Technical Operations Engineer, Quality & Test

Job DescriptionJob DescriptionUtilidata is a fast-growing NVIDIA-backed AI company enabling AI data centers to dynamically orchestrate power and unlock more compute capacity from existing energy infrastructure. For over a decade, we have applied AI to the electric grid — bringing real-time visibility and power-flow control to complex energy infrastructure. Our Karman platform, built on a custom NVIDIA module, brings that same capability to AI data centers, giving operators a way to better use the power already available to them.

The Technical Operations Engineer, Quality & Test owns the transition of Karman hardware from engineering validation to field-ready units at pilot scale. Working alongside the Technical Operations Engineer, Systems & Test, this role is responsible for building the repeatable build processes, quality systems, production test infrastructure, and supply chain foundations that make scaling from pilot to mass production possible. This is a hands-on, execution-oriented role at the center of Utilidata’s hardware production readiness function—the connective tissue between a validated engineering design and a unit that can be built reliably, consistently, and at volume. This position is based onsite at our company headquarters in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Responsibilities

• Own the product quality process from engineering validation through design verification, production validation, and pilot-scale build readiness, ensuring defined quality criteria are met at each release gate
• Develop and maintain build travelers, work instructions, and assembly procedures that translate engineering designs into repeatable, production-ready build processes
• Establish and document in-process quality checkpoints, acceptance criteria, and inspection standards for each stage of hardware integration and assembly
• Lead first article inspection processes for new designs and design changes, ensuring released configurations are validated against specifications before production scale-up
• Own non-conformance reporting and corrective and preventive action processes: document failures, coordinate root cause analysis, and drive resolution to closure
• Develop and execute production test protocols, including functional and environmental testing, ensuring test coverage aligns with field deployment requirements
• Build and maintain quality records, test data, and traceability documentation that support design release, audits, and continuous improvement
• Lead process failure mode and effects analysis and design for manufacturability and testability reviews in partnership with engineering, with a focus on production process risk
• Coordinate supplier quality activities, including component qualification, incoming inspection criteria, and supplier non-conformance management, to build a reliable supply chain foundation ahead of mass production
• Support approvals for engineering change orders and engineering change notices from a production impact perspective, ensuring changes are evaluated for build process and quality implications before release
• Verify bill of materials accuracy and revision control in coordination with hardware engineering, ensuring production configurations reflect validated and qualified components
• Support field deployments and pilot builds, capturing quality feedback and field failure data to inform process improvements and supply chain decisions
• Operate and maintain test instrumentation and Hardware-in-the-Loop environments as needed to support production validation activities
• Manage Jira tickets for quality issues, process improvement initiatives, and production readiness tasks; maintain comprehensive documentation of procedures, configurations, and inventory needs
• Develop & build calibration stands, end of line testers, etc. to support quality testing & validation. 
• Support transition of ownership between pilot builds to scaled production hand-off. 

Minimum Qualifications 

• 3–5 years of experience in manufacturing quality, production test engineering, or hardware operations in a hardware product environment
• Demonstrated experience owning quality processes across hardware validation phases (EVT, DVT, PVT) through pilot-scale production
• Hands-on experience developing build travelers, work instructions, and assembly procedures for complex electronic hardware
• Experience with NCR, CAPA, FAI, and incoming, in-process, and final inspection processes
• Familiarity with supplier quality management, component qualification, and supply chain readiness for production scale-up
• Knowledge of circuit boards, electronic assemblies, and hardware test instrumentation
• Experience managing ECO/ECN processes and BOM revision control in coordination with engineering teams
• Bachelor’s degree in electronics, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, or a related field, OR equivalent training and on-the-job experience
• Detail-oriented and highly organized, with the ability to produce clear, traceable documentation under production timelines
• Strong written and oral communication skills with the ability to convey quality and process findings across engineering and operations teams

Enhanced Qualifications (Nice to Have) 

• Experience with IPC standards (IPC-A-610, IPC-J-STD-001) for electronics assembly and inspection
• Familiarity with ISO 9001 or similar quality management system (QMS) frameworks
• Exposure to high-performance computing, AI infrastructure, or GPU-based hardware systems
• Experience with product lifecycle management (PLM) or configuration management tools (e.g., Arena, Windchill, or similar)
• Familiarity with reliability and environmental testing methodologies such as HALT, HASS, or accelerated life testing

Salary Range: $100,000 to $130,000 base compensation depending on experience.  Salary will be commensurate with an individual's skills, training, years of experience, and in line with internal compensation bands.

Location: This position is based onsite at our company headquarters in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with flexibility for occasional remote work.

Our Commitments:
Utilidata values the of our team. We provide equal employment opportunities without regard to , , religion, creed, , , , or expression, , , physical , mental , medical condition, or childbirth, , genetics, genetic information, marital status, or status as a covered veteran or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state and local laws.

We are committed to:

• Creating a diverse and inclusive workplace that is welcoming, supportive, affirming and respectful
• Empowering employees to solve problems and work together to make a difference
• Providing mentorship and growth opportunities as part of a collaborative team
• A flexible work environment with flexible paid time off
• Competitive compensation and benefits, including health, dental, vision, and employer-match 401k

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