About KI Liquid Engineering
KI Liquid Engineering is a U.S. chemical blender and contract manufacturer producing custom liquid formulations for B2B brand-owners across automotive care, cleaning supplies, CPG, and 3PL services. Our products ship under customer brand specifications and require batch-record discipline, controlled-method release testing, and audit-defensible quality documentation.
Quality at KILE is an established function with documented procedures spanning nonconformance, complaint, CAPA, return, hold, and OOS workflows. In April 2026 we completed a system-level revamp — a single Issue Management Master Log, six unified controlled-form templates (NCR, Complaint, CAPA, Return Evaluation, Hold Tag, OOS Investigation), enforced cross-record linkage, and a trend dashboard — that connects what already existed and makes recurrence patterns visible. The team you're joining operates this strengthened framework and drives continuous improvement against it.
About the role
This is a foundation-building hire and an operationally critical position. You will be part of a growing quality team led by our incoming Senior QC & Compliance Specialist, with strategic oversight from our Head of Operations. The team is being structured intentionally — a senior lead at the program / investigation level, a Quality & Compliance Officer (this role) at the operational / execution level, supported by the broader operations and lab functions.
In year one, the role is operationally focused: release testing on finished goods, receiving inspection on raw materials and customer-supplied components, in-process QC, hold-tag application, NCR and customer-complaint intake, retain sample management, and contribution to OOS investigations and customer SCAR responses under the Senior QC & Compliance Specialist. As the program matures and you prove out, scope expands into lead-investigator roles on OOS Phase IA/IB, independent SCAR responses, and ownership of trend reporting at Management Review.
You will work alongside the Senior QC & Compliance Specialist, the Development Chemist, Production Supervision, and the Warehouse Lead. You will be the operational backbone of our quality program.
What you'll do
Release testing and lab work
- Execute controlled-method viscosity (rotational viscometer, R3R / R1 / R2 spindles at calibrated rpm), pH, density, identity (FTIR), and appearance testing on every released batch per documented release procedures.
- Maintain calibration discipline on viscometers, pH meters, analytical balances, and other lab instruments per the LAB-EQP calibration schedule.
- Pull, label, and store retain samples on every released batch; re-test retains on customer complaint or recurrence investigation.
Receiving and in-process inspection
- Verify supplier COAs against KILE-controlled specifications on inbound raw materials. Raise nonconformance reports on any out-of-spec inbound lot.
- Apply the same discipline to customer-supplied components (caps, bottles, labels) — supplier due-diligence assumptions are not a substitute for documented inbound verification.
- Visual inspection during fill and seal application; cap sealer parameter verification; cap-landing-surface moisture checks; fill-volume verification. Document compliance against the relevant pack-out QC procedure.
- Execute leak-on-side overnight testing on seal-applied SKUs as a release-inspection element.
Hold, segregation, and disposition tracking
- Apply Quality Hold Tags on any nonconforming or suspect material. Maintain physical segregation in the Hold area, update QuickBooks inventory status to Hold, and track release-and-disposition through to closure.
Documentation and intake
- Open NCR records on internal nonconformances; coordinate with Sales / Customer Service on customer complaint intake; apply severity classification (Critical / Major / Minor) per the documented procedure.
- Maintain Master Log register rows from open to closure for the records you own.
- Execute Phase IA and Phase IB laboratory review on confirmed out-of-specification results; support the Senior QC & Compliance Specialist on Phase II manufacturing investigations.
Customer support
- Contribute analytical work and documentation for Supplier Corrective Action Requests (SCARs) raised by customers. SCAR volume averages 2–4 per month across our major customer accounts; the role is operationally embedded with those investigations alongside the Senior QC & Compliance Specialist.
Continuous improvement
- Participate in monthly Management Review cycles; contribute trend data to the Master Log dashboard; flag repeat-occurrence patterns under the 12-month recurrence rule.
What you'll need
Required
- Two or more years of quality inspection, QC laboratory, or comparable hands-on quality experience in a regulated manufacturing environment.
- Demonstrable hands-on competence with rotational viscometry, pH measurement and meter calibration, and analytical balance work.
- Comfort working in a controlled-document environment with numbered SOPs, controlled-revision forms, and signed batch records. Willingness to write clearly — every action becomes a record.
- Ability to write a defensible nonconformance description and containment summary in plain language.
- Microsoft Excel competence (you will live in the Master Log register).
Strongly preferred
- Experience in liquid blending, cosmetics, personal care, industrial cleaning, household chemicals, or comparable chemistry-based manufacturing.
- Working understanding of ISO 9001:2015 quality management principles.
- Familiarity with OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200), SDS / GHS labeling requirements, and EPA EPCRA Sections 311/312 mixture reporting.
- Familiarity with cGMP for liquid manufacturing.
- California CUPA familiarity.
- FTIR identity-confirmation experience (or willingness to train).
- QuickBooks (for inventory hold status) and monday.com (we're migrating the Master Log to monday in late 2026).
Background note If your experience is rooted primarily in medical device (ISO 13485) or food safety (HACCP), we are open to the conversation, but be clear in your cover letter about how your discipline maps across to chemical blending — the regulatory frameworks are different.
What success looks like
- Release testing on every finished-goods batch documented under the controlled COA method conditions, with zero release-method discrepancies vs. customer-facing COAs.
- 100% of nonconformances captured in the Master Log within one business day of identification.
- Retain sample program fully operational; retain re-test turnaround within two business days of complaint receipt.
- Trend dashboard contributions are data-driven, not anecdotal.
- 12-18 months in: working independently on routine OOS investigations and customer SCAR responses, with the Senior QC & Compliance Specialist transitioning into Manager-level scope above you. This is a growth role — your scope expands as the team scales.
Location, schedule, and physical requirements
- On-site at our Santa Fe Springs, California facility (13875 Mica St).
- Standard day-shift schedule; occasional weekend or off-shift coverage for time-sensitive investigations.
- Manufacturing environment with chemical handling and fragranced product families. Standard industrial PPE provided (safety glasses, gloves, lab coat, closed-toe shoes).
- Ability to lift up to 50 lb (tote sample pulls) and stand for extended periods.
Reports to
Senior QC & Compliance Specialist, with strategic oversight from the Head of Operations. Works closely with the Development Chemist, Production Supervisor, Warehouse Lead, and Sales / Customer Service.
Compensation
Starting hourly range: $22.00 – $26.00 depending on experience. (California pay-disclosure compliance per SB 1162.) health / dental / vision / PTO / 401(k) /
How to apply
Submit a resume and a brief cover letter (one or two paragraphs is plenty) describing one quality investigation you've been part of from start to finish: what happened, what you found, and what changed because of it. We care more about how you think than where you went to school.
KI Liquid Engineering is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $22.00 - $26.00 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Education:
Experience:
- Quality control: 3 years (Required)
Language:
Work Location: In person
