Quality Engineer

About the role

This NPI Engineer role is a hybrid quality and engineering position focused on building robust quality structures upfront for new parts. The role centers on methodically analyzing processes, organizing documentation, and configuring quality systems before production ramp-up, with less hands-on involvement than typical shop floor positions.

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.

Requirements

• 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 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.

Pay

The pay range for this position is $40.00 - $50.00/hr. Individual compensation offered within this range will depend on qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Benefits

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on job classification and length of employment. If eligible, benefits for this temporary role may include:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital coverage
• 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)

Schedule

This role operates on a 4x10 schedule.

This is a Contract to Hire, fully onsite position based in McMinnville, OR.