NPI Engineer
About the role
New Product Quality Engineer located in Yamhill County, OR (based out of McMinnville, OR). This role mixes quality and engineering work, focusing on setting up strong quality controls for new parts in a tightly regulated manufacturing shop. You'll build the quality plan for each new product before it hits production, including determining failure modes, inspections, paperwork, and preventing scrap. Local candidates are preferred; if you live outside the area, be ready to discuss your plan to relocate to the Portland area.
Responsibilities
- Build a compliance matrix for each new part so it lines up with every quality standard and customer requirement that applies.
- Run PFMEAs on new and incoming parts to find where the manufacturing process could fail.
- Write and roll out control plans, from first startup through full production, that address the risks found in the PFMEA.
- Set up in‑process inspection steps so builders and inspectors can check parts as they go.
- Keep new product documentation organized and accurate, including quality plans, PFMEAs, control plans, and approval records.
- Lead APQP for new product launches so quality is part of the process from day one.
- Plan and complete PPAP for new parts, making sure all documents and validation steps are done.
- Lead or support First Article Inspections to confirm new products meet spec and the process works.
- Read blueprints and drawings using GD&T to set critical features and inspection criteria.
- Use SPC and root cause analysis to watch process performance and solve quality problems.
- Work with engineering, production, and quality teams to set up processes and inspection steps correctly before ramp up.
- Keep improving the up‑front quality system to cut scrap, prevent defects, and keep new product production stable.
Qualifications
Required
- At least 5 years in quality engineering or NPI engineering in aerospace, defense, medical device, or another tightly regulated manufacturing field.
- Hands‑on new product introduction experience in a manufacturing setting.
- Experience leading APQP, PFMEAs, control plans, PPAP, and First Article Inspections on new product launches.
- Strong GD&T and blueprint reading skills.
- Working knowledge of SPC and root cause analysis.
- Track record of setting up quality systems early to prevent defects and reduce scrap during ramp up.
- Ability to break down complex manufacturing processes and set up the right documents, inspections, and controls before production starts.
- Strong mechanical and engineering foundation.
- Detail oriented, organized, and methodical in how you work.
Preferred
- New product development experience in a regulated industry.
- Knowledge of quality standards used in aerospace, defense, medical device, or similar fields.
- Experience supporting design, project engineering, or product engineering work.
- Experience driving corrective and preventive actions.
- Experience building compliance matrices for new parts and processes.
- Comfort working across engineering, production, and inspection teams.
Work Environment and Schedule
You'll work four ten‑hour days a week, giving you an extra day off. Time is split between the shop floor and a desk, with most work focused on setting up processes, writing documentation, and designing quality systems rather than reacting to line issues. The position is fully onsite in McMinnville, OR.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $40.00 – $50.00 per hour. Individual compensation within this range depends on qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other job‑related factors.
Eligible benefits for this temporary role may include:
- Medical, dental & vision
- Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital coverage
- 401(k) Retirement Plan (pre‑tax and Roth post‑tax contributions)
- Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for employee and dependents)
- Short and long‑term disability
- Health Spending Account