Freelance Quality Control Inspector — Shenzhen, China

Freelance Quality Control Inspector — Shenzhen, China Company: CircuitMess (Croatia) Location: Shenzhen, Guangdong, China (on-site at manufacturer facilities) Type: Freelance / Contract — Ongoing Frequency: 2–3 inspection visits per month across three factories About CircuitMess CircuitMess is a STEM education company that designs and manufactures hands-on consumer electronics kits for kids and adults worldwide. Our products are manufactured across three factories in the Shenzhen area and shipped globally. We're looking for a reliable, detail-oriented person on the ground to serve as our eyes and ears at the factory level. The Role We need a local quality control inspector who can visit our three manufacturing partners in Shenzhen 2–3 times per month to ensure our consumer electronics products meet specification and are being produced correctly. This is a hands-on role — you'll be physically inspecting products, speaking with factory staff, and reporting directly to our operations team in Croatia. This is not a one-time gig. We're looking for someone who can build a long-term working relationship with both our team and our manufacturers. What You'll Do - Inspect consumer electronics products against our specifications — verify dimensions, component placement, soldering quality, PCB assembly, print quality, packaging, labeling, and overall build quality using checklists and reference samples we provide. - Communicate with factory management at three separate manufacturing facilities — discuss production timelines, flag issues early, and relay information between the factory floor and our team. This requires confident, professional Mandarin. - Document everything with photos and written reports — take clear, well-organized photos of product samples, defects, production lines, and packaging. Submit structured inspection reports after each visit. - Join video calls with our team when needed — occasionally walk us through issues in real-time via video call during or after an inspection. - Flag problems proactively — if something looks off, we expect you to raise it immediately, not wait for us to ask. Communication - All communication with the CircuitMess team happens through Upwork messaging and Slack. You'll need to be responsive on both platforms and comfortable working asynchronously across time zones (CET). What We're Looking For - Based in or near Shenzhen with the ability to travel between factory sites in the greater Pearl River Delta area. - Fluent in Mandarin Chinese — you'll be speaking directly with factory managers and line workers. English proficiency is required for all reporting and communication with our team. - Experience with consumer electronics manufacturing, PCB assembly, or hardware production — this is not a generalist QC role. You need to know what to look for on a circuit board and an assembled electronic product. - Experience with product inspection or quality control — previous work as a QC inspector, sourcing agent, or in manufacturing operations. - Dependable and communicative — someone who shows up on time, follows through, and keeps us informed without being chased. - Comfortable working independently — you'll often be the only CircuitMess representative on-site. Good judgment and initiative matter. - Has a smartphone with a good camera and reliable internet access for photo documentation and video calls. Nice to Have - Familiarity with AQL (Acceptable Quality Level) sampling procedures. - Your own basic inspection tools (calipers, multimeter, etc.). Experience working with international companies or remote teams across time zones. - Previous experience managing relationships across multiple factories simultaneously. Compensation - $200–$350 USD per inspection day, depending on experience and scope of work. Rate is per visit/inspection day — not hourly. - Travel expenses between factory locations will be reimbursed separately. - At 2–3 visits per month, expect a monthly commitment of approximately $400–$1,050 USD before travel reimbursement. How to Apply Send us a proposal with: - A brief introduction — who you are and where you're based. - Your relevant experience — specifically in consumer electronics QC, inspection, or manufacturing. - Your availability and any scheduling constraints. - Your expected day rate. - References from previous clients or employers, if available.