Quality Engineer

Responsibilities

• Incoming Inspection: Define, procure, and set up all inspection equipment. Establish processes to validate that every supplier is building to spec and create documentation systems to track compliance over time.
• Supplier Quality Management: Partner with the Supply Chain Lead to hold suppliers accountable. Own PPAP (Pre-Production Approval Process) to ensure consistent standards before any part enters full production. Lead root cause analysis (8D) when parts fail to meet spec and drive resolution back to the source.
• Field, Factory & Supplier Quality Chain: Investigate field failures using a field → factory → supplier framework — was it used wrong, built wrong, or sourced wrong? Collaborate with assembly to implement poka-yoke (mistake-proofing) so the right build is the only possible build.
• ISO 9001 Certification: Drive Persona toward ISO 9001 certification — document processes, manage document control and revision history, and prepare for independent audit. Own the annual re-certification process once established.
• Metrology & Measurement: Specify, procure, and maintain precision inspection equipment including calipers, micrometers, CMM machines, and other measurement tools. Ensure calibration accuracy and traceability across all equipment.
• Quality Documentation: Create and maintain detailed inspection reports, non-conformance documentation, supplier scorecards, and quality records that support audit readiness and continuous improvement.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with Supply Chain, Assembly, and field operations teams across Houston and Pensacola. Expect meaningful travel (~40% initially) to supplier sites and field locations as the function matures.

Qualifications

• 10 + years in quality engineering or manufacturing quality in a hardware environment. Automotive (OEM or Tier 2/3 supplier), medical device, consumer electronics, robotics, or aerospace preferred.
• Hands-on experience or a strong interest in building quality infrastructure from scratch, not just maintaining or monitoring an inherited system.
• Deep familiarity with ISO 9001. You've been through a certification process as a key contributor or lead.
• Strong PPAP and 8D root cause analysis experience.
• Proficiency with metrology equipment: calipers, micrometers, height gauges, CMM machines.
• Ability to read and interpret technical drawings, blueprints, and GD&T specifications.
• Supplier quality management experience. You will need to be comfortable owning the relationship when things go wrong.
• Knowledge of statistical process control (SPC) and quality control methodologies.
• Houston-based or willing to relocate; comfortable with ~40% travel, reducing as the function matures.