Position Title: Quality Engineer
Department: Quality Reports To: Operations
Salary Range: $ 80,000 - $ 90,000 (Annually)
Exempt.
Position Summary
The Quality Engineer is responsible for supporting and improving product quality, manufacturing process control, and compliance within fiber optic manufacturing operations. This role ensures adherence to quality management systems, regulatory requirements, and customer specifications while driving continuous improvement initiatives to enhance manufacturing yield, product reliability, and operational efficiency.
The ideal candidate has experience in fiber optic or optical manufacturing, ISO quality systems, cleanroom environments, and statistical quality methodologies in a fast-paced production environment.
Key Responsibilities
Quality Systems & Compliance
· Maintain and support compliance with the company's Quality Management System (QMS) and applicable standards, including ISO requirements.
· Support internal, external, and customer audits and ensure timely closure of corrective actions.
· Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements including RoHS, material traceability, and environmental standards.
· Maintain quality documentation including procedures, control plans, inspection instructions, and quality records.
Manufacturing Quality & Process Improvement
· Monitor manufacturing performance metrics including yield, scrap, defects, and process capability.
· Lead root cause investigations for product defects, process deviations, and yield losses.
· Implement and maintain Statistical Process Control (SPC), data analysis tools, and continuous improvement initiatives.
· Support process validation, equipment qualification, and production readiness activities.
Fiber Optic Manufacturing Support
Support and improve quality performance in fiber optic manufacturing processes including:
· Fiber preparation
· Fiber splicing
· End capping
· Fiber polishing
· AR coating inspection
· Final optical inspection and testing
Corrective Actions & Supplier Quality
· Lead and manage MRB, CAPA, NCR, and 8D corrective action processes.
· Work closely with suppliers to resolve material quality issues and improve incoming quality performance.
· Support incoming inspection and supplier quality management activities.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
· Partner with Operations, Engineering, Production, and Supply Chain teams to improve process capability and manufacturing performance.
· Support New Product Introduction (NPI) and product qualification builds (EVT, DVT, PVT).
· Drive continuous improvement initiatives using Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma methodologies.
Cleanroom & Contamination Control
· Support cleanroom manufacturing quality standards.
· Promote FOD prevention and contamination control programs.
· Ensure adherence to cleanroom protocols and process discipline.
Qualifications
· Bachelor's degree in engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, or related technical field preferred.
· Minimum 3 years of experience in Quality Engineering within a manufacturing environment.
· Experience in fiber optics or optical product manufacturing is strongly preferred.
· Strong working knowledge of:
ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems
RoHS compliance
CAPA / NCR processes
Root cause analysis methodologies (5-Why, Fishbone, etc.)
Statistical Process Control (SPC)
Process yield improvement
· Experience supporting customer audits and quality system audits.
· Knowledge of document control systems and ITAR awareness.
· Experience working in cleanroom manufacturing environments is preferred.
· Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
· Ability to collaborate effectively across technical and operations teams.
Preferred Skills
· Experience with fiber optic inspection equipment and optical testing systems, preferred.
· Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma methodologies.
· Experience in using ERP and Quality Management Systems (QMS).
· Background supporting aerospace, medical device, telecommunications, or other high-reliability industries.
Why Join Us
· Opportunity to work with advanced fiber optic technologies supporting cutting-edge applications.
· Exposure to industries including aerospace, quantum computing, medical technology, and telecommunications.
· Collaborative environment focused on innovation, quality, and continuous improvement.
· High-impact role contributing directly to product reliability and operational excellence.