IPQC Manager

IPQC Manager Location: Hosur Plant, Tamilnadu Reporting To: IQC / IPQC Lead Team Name: Manufacturing Operations About the Team and the Role: The Quality team at Ather is the gatekeeper of our engineering excellence. As the Quality Manager for Incoming Quality Control (IQC) and In-Process Quality Control (IPQC), you are the primary custodian of product integrity across both Battery and Vehicle assembly. This is a high-impact leadership role where you will bridge the gap between engineering specifications and shop-floor execution. You will be responsible for ensuring that every component entering our facility and every process on the line meets Ather’s world-class standards, driving a culture of "First Time Right" through robust governance, strategic resource planning, and cross-functional synergy.

About Ather Energy

Want to know more?

• At Ather, we’ve built India’s first intelligent scooter, from scratch.
• Based on the philosophy of clean design and smart technology, we are transforming the urban commute experience.
• We are expanding in India, and in the coming years, we look forward to scaling up and launching more products globally.
• Today, our product offerings include the Ather 450X, 450S, 450 Apex, and Rizta.
• Beyond the product, we are also setting up an extensive charging network and re-imagining end-to-end ownership experience.
• To know more, check out our Careers site and our Substack .
• Be You, With Us The Ather story doesn't write itself - our people do.
• We believe everyone is equal, but not the same.
• Diversity is our strength, and building an inclusive and equitable workplace begins with acknowledging and embracing our differences.

Responsibilities

• Operational Governance: Take full accountability for IQC and IPQC activities; ensure all quality standards, practices, and controls are rigorously maintained across Battery and Vehicle Assembly lines.
• Lead and align the team to achieve organizational goals through the SQDCM framework: Safety: Strive for zero first-aid incidents/accidents by building a proactive safety culture.
• Pioneer programs to enhance operational quality and process robustness.
• Identify and execute initiatives to reduce scrap, rejections, and overall operational costs.
• Ensure quality operations are perfectly synced with production targets to meet organizational timelines.
• Foster an inclusive growth culture, maintaining a pulse on the team’s well-being and professional development.
• Plan and provide necessary facilities, high-precision equipment, personnel, and systems required to meet evolving quality deliverables.
• Ensure all quality issues are identified and resolved during X1-build, LVPT (Low Volume Production Trial), and HVPT (High Volume Production Trial) stages; ensure strict adherence to APDS (Ather Product Development System) requirements.
• Oversee the implementation of Engineering Change Notices (ECN) and manage document change control via Internal Audits (IA) for IQC/IPQC functions.
• Represent the function in various Swimlanes (SwL), ensuring stories are closed on time.
• Collaborate with Spec-Ops, ME, SQA, Engineering, and Production to align on inspection parameters, AOI (Automated Optical Inspection), and containment actions.
• Partner with the PEX (Process Excellence) team to conduct departmental audits and ensure the timely closure of Non-Conformities (NCs).
• Guide the department in terms of the "3Cs"—Culture, Capability, and Capacity—empowering team members to make data-driven decisions in Spec-Ops meetings.
• Proficiency in managing APDS/APQP stages, including trial builds (X1, LVPT, HVPT) and ECN implementations.
• Expert-level application of 8D, 5-Why, and Fishbone analysis to support MQA and SQA teams in achieving SPR (Supplier Performance Rating) targets.

Requirements

• Required qualifications - B Tech / BE Experience (no. of years) -7 to 10 Years Must Have Competencies: Total Quality Management (TQM): Expert knowledge of IQC and IPQC frameworks within a high-tech manufacturing environment (Automotive/Electronics/Battery).
• Skill in building and improving competency frameworks for Shift Incharges, Zone Leaders, and Associates.

Preferred

• Proven ability to lead large teams using SQDCM metrics to drive safety, cost reduction, and quality improvements.
• Agile/Scrum Methodologies: Experience working within Swimlanes and managing quality deliverables through JIRA or similar story-based systems.

Internal Auditing

• Knowledge of IATF 16949 or ISO 9001 standards to lead departmental sustainability audits.
• We are an equal opportunity employer, and our team reflects a wide range of identities, experiences, and perspectives - all united by a shared passion to shape the Ather journey.