Director of Quality

DataDirect Networks (DDN.com) is a world leader in massively scalable storage. We are the leading provider of data storage and processing solutions and professional services that enable content-rich and high-growth IT environments to achieve the highest levels of systems scalability, efficiency and simplicity. DDN enables enterprises to extract value and deliver results from their information. Our customers include the world's leading online content and social networking providers, high performance cloud and grid computing, life sciences, media production organizations and security & intelligence organizations.

As the Director of Quality, you will be responsible for expanding our comprehensive quality management system to ensure the highest level of product quality and customer satisfaction. The position is hands-on leadership with an emphasis on customer quality and targeted quality events which require technical knowledge and experience to solve. You will lead a team of quality professionals and collaborate closely with cross-functional departments to drive continuous improvement initiatives, monitor quality performance, and promote a culture of quality excellence across the organization.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Expand strategic quality management system to follow regulatory standards and industry best practices.
2. Improve quality policies, procedures, and guidelines throughout the organization to ensure adherence to quality standards and objectives.
3. Assess key quality metrics and performance indicators to evaluate product quality, identify areas for improvement, and track progress over time.
4. Lead and manage a team of quality professionals, providing mentorship, guidance, and support to ensure their professional growth and maximize their contributions.
5. Develop critical product quality metrics to be monitored and driven to resolution utilizing real-time data in varied quality instances observed from customers and factory fallout.
6. Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including Engineering, Product Management, Operations, and Customer Support, to integrate quality considerations into product development, manufacturing, and service processes.
7. Conduct regular audits and assessments to identify non-conformities, process inefficiencies, and areas for improvement, and develop action plans to address them.
8. Oversee the implementation of corrective and preventive actions to address quality issues, minimize risks, and improve overall quality performance.
9. Stay abreast of industry trends, emerging technologies, and product enhancements related to data storage and quality management, and proactively integrate relevant advancements into the quality management system.
10. Establish strong relationships with key stakeholders, including customers and suppliers, to understand their quality expectations and requirements and ensure alignment with our quality management system.
11. Drive a culture of continuous improvement by promoting quality awareness, providing training programs, and fostering a collaborative environment that encourages innovation and accountability.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.
• Strong electronics/computer technical background with experience in servers/storage enclosures.
• Proven experience in quality management roles, preferably in the data storage or related industry.
• Strong knowledge of quality management systems, methodologies, and tools.
• Experience leading quality improvement initiatives and driving process optimization.
• Excellent leadership and team management skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate a diverse team of quality professionals.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with a keen attention to detail.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate and build relationships at all levels of the organization.
• Familiarity with regulatory requirements and compliance standards in the data storage industry.
• Results-oriented mindset with a demonstrated track record of achieving quality objectives and driving continuous improvement.

Salary range: $130,000/YR - $150,000/YR

DDN has a very strong orientation towards these 4 characteristics and any successful employee will demonstrate these capabilities: 

Self-Starter - Takes independent action to identify and solve problems. Seeks out relevant information needed to make decisions. Gets involved with new initiatives. 

Success/Achievement Orientation - Delivers quality results consistently. Targets, achieves (or exceeds) measurable results. Sets challenging goals, focuses on critical priorities, and is accountable. 

Problem Solving - Recognizes problems and responds with a systematic assessment that identifies and addresses cause of issue. Practical, realistic, and resourceful. 

Innovative - Builds and improves key business processes that enhance the effectiveness of DDN. Generates new ideas, challenges the status quo, and solves problems creatively.

DataDirect Networks, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender, sex stereotyping, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.