Senior Staff Quality Engineer
Stryker · San Jose, CA
- Level
- Senior
- Team
- Quality
- Base pay
- $133k–$222k
- Travel
- 10%
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 6+ years
- Certification
- Black Belt preferred
- Industry
- Medical devices
- Posted
- Yesterday
The role in 30 seconds
A senior quality role at Stryker (medical devices) in San Jose, CA. Work closely with customers, sales/marketing/field personnel, and cross-functional teams to address top quality issues.
- They ask for
- 6+ years · degree required · Black Belt preferred
- Tools it names
- Six Sigma, Black Belt, Green Belt, Root cause, CAPA, ISO 13485
- Base pay
- $133k–$222k
- Day to day
- about 10% travel
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026
Quality Engineer roles in California: typical posted base $100k–$149k. This one lists $133k–$222k.
Median of the low and high ends of 102 live postings that list pay, out of 202 quality engineer openings in California, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
California plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 201 other live quality postings in California.
- Base pay
- About 43% above similar roles
- Experience asked
- More than usual (6+ vs 5+)
Typical $100k–$148k, from 99 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Root cause 78%
- FMEA 53%
- Supplier quality 46%
- Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ) 45%
- AS9100 42%
- ISO 9001 36%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for ISO 13485, FDA / GMP, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Quality team at Stryker
We found 3 people at this company and state: 1 in this kind of role, 2 leaders. Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. See them ↓
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
Write to Ian → (free) - 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- Which standards drive the work here: ISO 13485, IATF 16949, AS9100?
- How much of the job is customer complaints versus prevention?
- The posting says about 10% travel. Between which sites?
- The posting mentions a Black Belt. Does the company sponsor certification?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
This plant: Stryker in San Jose
No other open roles at this site right now · 3 people we found in quality roles at Stryker.
Full description from StrykerAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
What you will do
- ◆Work closely with customers, sales/marketing/field personnel, and cross-functional teams to address top quality issues.
- ◆Mentors, provides oversight and approval of NC/CAPA, activist and high-level expert in problem-solving and root-causing activities.
- ◆Leads quality initiatives or projects.
- ◆Recognized process owner, with expertise across multiple quality areas.
- ◆Provides input into local, global, and corporate processes, represents function on review boards and teams.
- ◆Review and approval of change management activities, challenges effectiveness and drives strong review.
- ◆Interpret KPI trends, drive continuous improvement process.
- ◆Advocate of Human Factor practices, proficiency in the science of identification of mitigation.
- ◆Engage in and may lead internal and external audits with regulatory representatives, providing effective narrative and description of topic of expertise and overview of the business. May manage audit logistics and/or preparation.
- ◆Responsible for initiation, internal containment, and support of ship and product holds for potential product escapes.
- ◆Coach and mentor others in quality topics and activities.
Required
- ✓Bachelor’s degree in a science, engineering or related discipline.
- ✓Minimum 6 years of experience in Quality and/or Research & Development (R&D) within the medical device industry, supporting product development, design controls, risk management, quality systems, and post-market surveillance activities.
- ✓Strong knowledge of medical device quality and regulatory requirements, including ISO 13485, Good Documentation Practices (GDP), Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), post-market compliance requirements, and U.S. and international medical device regulations.
- ✓Experience leading and supporting root cause investigations, nonconformance management, CAPA activities, complaint investigations, and post-market quality initiatives to drive continuous improvement and regulatory compliance.
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Stryker is hiring a Senior Staff Quality Engineer for our Endoscopy division in San Jose, CA to provide quality engineering leadership and technical guidance in quality assurance, control, and preventative activities with a focus on continuous improvement of products and processes. Advocate and lead the execution of initiatives and projects to enhance quality performance within the business and for our customers. Mentor and provide technical direction across multiple areas of expertise. Ensure compliance with regulation and standards.
Preferred
- +Masters degree
- +Experience in interacting with regulatory agencies (FDA, MoH, TUV, etc.)
- +Strong knowledge of Quality Concepts (e.g. Risk Management, CAPA, Audits, Statistics).
- +ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) and/or Certified Reliability Engineer (CRE) certification preferred.
- +Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification preferred, with demonstrated application of continuous improvement and process optimization methodologies.
$133,400 - $222,300 USD Annual
Stryker Corporation will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.