Quality Control Lead Light Labs Ann Arbor, MI Job Details Full-time $80,000 - $90,000 a year 10 hours ago Benefits Health insurance Dental insurance 401(k) Paid time off Vision insurance Qualifications Nutrition Biology Content creation for technical audiences Defect resolution root cause analysis Procedural guides Team leadership Bachelor of Science Preventive action implementation Continuous improvement (laboratory quality control method) Technical writing experience within manufacturing Production deviation management Compliance audits & assessments Corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) ISO certification audits Trend analysis Compliance documentation Quality inspection Regulatory/legal compliance standards in production Laboratory staff supervision Standard operating procedures (SOPs) FDA regulations Failure analysis Full Job Description About Us Light Labs is creating the new standard for modern lab testing. With the latest in sample preparation, testing instrumentation, and data automation, our goal is to be the fastest growing testing lab in the world. Role Overview We're hiring a Quality Control Manager to own the day-to-day quality system that keeps Light Labs results defensible. You'll run QC data review and out-of-specification (OOS) investigations, own the control chart and trending program, manage document and record control, and keep our accreditation and training records inspection-ready across both labs. This is a hands-on ownership role, not a records-keeping one. You'll decide when data is fit to release, drive corrective actions to closure, and be the person who notices a drifting instrument before a client does. You'll also serve as deputy to the Quality Director, covering their responsibilities during absences — so we're looking for someone ready to speak for quality in front of an assessor, a client, or the lab floor. What You'll Own Quality system and accreditation Maintain the quality management system against ISO/IEC 17025, including the quality manual, SOP lifecycle, document and record control, and revision history Keep the lab audit-ready year-round: prepare for and host accreditation body assessments, and manage responses and evidence to close findings Run the internal audit program — schedule, conduct, document, and follow findings through to closure Own change control for methods, instruments, software, and procedures, including the impact assessment Drive quality system consistency across the Ann Arbor and Salt Lake City labs so a result means the same thing at either site Data review and investigations Conduct initial data review of OOS and out-of-trend occurrences, determine whether a result is fit to release, and escalate as needed Lead nonconformance, deviation, and CAPA investigations from initiation to effectiveness check, including root cause analysis Investigate client complaints and quality inquiries, and prepare written responses Uphold data integrity expectations (attributable, legible, contemporaneous, original, accurate) across LIMS records and instrument raw data Monitoring, method performance, and trending Own the control chart program — establish limits, review charts on a defined cadence, and act on shifts and trends Manage participation in proficiency testing and interlaboratory comparisons, evaluate results, and investigate unsatisfactory scores Support method validation and verification, including precision, accuracy, detection limits, and estimation of measurement uncertainty Maintain equipment qualification and calibration records, and track instrument performance documentation Track ongoing performance of stability studies Maintain the Environmental Monitoring Program Report quality metrics into management review — OOS rates, CAPA aging, PT performance, on-time closure — and flag trends that point to process or equipment issues External labs and suppliers Qualify and monitor subcontracted and reference laboratories, and review the results they return before those results reach a client report Evaluate critical suppliers and consumables that affect result quality People and cross-functional work Own the training and competency program: analyst authorization records, requalification, and documented evidence of ongoing competence Serve as deputy to the Quality Director, covering their responsibilities when they're out Work with lab technicians, chemists, and other departments to keep quality standards consistent across workflows Partner with the software team to build quality checks into our LIMS and automation rather than bolting them on afterward Stay current on ISO/IEC 17025, FDA, and USP requirements relevant to quality control, and translate changes into practice Qualifications Required Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Biology, Engineering, or a related field 5+ years in a quality role in an accredited testing laboratory or regulated manufacturing environment, including at least 2 years owning a quality subsystem end to end (CAPA, internal audit, document control, training, or method validation) Working knowledge of ISO/IEC 17025 and direct experience supporting an accreditation assessment Hands-on experience running OOS and deviation investigations, including root cause analysis and CAPA closure Applied knowledge of control chart methodology and QC trending Experience with LIMS and QMS software and terminology Strong technical writing — investigations, SOPs, and audit responses that hold up under review Comfortable working independently and owning a system end to end Solid communication skills, able to step into a leadership role when needed Preferred Experience in dietary supplement, food, or consumer goods testing (heavy metals, pesticides, microbiology, or nutritional analysis) Familiarity with FDA cGMP (21 CFR 111 or 117), USP methods, and state or retailer testing requirements such as Prop 65, CA AB 899, or Amazon Experience supervising or mentoring quality or lab staff Multi-site or multi-lab quality experience Quality certification (ASQ CQA, CQE, or CMQ/OE) or formal internal auditor training Experience validating software or automated data flows used in a regulated environment Work Environment On-site laboratory setting; PPE required in lab areas Regular time on the lab floor alongside technicians and chemists, in addition to desk-based documentation work Occasional travel between Light Labs sites Who We Are Light Labs is building the modern platform for lab testing, starting with consumer goods brands. We help companies test more cheaply, quickly, and enable them to use lab results to automate regulatory compliance and grow revenue. We believe consumers deserve to know the purity and accuracy of every product that affects their families' health. Improving our food system starts with increasing transparency and creating a more informed customer. Not only are we building a lab that makes testing faster, cheaper, and easier, but also the infrastructure that allows brands to: Market and highlight their lab results by making it easy to push lab data directly to product display pages. Here, brands will highlight what's in their product (active ingredients + they meet their claims) and what's not in their product (heavy metals, environmental toxins, PFAs, etc) Automatically comply with regulations like Prop 65, CA AB 899, Amazon testing requirements, etc. By integrating the full experience - from testing to the data sharing with customers - we're building a more efficient and streamlined process. Brands can now differentiate themselves and become the no-brainer choice in their category through testing and great transparency. We're a team of experienced founders that have raised $12M from top VCs (8VC and Valor), with top CPG founders and strategics also coming into the round. Whether you're lab tech, engineer, sales, marketing, or customer support, you'll have a seat at the table as we work to increase transparency in the food system. Our Mission Almost everything people consume is becoming increasingly toxic (and bereft of nutrition) which leads to massive health dysfunction while simultaneously destroying our planet. No one knows about it because you can't see, taste, smell, or quantify the problem: Cinnamon Apple Puree pouches, marketed for children and labeled as preservative-free, kosher, and gluten-free, contained lead levels 200 times greater than the FDA's proposed guidelines Over 1300 chemicals are banned in cosmetics in the EU, while only 11 are in the United States The US also allows thousands of food additives which are banned in other countries A study of 168 baby foods revealed that 95% contained at least one heavy metal (arsenic, lead, mercury, cadmium), with a quarter containing all four Seven out eight samples of kale contained 'disturbing' levels of PFAs, with organic kale containing higher levels of the toxic compounds Today, even if consumer brands or manufacturers wanted to test for purity of their products, the experience is slow, cumbersome, expensive, and nearly impossible to interpret or share the lab results unless you have a PhD in the area you're testing for. Because there is no feedback loop or standardized transparency that brands offer, there is no consumer pressure on change of practices and sourcing. If people knew what was in their food, they'd be shocked. They would shop differently. Our mission is to bring this transparency to the food system. Allow customers to buy products and brands that are free of toxic ingredients. Transparency is the first step in creating demand for cleaner products, and ultimately a cleaner supply chain.

Founding Team Nick Mares:

3x founder, Kettle & Fire and Upside Financing. Kettle & Fire is a $100 million/year brand while Upside Financing exited in 2022. He's raised more than $100M across the two companies and been both in the CEO and COO roles. Nick is a Thiel Fellow.

Vijay Manohar:

growth and GTM leader. He helped Samsara scale to be one of the fastest growing B2B software companies ever to reach $1B ARR, including an IPO (

NYSE:

IOT). B.S. in computer engineering from UT Austin.

Pay:

$80,000.00 - $90,000.00 per year

Benefits:

401(k) Dental insurance Health insurance Paid time off Vision insurance

Work Location:

In person