a QA team.
• Collaboration: Strong collaboration skills, working with engineering teams and stakeholders to ensure hardware testing meets quality expectations.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Operational Excellence Toolkit: Proficiency in operational excellence methodologies and tools to implement and drive process improvements across all levels of the organization.
• Documentation Skills: Strong documentation skills, especially in producing QA documentation and SOPs.