Sr. Quality Engineer

#Eng-IT-01
Sr. Quality Engineer
Location: San Jose, CA
Status: Full-tome direct hire
Compensation: $95,000 to $105,000 per year
Experience: Bachelors Degree in Engineering with 5 years of experience in an engineering setting
 
SUMMARY:
This position plays a key role in Supplier Quality Management, Incoming Quality Control (IQC), and New Product Introduction (NPI), ensuring quality excellence from supplier qualification through mass production. The ideal candidate will have strong experience in electronics manufacturing, supplier quality, root cause analysis, and cross-functional problem solving within a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
Responsibilities include
Supplier Quality Management

• Manage supplier quality performance across component and material supply chains, ensuring compliance with internal quality standards and customer requirements.
• Lead supplier qualification, onboarding, and audit activities, including system, process, and product audits, to ensure supplier capability and production readiness.
• Monitor supplier performance metrics, including PPM, defect rates, audit scores, and delivery quality, and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
• Develop and maintain Supplier Quality Scorecards and performance tracking metrics.
• Ensure supplier compliance with ISO standards, customer requirements, and internal quality management systems.
• Act as the primary escalation point for supplier-related quality issues and drive timely resolution with internal and external stakeholders.

• Own the Incoming Quality Control (IQC) process, including inspection criteria development, defect analysis, and non-conforming material disposition (MRB).
• Coordinate suppliers for rapid resolution of incoming material and component issues impacting production.
• Support line-side containment activities, including defect identification, segregation, quarantine, and WIP control.
• Act as the first-line escalation point for supplier- and material-related quality issues affecting manufacturing output.

• Ensure product quality across SMT, PCBA, system assembly, testing, and repair operations.
• Support real-time production issue containment and resolution for supplier-related quality issues impacting manufacturing lines.
• Collaborate closely with SMT, Process Engineering, Quality Engineering, Manufacturing, Planning, Program Management, and Engineering teams to ensure production stability and quality performance.
• Analyze yield, test, defect, and reliability data to identify trends and drive corrective and preventive actions.
• Lead root cause investigations and corrective action activities using structured methodologies such as 8D, CAPA, Fishbone, and 5-Why analysis.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to improve quality, reduce defects, and enhance manufacturing efficiency.

• Support NPI activities, including supplier readiness reviews, First Article Inspection (FAI), qualification builds, and risk assessments for new materials and processes.
• Partner with engineering and operations teams to validate manufacturability, process capability, compliance, and scale-up readiness.
• Support successful transition from prototype and pilot builds to mass production.
• Identify quality risks early in the product lifecycle and implement mitigation plans.

• Support internal, customer, supplier, and regulatory audits by ensuring documentation, traceability, and compliance readiness.
• Interface directly with customers on quality-related issues, escalations, corrective actions, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with customer specifications, IPC standards, quality procedures, and regulatory requirements.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to junior quality engineers and technicians as needed.

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or a related technical field.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in Quality Engineering, Supplier Quality Engineering, or Manufacturing Engineering.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills with expertise in yield, test, defect, and reliability data analysis.
• Solid understanding of SMT, PIH, PCBA manufacturing, testing processes, and RMA repair.
• Experience with supplier quality management, audits, corrective actions, and quality system compliance.
• In-depth knowledge of electronic theory, digital and analog circuitry, and PC system architecture.
• Expertise in IPC-A-610 and J-STD-001 workmanship standards for complex PCBA and system assembly.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams through root cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Strong customer service orientation and experience managing escalations.

• Experience in NPI quality management and ramp-to-mass-production transitions.
• Experience in semiconductor, silicon manufacturing, or electronics testing environments.
• Familiarity with mechanical manufacturing processes and assemblies.
• Professional certifications such as CQE, Six Sigma Green Belt/Black Belt, Lean Manufacturing, or equivalent.
• Experience conducting supplier audits and quality system assessments.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
• Familiarity with quality tools such as SPC, Minitab, FMEA, Control Plans, and PPAP.
• Mandarin language proficiency is a plus.