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Quality Engineer I

Zimmer Biomet · San Diego, CA

Level
Engineer
Team
Quality
Base pay
$80k–$95k
Degree
Required
Industry
Medical devices
Posted
30+ days ago

The role in 30 seconds

An engineer-level quality role at Zimmer Biomet (medical devices) in San Diego, CA. Develop, review, and improve quality procedures, SOPs, Work Instructions, specifications, and other controlled documents within assigned processes.

They ask for
degree required
Tools it names
Root cause, FMEA, CAPA
Base pay
$80k–$95k

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 $80k–$95k.

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 30% below similar roles

Typical $100k–$149k, from 99 postings that list pay.

Experience asked
Not stated

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.

At a glance

Promotion path mentioned

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. 1

    Pick 2–3 people on the Quality team at Zimmer Biomet

    Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.

  2. 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.

  3. 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?
    • How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
  4. 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. 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.

Full description from Zimmer BiometAs posted on their careers site.Show

Requirements

Travel Expectations

Up to 15%

Show full description ↓

At Zimmer Biomet, we believe in pushing the boundaries of innovation and driving our mission forward. As a global medical technology leader for nearly 100 years, a patient’s mobility is enhanced by a Zimmer Biomet product or technology every 8 seconds.

As a Zimmer Biomet team member, you will share in our commitment to providing mobility and renewed life to people around the world. To support our talent team, we focus on development opportunities, robust employee resource groups (ERGs), a flexible working environment, location specific competitive total rewards, wellness incentives and a culture of recognition and performance awards. We are committed to creating an environment where every team member feels included, respected, empowered and recognised.

What You Can Expect

The Quality Engineer serves as the process owner and technical leader for assigned Quality Engineering processes, ensuring effective implementation, compliance, and continuous improvement. The role provides Quality Engineering leadership across manufacturing and quality activities, including NCMR, CAPA, , calibration and preventive maintenance, and process improvement.

How You'll Create Impact

  • •Lead and/or oversee NCMR and CAPA processes, ensuring thorough and scientific based investigations identify the true root cause rather than a proximate cause, along with risk-based impact assessments, effective corrective actions, effectiveness checks, and timely closure.
  • •Analyze quality metrics and trends to identify recurring issues, potential product and process risks, and opportunities for preventive action and continuous improvement. Use risk-based approaches to prioritize quality issues and determine appropriate actions.
  • •Own and maintain the Equipment Calibration and Preventive Maintenance Program, ensuring equipment is properly calibrated, maintained, documented, and suitable for its intended use based on applicable quality and risk requirements.
  • •Lead or support evaluation of out-of-specifications calibration results and equipment failures, including risk-based assessment of potential impact on product quality, processes, and previously accepted product, and initiation of appropriate quality actions.
  • •Support the Sterilization Quality Assurance Program, including process monitoring, quality reviews, investigations, risk-based evaluation of sterilization-related issues, and annual sterilization quality review activities.
  • •Lead and/or participate in internal and external audits, including preparation, execution, response to findings, risk-based evaluation of audit observations, and corrective action follow-up.
  • •Identify and address quality system and compliance gaps, assessing associated risks and driving appropriate corrective and preventive actions.
  • •Develop, review, and improve quality procedures, SOPs, Work Instructions, specifications, and other controlled documents within assigned processes.
  • •Support regulatory and quality initiatives and promote a strong quality culture, risk-based decision-making, compliance mindset, and proactive problem-solving approach.

What Makes You Stand Out

  • •Ability to work within a team environment and build relationships outside of the department as well as outside the company (suppliers, regulatory agencies, etc.).
  • •Ability to deliver, meet deadlines and have results orientation.
  • •Able to communicate both orally and in written form to multiple levels of the company.
  • •Demonstrates characteristics of high potential for future development opportunities.
  • •Microsoft Office Suite
  • •Knowledge of blueprint reading and geometric dimensioning and tolerancing, basic understanding of QSR/ISO regulations, design assurance, FMEA, and product testing methods, and can use optical comparators and CMMs.
  • •Strong process ownership and leadership skills
  • •Highly detail-oriented and organized
  • •Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills
  • •Ability to analyze data, identify trends, and make risk-based decisions
  • •Strong follow-through, accountability, and time-management skills

Your Background

  • •B.S. in engineering or an alternative Bachelor’s degree program with certification as a quality engineer (e.g. CQE).
  • •2-4 years of work experience.
  • •Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) and Medical device is a plus
  • •Combination of education and experience may be considered (in evaluating experience relative to requirements)
  • •Experience with NCMR, CAPA, root cause analysis, risk management, change control, audits, product release, and continuous improvement.
  • •Experience managing or supporting equipment calibration and preventive maintenance programs

Physical

Salary Expectations

$80,000-$95,000

EOE/M/F/Vet/Disability

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