Quality Engineer

Candidates should have a strong foundation in quality assurance and quality management. Candidates from engineering or applied science backgrounds are welcome to apply, provided they can demonstrate a foundational, working level understanding of electronics and electronic components gained through professional experience or academic coursework. While a degree or formal background in electrical or electronic engineering is preferred, it is not required. Given the hands-on nature of this role — which involves direct interaction with PCB assemblies, electronic components, and specialized inspection equipment in a fast-paced manufacturing environment — candidates with no prior exposure to electronics or electronic manufacturing environments may find this role to be a challenging fit and are encouraged to carefully review the essential duties and responsibilities before applying.

The ideal candidate will have demonstrated experience in high volume product mass production quality management as well as vendor and supplier quality assurance experience. They must be able to work hands-on with specialized equipment and electronic components in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Support development and design engineering with qualification activities on new and existing products, including evaluation plans and first article visual inspection of PCB assemblies and components.
• Conduct x-ray and cross sectioning of electronic components to support evaluation activities.
• Operate and utilize X-ray inspection equipment and PCBA cross-section analysis tools to evaluate electronic components and assemblies.
• Interface with global manufacturing facilities and suppliers to research quality problems and maintain quality standards.
• Investigate electronic assembly manufacturing processes to determine root causes and implement corrective actions.
• Manage ISO 9001 compliance and QMS, including internal audits, certification audits, and CAPAs.
• Work with design engineering, manufacturing teams, and customers to analyze failures in returned units and generate failure analysis reports.
• Perform Failure Mode Analysis (FMA) and Supplier Corrective Action Requests (SCAR) processes related to electronic parts including FETs, Capacitors, Resistors, ICs, PCB boards, and Magnetics.
• Prepare and issue Corrective Action Requests, risk assessments, and process holds for product and process-related problems.
• Review and approve change orders for quality impacts.
• Monitor and evaluate monthly PPM (Parts Per Million) data from global manufacturing sites, analyze trends, and address quality performance issues.
• Support Product Environmental Compliance activities, such as RoHS, REACH, and Conflict of Minerals regulations.
• Collaborate with internal departments and external customers to resolve Quality issues related to products and processes.
• Support and manage quality processes within high volume product mass production environments.
• Manage vendor and supplier quality assurance activities including supplier audits, evaluations, and performance monitoring.
• Apply knowledge of PCB board assembly processes including wave soldering, reflow soldering, and IPC standards and requirements.
• Apply knowledge of pins and ME parts material plating including electro-chemistry processes.
• Utilize and learn internal systems including PLM, ERPln, and internal quality management systems and procedures.

Supervisory Responsibilities                                                  

This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

Competencies                                                             

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies. Problem Solving – Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; develops alternative solutions and works well in group problem solving situations.

• Customer Service– Responds promptly to customer needs and requests for assistance.
• Interpersonal Skills– Maintains confidentiality; welcomes new ideas and approaches.
• Teamwork– Balances team and individual responsibilities; gives and welcomes feedback.
• Motivation– Demonstrates persistence; overcomes obstacles.
• Planning/Organizing– Prioritizes and plans work activities; uses time efficiently.
• Professionalism– Approaches others in a tactful manner; reacts well under pressure.
• Attendance/Punctuality– Consistently at work and on time; ensures responsibilities are covered when absent.
• Dependability– Follows instructions; responds to management direction; takes responsibility for own actions.
• Electronic Knowledge– Able to read electronic schematics and understand circuits to support quality engineering tasks.
• Manufacturing Process Knowledge– Familiar with PCB board assembly processes wave soldering reflow soldering IPC requirements and electronic parts characteristics including FETs Capacitors Resistors ICs PCB boards and Magnetics

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.

• Bachelor of Science degree (B.S.) or equivalent in engineering or an applied science discipline, with a minimum of five (5) years of related experience and/or training in quality assurance and quality management. (Electrical/electronic engineering is preferred but not required.)
• A foundational, working-level understanding of electronics and electronic components is expected due to the hands-on nature of this role. Candidates should be able to demonstrate basic electronics literacy relevant to the responsibilities of this position, gained through professional experience or academic coursework.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret technical journals, reports, and legal documents. Ability to read electronic schematics is a plus.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience with ISO 9001, QMS, failure analysis, and corrective actions preferred.
• Demonstrated experience in quality management within high volume product mass production environments.
• Demonstrated experience in vendor and supplier quality assurance including supplier audits, evaluations, and performance monitoring.
• Hands-on experience operating X-ray inspection equipment and PCBA cross-section analysis tools.
• Knowledge of FMA and SCAR processes related to electronic parts including FETs, Capacitors, Resistors, ICs, PCB boards, and Magnetics.
• Familiarity with PCB board assembly processes including wave soldering, reflow soldering, and IPC standards.
• Knowledge of pins and ME parts material plating including electro-chemistry processes.
• Experience with PLM, ERPln, or similar enterprise quality management systems preferred.

Education and/or Experience                                                  

Bachelor of Science degree (B.S.) or equivalent in engineering or an applied science discipline, and a minimum of five (5) years of related experience and/or training in quality assurance and quality management; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Electrical or electronic engineering education or experience is preferred but not required. A demonstrated foundational understanding of electronics gained through professional experience or academic coursework is expected of all candidates applying for this role, given its hands-on focus on electronic components and assemblies.

Language Skills                                                          

Quality Engineers need to read, analyze, and interpret technical documentation, communicate with internal teams and external suppliers/customers, write clear reports, respond to inquiries, and prepare documentation for audits and compliance.

Mathematical Skills                                                    

Quality Engineering often involves working with statistical analysis, reliability calculations, measurement data, and interpreting production metrics. Skills in probability, statistical inference, ratios, percentages, and basic geometry/trigonometry are needed to analyze processes, product quality, and resolve issues.

Reasoning Ability                                                       

Diagnosing quality issues and developing corrective actions requires the ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Reasoning skills are also important for interpreting technical instructions, troubleshooting, and making decisions with multiple variables.

Computer Skills                                                          

Competency with software like MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) is essential for documenting findings, analyzing data, preparing reports, making presentations, and managing databases and metrics related to quality.  Experience with PLM and ERPln systems is a plus.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

 ISO training preferred

SALARY RANGE

The starting annual base pay for the role is between USD $75,000 and $95,000. The actual base is dependent upon many factors, such as training, transferable skills, work experience, business needs, market demands. The base pay range is subject to change and may be modified in the future. The role may also be eligible for variable bonus programs and benefits. 

Physical Demands

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

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear.
• The employee is frequently required to sit.
• The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, use hands to handle or feel, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required include close vision and color vision.

Work Environment:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to the risk of electrical shock.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

ABOUT TDK-LAMBDA AMERICAS INC.

Acquired by TDK in 2008, TDK-Lambda Americas Inc. represents the culmination of three well-established North American power manufacturers: Electronic Measurements Inc., Lambda Electronics, and Innoveta Technologies. We have earned the reputation of being a trusted world-class organization through a history of providing reliable and innovative power supplies. Our broad product offering features over 6,000 models that are suited for many applications, including medical, industrial, broadcast, defense, factory automation, and LED/LCD signage. Our view is that "power supply" is more than just an electronic device, but the heart of our customer's systems. This belief has helped us become a global leader in our industry.

We employ approximately 300 people in our engineering, manufacturing, and sales offices across the United States. At our company, we value the work and ideas of our employees. They are encouraged to express their opinions and take the initiative, which has helped with the growth of our community and kept us at the cutting edge of new technologies. We offer our employees not only a career opportunity but also an environment that allows them to succeed.

TDK-Lambda Americas offers great benefits and perks, including healthcare benefits, a 401(k) with match, paid time off (PTO), educational assistance, recognition plans, service awards, and performance-based awards.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job duty satisfactorily. TDK-Lambda Americas is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer and is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. In keeping with that commitment, we will take the steps to assure that people with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform the essential functions of the position.