Whisker is redefining what it means to live with cats—designing intelligent systems that remove friction, elevate the everyday, and celebrate the quiet brilliance of feline companionship. Today, Litter-Robot leads the category. Tomorrow, an entire ecosystem that expands what’s possible for cats and the people who love them. We believe the future is feline. And we’re imagining that future today.

We work onsite 4+ days a week, with our team based in Auburn Hills, Michigan, and Juneau, Wisconsin. Our team of 600+ passionate pet people thrives on collaboration, innovation, and the occasional office cameo from a four-legged friend.

What You’ll Do:

The Quality Technician - Incoming Inspector is responsible for assessing the acceptability of received materials to established standards. The Quality Technician - Incoming Inspector also performs product hold and release functions, communicates the status of product that has been incoming inspected and keeps an accurate log of all inspections done and their results. This role is responsible for assisting with the Material Review Board (MRB) process, handling supplier return materials, and conducting dock audits to ensure compliance with quality standards for outgoing finished goods being shipped to customers.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

This list of duties and responsibilities is not all inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties and responsibilities, as deemed necessary.

• Performs incoming inspection on received materials
• Uses gauges and visual inspection to perform incoming inspections
• Uses sampling plans and random sampling to select samples
• Identifies nonconforming product
• Communicates incoming inspection results to interested parties
• Keeps accurate inspection records
• Calculates metrics for the incoming inspection function
• Sorts materials when required in order to ensure acceptable product is available for use in assembly
• Follows incoming inspection plans
• Assists in developing incoming inspection plans
• Uses drawings and other documents to determine inspection requirements
• Correctly applies labels to product to reflect inspection status
• Supports and participates in process improvement activities
• Demonstrates the willingness and ability to perform all functions of the incoming inspection process including, but not limited to, selecting correct samples, accurately measuring or assessing conformance to inspection requirements and documenting results accurately
• Communicates between departments and shifts, sharing pertinent information to optimize plant results
• Performs all duties, specified and otherwise, in a safe, constructive manner
• Performs additional responsibilities when required
• Supports the Material Review Board (MRB) process
• Handles supplier return materials, ensuring proper documentation, communication, and resolution of quality issues.
• Conducts dock audits to verify compliance with quality standards and procedures for outgoing finished goods being shipped to customers.
• Assists in the development and maintenance of procedures and work instructions related to MRB, supplier returns, and dock audits.
• Provides training and guidance to other team members on MRB processes, supplier return procedures, and dock audit protocols.
• Participates in continuous improvement initiatives to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the MRB process, supplier return handling, and dock audits.

What You’ll Bring:

• High school education or equivalent work experience is required
• MS Word, Excel, and/or Google Suite experience desirable
• Previous manufacturing experience is preferred
• Must be a team player with a positive attitude
• Must be an efficient worker that is organized and detail-oriented
• Able to work in a fast-paced manufacturing environment
• Able to manage time effectively with minimal oversight
• A good attendance record is required
• An ability to clearly communicate
• A willingness to hold oneself and others accountable to standards and expectations
• Able to keep cool under duress
• Able to follow directions, use hand and power tools and measuring instruments

Not Required but nice to have!

• Two year technical degree in an applicable field (Quality or Manufacturing)
• Working experience in a manufacturing environment
• Lean manufacturing knowledge
• Lean Six Sigma (LSS) or American Society for Quality (ASQ) certification
• Understanding of ISO 9001
• Understanding of engineered drawings
• Implementation of creative problem solving
• Bilingual (Spanish)
• Current or previous pet parent of a cat (dog is acceptable, too!)

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a team member to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the team member is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. The team member frequently is required to use hands to handle or feel. The team member is occasionally required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms. The team member must continuously lift and/or move up to 35 pounds and occasionally up to 75 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus with or without corrective lenses.