Technical Operations Engineer, Quality & Test

Utilidata 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 diversity of our team. We provide equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy or childbirth, sexual orientation, 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