Senior Specialist, Quality Assurance

 Reference Number : 938 

Status : Permanent - Full-time  

Annual Salary / Hourly Rate : $102 816 - $127,008

Number of positions to be filled : 1 

Application Deadline : 07/31/2025

Did you know that VIA Rail is carrying out ambitious projects to modernize its services and infrastructure? From our new ultramodern train fleet to ongoing improvement of our infrastructure, we’re building the future of transportation in Canada. Working for VIA Rail is being a part of a collective effort in sustainable mobility. 

Reporting directly to the D&B Operations Manager, the Quality Assurance Manager will be involved in organizing, updating and supervising the application of the quality system and quality control for the LDRR project.
This responsibility extends to the train manufacturer's sites, as well as those of VIA Maintenance, where train testing, commissioning and warranty management take place.

They will coordinate all activities related to quality, warranty issue management, reliability and supplier configuration. 
They will work closely with the Senior Quality Assurance Manager, the Project Manager, the technical teams, as well as VIA Rail's maintenance and operations teams.

Responsibilities:

Project Quality Assurance:

• Define and update project management plans, including: Quality Management Plan, Configuration Management Plan, and Warranty Management Plan for VIA Rail Canada Inc.
• Verify and approve suppliers' quality plans, ensuring compliance with VIA Rail's contractual and normative requirements.
• Define the gate review process for the various project components, and ensure effective coordination between the teams involved.
• Organize and run training sessions for project teams, to ensure a thorough understanding and rigorous application of the gate review process.
• Plan and prepare major project milestones, including milestone reviews, tests, audits and other key events.
• Actively participate in Final Design Reviews (FDR), representing the quality team and ensuring the integration of quality requirements into deliverables.
• Implement the FAI management process.

Product Quality Assurance:

• Ensure that the contractor carries out internal audits in accordance with the Quality Audit Plan, and follow up non-conformities and improvement actions.
• Plan and manage contractor audits.
• Develop and monitor a system of performance indicators to assess contractor performance.
• Provide support to engineering teams and local VIA representatives at contractors, including initial inspections (FAI), technical requests, and quality of deliverables, including documentation.
• Implement a system to track open points related to quality and configuration.

• Quality Control 
  - Identify hold points with all quality systems (VIA Rail project execution plan, quality project plan and constructor acceptance plans);
  - In collaboration with the contractor's resident teams, follow up on requests for deviations and non-conformities issued by the builder;
  - In collaboration with the contractor's resident teams, guarantee the preparation of the builder's delivery file, ensuring that it is prepared progressively and on time, checking the conformity of the contents for each car, and ensuring that a certificate of conformity is issued;
  - In collaboration with the supplier and the testing team, organize inspections and acceptance tests when the trains arrive in Montreal;
  - In collaboration with the supplier and test teams, organize final train acceptances.
  - Apply and follow anomaly management processes (8D etc...) and corrective actions;

Qualifications and skills required:

• Bachelor's degree in industrial engineering, quality assurance or related discipline.
• Minimum 10 years' experience in a similar position.
• Excellent command of quality assurance tools, methods and concepts.
• Strong leadership and excellent communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to influence and mobilize cross-functional teams.
• Structured approach, rigor and organizational skills.
• PMP (Project Management Professional) certification, an asset.
• Strong computer skills, including advanced mastery of Microsoft Excel.
• Bilingualism (French and English), both written and spoken.
• Availability for regular travel
• Mainly daytime working hours, with the possibility of evening travel.

The ideal candidate will have solid experience in manufacturing, quality assurance and welding engineering, specifically in the rail industry. Expertise in new and refurbished rolling stock is a major asset. He or she demonstrates in-depth knowledge of heavy equipment, as well as mastery of inspection processes, continuous improvement, quality system verification and technical analysis.

At VIA Rail, we are proud to be an employment-equity employer and we strive to form teams that reflect the diversity of Canadian society. We aim to remove barriers to employment accessibility and aspire to provide an inclusive and equitable work environment where everyone is valued, regardless of their identity or differences, to enable them to reach their full potential.

If you need assistance in making the recruitment process or the position you are applying for more accessible, please let us know. Alternate arrangements may be offered to individuals who request them at any stage of the recruitment process. All information received in relation to arrangements will be kept confidential.

Note that we will only contact those who are selected for an interview.

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