Quality Engineer

Job Title: NPI Engineer (Hybrid Quality & Engineering Role)

Job Description

This NPI Engineer role is a hybrid quality and engineering position focused on building robust quality structures upfront for new parts. Working a 4x10 schedule, you will lead key New Product Introduction (NPI) and Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) activities to prevent scrap, catch defects early, and embed effective in-process inspections into production. The role is less hands-on than typical shop floor positions and centers on methodically analyzing processes, organizing documentation, and configuring quality systems before production ramp-up.

Responsibilities

• Develop comprehensive compliance matrices for every new part to ensure all requirements are clearly defined, traceable, and aligned with applicable quality standards.
• Perform Process Failure Mode and Effects Analyses (PFMEAs) on all incoming and new parts to identify potential failure modes and associated risks within the manufacturing process.
• Create and implement detailed control plans from initial startup through full production to directly mitigate failure modes identified during PFMEAs.
• Design and structure in-process inspection frameworks so builders and inspectors can perform effective checks during production, enabling early detection of defects.
• Lead APQP activities for new product launches, ensuring that PFMEAs, control plans, PPAPs, and First Article Inspections are completed accurately and on time.
• Interpret blueprints and engineering drawings using GD&T principles to translate design requirements into actionable quality controls and inspection criteria.
• Apply Statistical Process Control (SPC) and root cause analysis methodologies to monitor process performance, investigate nonconformances, and drive corrective actions.
• Establish robust quality systems and documentation upfront to prevent defects, reduce scrap, and support stable production ramp-up in highly regulated environments.
• Collaborate with engineering, production, and quality teams to align processes, inspection methods, and documentation with customer and regulatory requirements.
• Provide technical support for new product development and introduction activities, ensuring quality assurance is integrated into design and manufacturing decisions.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives by analyzing process data, identifying opportunities to strengthen controls, and standardizing best practices across products.

Essential Skills

• At least 5 years of Quality Engineering or NPI Engineering experience within aerospace, defense, medical device, or other highly regulated manufacturing environments.
• Proven expertise with key quality tools, including PPAP (Production Part Approval Process), PFMEA (Process Failure Mode and Effects Analyses), FMEA, and control plans.
• Demonstrated experience leading APQP activities, PFMEAs, control plans, PPAPs, and First Article Inspections for new product launches.
• Experience in New Product Introduction (NPI) and new product development within a manufacturing setting.
• Solid understanding of GD&T and blueprint interpretation to translate design requirements into practical inspection and process controls.
• Proficiency with Statistical Process Control (SPC) and root cause analysis methodologies to investigate issues and improve process capability.
• Quality engineering and quality assurance experience focused on building systems that prevent defects and reduce scrap during production ramp-up.
• Mechanical and engineering aptitude sufficient to understand manufacturing processes, product designs, and the impact of process changes on quality.
• High attention to detail with a methodical, process-focused approach to analyzing workflows, organizing documentation, and configuring quality structures ahead of production.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience working in aerospace, defense, medical device, or similar highly regulated industries where compliance and documentation are critical.
• Experience in project engineering, product engineering, or design support related to new product launches.
• Ability to develop and maintain quality standards and procedures that align with customer, regulatory, and internal requirements.
• Experience structuring in-process inspections for builders and inspectors to support proactive quality control.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple new part introductions simultaneously.
• Effective collaboration and communication skills to work closely with cross-functional teams across engineering, production, and quality.
• Motivation to build processes from the ground up and drive meaningful change within the organization’s quality and NPI practices.
• Comfort working in environments that combine shop floor exposure with desk-based analytical and documentation tasks.

Work Environment

The role follows a 4x10 schedule, providing a structured workweek with extended daily shifts. You will split your time between the shop floor and an office or desk environment, allowing you to observe manufacturing processes directly while focusing primarily on process design, analysis, and documentation. The position is less hands-on than typical shop floor roles and emphasizes process-focused engineering, quality planning, and system configuration. The environment supports opportunities to build and refine quality processes, contribute to organizational improvement, and enjoy benefits such as paid time off and holidays.

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of McMinnville, OR.

The pay range for this position is $40.00 - $50.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

This is a fully onsite position in McMinnville,OR.

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 2, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.