Quality Lab Lead

Job Title: Quality Lab Lead Job Description
The Quality Lab Lead coordinates the daily operations of the quality laboratory and CMM schedule, providing hands-on leadership to lab technicians and other staff. This role assigns work, delivers training and guidance, and ensures all team members follow established policies, procedures, and safety standards. The Quality Lab Lead maintains accurate documentation, oversees measuring equipment and software, and drives continuous improvement in dimensional inspection and quality control processes within a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
Responsibilities
- Coordinate the daily operations of the quality laboratory and manage the CMM schedule to ensure timely completion of all inspections and measurements.
- Supervise laboratory technicians and other lab staff by assigning tasks, monitoring performance, and providing ongoing coaching and support.
- Train and mentor lab technicians on measurement techniques, quality procedures, software use, and safety standards, and maintain detailed records of all training activities.
- Ensure accurate and complete documentation of lab processes, measurement results, and quality records in accordance with internal and customer requirements.
- Oversee daily lab operations, including workflow planning, prioritization of inspection tasks, and alignment with production and quality needs.
- Troubleshoot equipment malfunctions, coordinate necessary repairs, and minimize downtime of measuring tools, scanners, and CMM equipment.
- Manage laboratory supplies and instrumentation by monitoring inventory levels, ordering materials, and evaluating suppliers and equipment for suitability and performance.
- Maintain measuring software, including installing updates, managing licenses, and training staff on new features or changes.
- Resolve quality issues by investigating nonconformances, identifying root causes, and providing technical support and guidance to lab staff and cross-functional teams.
- Oversee coordinate measuring machine (CMM) operations to ensure dimensional inspection accuracy and adherence to measurement standards.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams and suppliers to clarify and meet quality expectations, support problem solving, and improve measurement and inspection processes.
- Research, evaluate, purchase, and implement new tooling, equipment, and fixturing to support lab capabilities and improve measurement efficiency and accuracy.
- Perform measurements using scanners or portable CMMs, including setup, programming, and execution of dimensional inspections.
- Apply quality control procedures and Measurement Systems Analysis (MSA) methods to ensure measurement reliability and repeatability.
- Participate in miscellaneous projects and perform additional duties as assigned to support overall quality and operational goals.
Essential Skills
- Associate degree strongly preferred, ideally in a technical, engineering, or related discipline.
- Strong technical and fixturing background in measurement lab operations or quality systems.
- Proficiency in quality documentation and reporting, including maintaining accurate records of lab processes, measurements, and training.
- 3+ years experience with coordinate measuring machines (CMMs) and metrology equipment.
- Experience with CMM programming, including setup, execution, and verification of dimensional inspection programs.
- Competency in dimensional inspection methods and the use of measuring tools and measuring equipment.
- Experience with Measurement Systems Analysis (MSA) and quality control procedures.
- Portable arm CMM programming experience, including operation and interpretation of results.
- Scanning knowledge and experience, including measurement with scanners or portable CMMs.
- Experience in calibration of measuring tools and equipment to maintain accuracy and compliance.
- background or experience related to injection molding measurement or quality control is required.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with lab staff, cross-functional teams, and suppliers.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
- Verisurf knowledge preferred, including use of Verisurf software for CMM programming or inspection.
- Experience working in a quality lab within a manufacturing environment.
- Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot measurement equipment and coordinate repairs with internal or external resources.
- Ability to research and evaluate new measurement technologies, tooling, and fixturing to improve lab performance.
- Comfort working in a fast-paced, collaborative, and team-oriented environment.
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and schedules within the lab.
Work Environment
The quality laboratory is located within a manufacturing setting, in an enclosed space situated on the manufacturing floor. The environment is fast-paced and highly collaborative, with frequent interaction between the lab, production, and cross-functional teams. Onsite amenities include a vending area, and the culture emphasizes teamwork, regular onsite engagement, and shared activities such as company celebrations, National Employee Appreciation Week, March Madness bracket events with prizes, holiday and theme days, team lunches, and birthday celebrations. The role involves regular hands-on work with measuring tools, CMMs, scanners, and metrology equipment in a lab environment closely integrated with manufacturing operations.
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Elk River, MN.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $30.00 - $38.00/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job
classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be
subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits
available for this temporary role may include the following:

Medical, dental & vision
Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
Short and long-term disability
Health Spending Account (HSA)
Transportation benefits
Employee Assistance Program
Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)
Workplace Type
This is a fully onsite position in Elk River,MN.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Oct 19, 2026. About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without
regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability,
sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected
by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or
adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability,
please email [email protected] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the
city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants
with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a
condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law
shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):
We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process,
including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications
and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you
acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.